Chapter 7: No End to Wahala

As I gree, everybody believe say I dey guilty. For Nigeria, once you surrender, na you do am. Na so rumor dey become fact.

Even though police no see evidence, dem release me, My lawyer dey smile small, say 'Tayo, na God.' But my name don spoil. my professional diving license don go forever. The letter land for my email: 'License revoked.' I just close laptop.

The day I come out from cell, Mr. Onwudiwe and him son carry reporters come face me. Camera full gate. Everybody dey wait for show. Chijioke, now strong, look me with pride. E dey wear new agbada, shoe dey shine. If you see as e chest dey out, you go fear.

"Na you cause your own wahala. Just ordinary diver, you get mind touch me?" E talk am slow, voice cold. People dey laugh for background.

He tap my back, dey do like say na better thing—meanwhile, insult full im eye. "I hope say you no go dive again. But I go break your record, shine pass you. Na payback be that."

E look me up and down, then face camera. For am, na film. As I see him proud face, I wan punch am. My hand dey shake, but I hold myself. Police dey look me, I no wan add wahala.

Just two weeks ago, underwater, he dey beg make I save am. Now, he don finish my life. Na so people dey change for Naija. No be small thing. But for media front, I no fit talk. If I talk, dem go say I dey bitter. Na so I zip mouth.

Mr. Onwudiwe look me like say he dey advise pikin. E dey talk with fake smile, dey pat my back like say e dey do me favor. "Thank God my son dey okay, else you for no escape like this. Try be better person. Short glory no mean anything; na only person wey humble dey go far."

As e dey talk, e dey look camera. For him mind, e dey preach. My vex increase. My blood dey hot. My chest dey tight. But I swallow am.

This same man beg me with tears to save him son. After, he call me ‘Coach Tayo’, dash me money to coach his son. E even call all im friends say I be the best. Now, na me be devil. But last last, truth no concern am. I dey look am, dey wonder if e get conscience. For this country, na power dey talk.

Reporters rush me again. I force myself waka go. Dem dey chase me, dey throw question. I no answer. I dey waka dey pray make ground swallow me. I just dey pray make this rubbish end. I dey beg God for peace. Na only Him fit judge.

But I no know say Chijioke never tire. As I dey think say matter don close, new wahala dey brew for internet. He dey boast online say my action no professional. E dey tweet anyhow, dey do IG live, dey drop sub for me. "Hard to believe say person like him fit break world record."

All im followers dey hype am. Na so online wahala dey start. Immediately, people wey claim say I teach them before appear, say I teach wrong things. Ex-teammates say I dey steal credit. Some talk say I always send people go first, no dey care about their safety.

Everybody dey shout make dem wipe my name, fear say I go change name, continue to harm people. People dey drop story, dey drag my family join. Even my church people dey avoid me for compound.

I find Musa; he don turn Chijioke’s personal coach. I see am for Instagram, e dey post picture with new kit. E no call me since. He just raise hand, tell me make I forget. "You know as my family need money."

For this Naija, person dey do anything for survival. E pain me, but I understand. So, he no fit help clear my name. Even though we dey suffer the same cave, e choose him own way. Even those wey know the truth, nothing dem fit do. Fear dey hold everybody. Na so e be for this country.

As public dey judge, to hide na my only way. I just pack my load, leave Lagos. I pack my savings, move go small city. I register new account, dey share diving knowledge secretly. I dey use small phone, dey drop tips for Telegram, dey form like foreign coach. Only my true followers sabi say na me. Small small, followers come, ad money dey come, I dey manage. Life no easy, but at least peace dey small.

Until one year later, I get another call from Mr. Onwudiwe—For my mind, I dey think say maybe na apology. But no—Chijioke don trap for that cave again. Na so wahala dey do turn by turn for this life. Some people no dey ever learn. This time, I just dey look phone, sigh. For this life, some wahala no get end. But me, I don tire.