Chapter 5: Cleanup and Comeback Spirit

As I dey my small desk, I just feel say I too trust people.

For Lagos, dem dey always talk say, "Shine your eye." But me, I carry pure heart. Now, na lesson I learn—man no fit trust anybody finish for this city.

I always believe say good work and results dey speak for person, but see as Old Jin play me.

As e be now, if you no get strong head, you go just dey serve people till dem use you finish.

Wetin pain me pass? Just some days ago, I dey tell my team say better days dey front, not knowing say dem go shock me.

I remember my PA, Chisom, wey dey hail me, dey plan end of year party. My mind just dey cut.

But as I remember my team, I quickly carry my phone.

I tell myself, "No let all these wahala fall on innocent people."

I wan remind them to hurry submit any invoice wey I don sign before dem go transfer me, so dem no go enter wahala later.

I dey press phone, dey scroll number. No time to waste. I dey reason say, make dem chop their small money before system block everybody.

But before I fit dial, one business partner wey I dey close to call me first.

Oga Ugo from Onitsha. Na real street guy, but e dey loyal. Once I see im number, I know say matter dey ground.

“Mr. Tunde, you get any wahala for your company?”

The way im voice take shake, e show say e no just dey talk, e really wan help.

Na straight-talker im be, and even though im voice dey tense, I fit hear the vex wey im dey hide for my sake.

I reply am, "Oga Ugo, abeg wetin dey happen?"

Im talk say their regular payment never drop. Im go our company ask finance, but dem talk say my signature no get power again, say payment need HQ approval. Dem even hint say nothing go happen till after New Year.

Oga Ugo say, "If handshake pass elbow, e don turn another thing."

Omo, see as dem dey use my name for corner, dey block money. For Naija, if you no get power, na so dem go freeze your matter.

“Brother, we don work together reach. When you dey rush, I dey do overtime for you.”

“Before, if you talk say you go pay, na so e dey be. I give you my best.”

“Now na year-end, I get over hundred people wey wan go house. Abeg, no leave me for wahala.”

My chest tight. I know say the guy dey talk true. For site, Oga Ugo dey sleep on ground just to finish contract.

My mind just sink. This man always treat me well.

For this Naija, na good partner dey make work easy. E pain me say na me cause am wahala.

When project start, to make things fast, I dey sleep for site with am day and night. Im really help the project.

I still remember how we dey chop indomie for midnight, dey gist. Im dey loyal, no dey cut corner.

I think small, then say, “No worry. I go dey HQ for two days, I go settle your matter.”

I no wan lose respect. If I no fit solve anything again, at least make my word mean something.

“Okay, Mr. Tunde, I trust you. I go wait for your good news.”

He drop, but I know say e dey pray for me. Na so better partners dey behave.

As I drop call, I just sigh.

I look ceiling, talk for inside, "Na only God dey see heart."

E clear say dem don plan this thing since—dem sharp and no get pity.

The sharpness wey dem use do am ehn, you go think say na politics for Abuja.

By now, my head don clear.

I tell myself, "Tunde, no dey dream. Na reality be this."

I sure say no be only im company dey do this kind thing.

For Naija, plenty companies dey play this kind game. Once dem don use you finish, dem go find excuse remove you.

Old Jin wan cut off all my connection, so that when im nephew take over, all the respect and trust go follow new oga.

Dem sabi the trick—if dem no break your network, new person no go fit enjoy the seat.

But dem think say I be mumu?

Me? No way. I get street sense pass that one.

For business and for life, I always dey do my best for people, no dey mess up friends or partners.

If I dey talk say I go do, I go do. My word na my bond. I no dey use people and dump.

Since hope for the group don finish, at least make I tidy up all the business before I waka.

I tell myself, "Clean up your name before you waka."

I quickly call Ifeoma, my marketing manager.

Ifeoma sharp, she sabi run things. I tell her to move quick—no delay.

I tell am to reach all our business partners, make dem submit all payment documents within two days, else dem go wait till after New Year.

I yarn her, "Babe, if dem no sharp, e go hard to collect anything. Tell everybody."

After I give the order, I waka go group finance department.

I no even look anybody face. For corridor, people dey look me like say na ghost I be.

Finance director Aunty Grace na Old Jin relation too, so she sabi everything.

She be that kind aunty wey dey wear native every Friday, dey form gentle. But her hand dey inside every company gist.

Luckily, she no run from me.

I greet her, "Aunty, good afternoon." She answer, but her face no show joy.

I go straight to the point:

No time for long talk. "Aunty, make una pay all my people their money. I dey go."

“Year-end don reach. Pay all my outstanding bills. I dey leave company.”

She look me, dey form like say she no get clue. But I stand my ground.

At first, Aunty Grace dey pretend say she no understand.

She dey roll her eyes, dey check file. That Naija acting, I know am well.

“Mr. Tunde, wetin you dey talk?”

She want make I dey beg, but I stand my ground. I no dey beg for wetin I work for. My sweat no be water.

I say, abeg, no dey form. Project finance tell me say approval rights don go back group side. Such big change, una no tell me—why the game?

I remind her, "Before, na me dey sign. Now, na HQ dey control. Wetin happen?"

Aunty Grace face show say she dey shame, but she finally drop the acting.

She drop pen, sigh. I know say matter don touch am.

“Mr. Tunde, different matter get different department. Your own na HR, finance na group matter. How dem go mix?”

Na that Naija English—she dey dodge. If dem wan use you play ball, dem go scatter the rules.

“Plus, you know group situation. Money tight, so group need control everything.”

She try use economy matter shield herself. But me, I no dey shake.

I just laugh for her performance.

I chuckle, "Aunty, e don do. Na me dey run things since, abeg."

“Aunty Grace, that one no be the rule before. I never even get official transfer—I still be general manager of project company, abi?”

I remind her, "For paper, I still dey in charge. Na who dem dey deceive?"

“Project company na subsidiary, with independent finance power.”

I dey quote company policy, make she know say I no be novice.

“Company cash flow dey positive, tens of millions dey inside account. If una wan carry am go, una no fit jump me, abi?”

I dey yarn am say, "No let dem use my head. If una block my signature, e mean say wahala dey."

“If una block my payments and suppliers carry una go court, na malicious default or illegal transfer?”

I dey give her legal angle. I sabi law pass dem. Make she fear small.

Aunty Grace face come change, she drop the forming.

Her voice drop, e soft now. She sabi say I dey serious.

“Mr. Tunde, you dey threaten company?”

She try turn am to threat. Me, I no gree. I dey stand for ground.

“You dey rush pay suppliers, dey try tidy things—na kickback you dey chase?”

She dey try spoil my name. I laugh. For Naija, if you clean, dem go still find small dirt talk.

I just laugh, as she don lose guard.

I laugh loud, "Aunty, me? Kickback? Ask anybody. My hand dey clean."

“Aunty Grace, na family small mind dey worry una?”

I no gree, I dey throway her own shade. "No be everybody dey run things like una."

“Check well. I no fear anything. Every kobo clean.”

I dey yarn am with pride. If dem check my file, nothing dey. Na pure work I do.

“But as for group account, I wonder if every expense fit survive investigation.”

I drop hint. If dem push me, I fit talk everything wey I know.

“You…”

She want talk, but she hold am. E show say she dey fear small.

Aunty Grace face don pale, but she finally cool down.

She adjust her gele, sigh. "Okay, Tunde, make I report."

“I must report to Old Jin. I no fit decide.”

She run call, I just waka out. I know say battle never finish, but at least my hand dey clean.

As I waka comot, I hear her pick phone to call.

For my mind, I dey pray say make God fight for me. For this Naija, only strong mind dey survive. No worry, tomorrow still dey. As I waka go gate, sun dey hot for my back, but my spirit dey strong. Na new chapter dey wait for front—make dem watch.