Chapter 7: No More Scapegoat

As I remember Femi Lawal’s attitude, cold just catch me.

E be like harmattan enter my body. Boss pride fit freeze river. Na so I dey reason my life.

“E no worth am again.”

I tell Aunty Kemi everything.

I no hide mouth. I pour everything, from HR mistake, to boss reply, to Halima wahala. She listen well.

She vex, shock like me yesterday.

I hear her breathe heavy. "Ah! Morayo, na real wahala."

“Na wa o. We don work here for years, but dem dey treat us worse than pikin wey just start?”

She dey talk true. For Naija, experience suppose count, but here e mean nothing.

I repeat boss words for her.

As I quote boss, she hiss for phone. Na real pain dey her chest.

She para. “Why we go suffer because labour cost high? Na crime to stay long for company? Wicked capitalists.”

She no even send whether I dey record her. She just dey vex, dey shout. My mind calm small. I know say no be only me dey see this thing.

After I pour my mind for Aunty Kemi, I feel better.

E be like say burden comot from my chest. Talking with her na small healing.

I no rush find new job—just rest for house one week.

For once, I give myself time. I chop, I sleep, I watch African Magic. My head dey clear.

For those few days, wahala burst for Radiance.

Na true. I dey hear gist. Everybody dey run helter-skelter.

Halima Musa submit her copy with confidence.

She submit am sharp sharp. She dey boast for group chat, dey do like queen.

After video drop, traffic really blow. E be like say e go go viral nationwide.

Boss dey shout for office, dey show everybody views. Dem dey plan press release. Champagne dey table.

Femi Lawal pop champagne halfway, dey show off for WhatsApp status: “Strength and results no go let me lowkey. Radiance’s new hire na correct choice—new blood, new ideas, new height.”

E even tag Halima, dey do like say na she save company. Everybody dey hail.

Halima Musa smile wan tear her mouth.

She dey do selfie, dey show teeth. E be like say she go win award.

But happiness no reach two hours.

Before person blink eye, wahala start. E shock everybody.

Video get flagged for violation, account collect seven-day ban.

Dem say content cross line, na red zone. TikTok no even give chance—just ban, no appeal.

Reason: the copy get sensitive content, cross platform red line.

She write one line wey touch political wahala. I warn am before, but she no hear.

This suspension na big wahala.

Na now boss eye open. Everybody dey run up and down. Sponsors dey call, dem dey beg for forgiveness.

Traffic drop, followers dey loss, scheduled livestreams and ads all scatter. Revenue crash, dem dey apologize, dey pay clients, all business plans spoil.

Company dey shake. Some clients dey threaten lawsuit. Na now dem dey remember say old staff dey important.

To add salt, this time Halima Musa use only her name for the copy.

No backup, no editor. She dey rush shine, no cross-check. Omo, wahala burst.

After I comot, she no waste time to prove say she fit create viral content alone like me.

She wan show say she fit do am without mentor. See result now.

But na over-sabi kill am.

If pride dey push you, e go push you enter gutter.

Final result: newcomer no get experience, scatter everything.

Na so industry begin dey laugh. Even competitors dey use us do meme for Twitter.

Radiance turn to industry joke.

E pain boss, e pain everybody. Staff dey fear for job.

Femi Lawal vex, disgrace Halima Musa for everybody, she cry scatter.

Boss no pity. He shout for meeting, dey point finger. Halima eye swell, she cry like rain for August.

He even seize three months performance pay from her.

She no get alert, only warning letter. Office gist don full everywhere.

Just as Aunty Kemi tell me this, Halima Musa call me.

My phone ring, I see her name. I just hiss, pick the call. Make I hear wetin she get to talk, but my mind no dey there again.

Na so pride take carry Radiance enter wahala.