Chapter 4: Wrappers and War Drums

Back palace, Uchechukwu write letter to Chief Minister and another to Musa Dauda. The ink dey fresh, my words dey strong, hope dey inside every line.

Chief Minister succeed for southern campaign, capture and release Okonjo seven times, win the heart of southern people. The elders for south dey praise am, song dey everywhere, "Okon the wise, Baba Okon the peacemaker!"

E dey prepare to return when e get Uchechukwu letter, say e hear raffia armor light and strong, abeg bring thousands come make we play with am. The request funny, but Baba Okon just smile, "This boy get mind."

Baba Okon no know whether to laugh or cry. E wonder how Uchechukwu sabi raffia armor, but except say fire fit burn am, e really good. Make e bring some come research. For his mind, "At least this one no go waste."

Musa Dauda dey train soldiers for camp when e get royal order to gather two hundred fine northern horses bring come Umuola. The order surprise am, but as royal duty, e go sharp sharp.

Musa Dauda think say these warhorses na for Royal Guards anyway, so e order men make dem find the best. E go market, test every horse, no leave stone unturned.

Dongye for Umuola dey worry. E dey in charge of Uchechukwu security, but Uchechukwu waka go front for Makurdi border. When Chief Minister return, how e go explain? For night, Dongye dey dream of Chief Minister flogging am with koboko.

Now Uchechukwu draw some strange pictures, say na saddle and stirrup, tell am to find blacksmiths to make am. E just leave am for now. Dongye scratch head, "Dis our Oba, wahala no dey finish."

Uchechukwu reason the situation well. The best way for Northern Campaign na the one Chief Minister already choose: two armies from Makurdi and River Hill. My mind dey work like mathematician, every option dey inside my head.

Ganiu lose River Hill by mistake, so only one road remain. We no fit match Okori for strength; Umuola supply line too long, so we must fight quick. For my dream, ancestors show me road, but I dey draw my own path.

This one need strong cavalry. The Fulani and Tiv get horses, and double stirrup na my secret weapon. For this life, na who get leg dey win race.

So, within two or three years, if I fit gather thirty thousand elite heavy cavalry, to conquer everywhere no be dream. I dey set goal, the way farmers dey mark planting season for calendar.

But Chief Minister no know say I be Musa Oladimeji, no know my ability, wahala dey. I go show am soon, time go prove who I be.

Everybody think say na seventeen-year-old Uchechukwu dey for throne, so dem no dey take my ideas serious. For council, when I talk, elders dey nod, but for back, whisper dey fly: “Dis pikin sabi book, but war na another thing.”

This time, when Chief Minister return, I must talk to am well. I ready my words, sharpen my tongue, prepare my mind.

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Spring of second year of Udochi, Baba Okon return from southern campaign, Uchechukwu go three miles outside town to welcome am. The air dey fresh, birds dey sing, palm wine sellers dey line road, all dey cheer as Baba Okon pass.

Umuola spring still cold small. Uchechukwu carry two pots of palm wine go Chief Minister house. For this land, na palm wine dey open mind, true talk dey flow after first cup. The smell of pepper soup and fried plantain choke the air, drummers dey knock gangan, laughter loud like generator for street.

After peace for south, Baba Okon begin prepare for Northern Campaign. E no dey rest, even when elders beg am to slow down.

Uchechukwu don beg many times to follow, but Chief Minister no gree. E grip me for shoulder, look am for eye. “No be only victory dey show heart. Na who stand after fall be true warrior.” My heart dey turn, ready for new strategy.

Chief Minister guess am. Na Northern Campaign bring Uchechukwu come. The silence hang like Egusi for okro soup.

Now no be time for Northern Campaign. For power, small Umuola no fit match big Okori. One province against nine, advantage dey for enemy. My reason clear, my eyes dey search Baba Okon own for answer.

If I no fit convince Chief Minister, at least if I follow am, I fit avoid the Makurdi wahala? The pain of last defeat still dey my chest, but hope dey stubborn, like yam wey refuse to burn for fire.

Uchechukwu look Chief Minister, see say him mind no go change, e no go carry me go. The stubbornness dey his face like pot wey refuse to crack.

So I change topic, "Chief Minister, why you dey insist on Northern Campaign?" My voice gentle, but my question deep.

Baba Okon shock. True, why Northern Campaign? E hold cup of wine, look ground, begin reason old days when e dey follow late Oba for war.

Na because of late Oba? Abi na to show say e sabi pass Awolowo and Dan Fodio, fulfill ambition? For that moment, Baba Okon sef confuse. The weight of old promise press am down.

I pour wine, give Baba Okon. The way I dey serve am, respect dey show, no be just for show—na real.

Baba Okon drink am finish, say, "Northern Campaign—first, to repay late Oba; second, to revive Umuola. Na all." The pain in his voice deep, like drum for festival wey dem play with sorrow.

"But Baba Nwosu say Chief Minister find him master, but no find him time?" I ask, my eyes soft, my voice low. The proverb hang for air, the way only elders dey understand.

"Man dey die for person wey trust am. Even if e no go work, e go try till death. Wetin remain to fear?" E eyes glassy, voice shake. For him mind, ghosts of war dey dance.

So many deaths for one sentence? I just look the legendary Chief Minister, remember the chaos of Fulani raids, the suffering, come feel another emotion. I dey see baba as human being, not just legend.

Baba Okon no dey drink much, but today e take four or five cups, small drunk. E laugh, the sound dry, as if the joy dey force itself out.

"To revive Umuola na to end this wahala, make people fit chop and wear cloth." Baba Okon voice low, but hope dey shine small for the bottom.

"I must use my life take capture old capital for Your Majesty. The more we delay, the worse for us." His words heavy, determination dey inside.

"This old man don talk too much... no fit drink again..." Baba Okon voice low, fall asleep. The cup fall for ground, wine pour, the sound quiet like lullaby.

"Father Chief Minister too tired." I look him thin face, remember how e dey work without rest, and that endless hardship. My heart heavy, but I cover am with thick wrapper, the way mama dey protect her child.

I just cover am, "For this life, just be steady Chief Minister. To conquer and bring peace, leave am for me." My voice a promise, the kind ancestors dey recognize.

Wetin suppose happen go still happen. I feel small powerless. For now, I must bide my time.

Now, as Oba, my word no strong reach Chief Minister own. Even Ikenna, Dongye, Musa Yan, all dey see me as pikin. Dem go still see, I go show.

No blame them. I never show say I get the ability to trust. For this life, na action dey prove word.

This time, Chief Minister divide army: main force go Jos Plateau, Audu lead troops stay for River Valley as distraction. The drums of war begin beat again, dust dey rise for road.

I quickly see the problem—after all, I be Musa Oladimeji. Chief Minister plan look okay, but problem dey inside. My mind dey break am down like chessboard.

With Umuola strength, even if we take Jos, we no fit hold am. Even if Musa no lose Makurdi, na only delay. Once Sani army pass River Valley enter Makurdi, Chief Minister no fit take Jos, na the same wahala. I dey see the trap, but my mouth dey sealed by respect.

Since defeat sure, make the army lose, but people survive, keep our strength. My priority na my people, no be empty land.

Before Baba Okon move, I send three wrappers, tell palace helper to give am, say make e open one before battle, one during, one when retreating. The wrappers tie well, my handwriting bold for each.

Chief Minister just laugh. I dey give people wrapper, this pikin dey give me? But as e be Oba, make I just carry am. E tuck am for bag, for mind, "This pikin, e get future."

At the same time, old General Audu get wrapper too, write "Open when you meet Sani..." Audu smile, say, "This one na story for grandchildren."