Chapter 1: A New Crown, Old Wahala

When I woke up, I don turn Seyi Adigun. Mosquito dey buzz for my ear, but the air fresh, like after heavy rain. The shock still dey my chest as I glance round, the familiar four-cornered ceiling suddenly replaced by a palace roof wey get that old Yoruba pattern, like those old Baba Sala Yoruba films wey my mama dey watch for NTA. My voice dey catch inside my throat as I try to recall last night, but na blank. Na wa for this kind wahala.

Na for Okpoko Hills everything start. My papa gamble anyhow, lose 700,000 soldiers—dem say even Okpoko river no fit swallow that kind number—and Uncle Boye (Boye Laitan) come burn everything we get.

As dem dey talk am for village, e no too good to carry hand play with destiny, but na exactly wetin my papa do. The way Uncle Boye strike, e resemble those Onitsha market fire—if e start, na everybody go dey shout, “Chineke, see as e dey burn!” My heart dey beat for my chest, the fear of poverty dey hold me like ancestral curse.

To avoid wetin happen for Odo-Ugwu autumn breeze, make hero dey cry for nothing, I talk say this time, I go dodge all those wahala.

I remember the way Okpoko elders dey do for those time—if rain wan fall for market day, everybody dey pack their goods sharp sharp. I no go dull, I no go wait for pity wey no dey come. Survival first, abeg.

If Mallam Hudu wan rebel, I go arrange and prepare for war for Southern Grasslands sharp sharp. I go call my boys, arrange vigilante, even bribe local hunters—war no be beans.

Omo, for Naija, if dem tell you say wahala dey come, you better ready with backup. No time to waste for long talk. I dey channel my inner general—everything na sharp sharp for this land.

Say make Musa guard Jieting? Lai lai—swap am quick quick.

For here, you gats get sense; na so dem dey run things for Okpoko. Musa get leg, but sometimes, the leg dey waka go where e no suppose go. Prevention better pass cure.

Lawal to handle food supply? Abeg, forget that one.

I never trust Lawal reach. Guy dey always find corner-cut; if e handle food, na hunger go finish soldiers. My mind dey reason well well now.

Now wey I get the script for hand, if I fit convince Uncle Kola (the Chancellor) up and clear all those bad belle elders down,

As dem dey talk for old Lagos, "e get as e be." I gats use wisdom, not only mouth. Clearing elders na no be beans; I gats package am well.

E fit dey possible to restore the Adigun family kingdom?

No be small task, but if dem say palmwine dey sweet for bottom, who I be to fear? My chest dey rise, hope dey bubble for my heart like ogi wey dem just dey stir.