The Earth And It's Fullness

I encountered something quite different today as I accompanied a friend to a land site where he bought a plot of land. It was meant to be a visit of joy but it turned out to be something I never thought I could ever do. 

As early as 7:00 Am today, my friend Tayo picked me up from my apartment. I was all dressed and had my office bag, my mobile office if you like to refer to it like that. As I stepped out of my apartment, I noticed there was another guy in the car. Later, I got to know the young man at the back seat to be Bello, from the north. He was to clear the plot of land in preparation for the next move of block and sand for the development of the land. 

Sitting at the front seat, with Tayo, all suit and tie up, we journeyed toward the eastern part of Lagos. We had a first taste of the Lagos traffic, it was off the hook. About an hour later, we arrived at the location and Tayo showed us the starting point of his plot of land and where it ends. The place seemed like a virgin land with only a few buildings to the right and to the left. 

Bello started cutting the grass to the earth level while Tayo and I went to the town to book for sand, granite and sand so that the builder will commence work on the weekend. We didn't stay long at the building materials shop. 

As we drove back in Tayo's car back to the site, there was no sight of Bello anywhere. We shouted and looked all around for him, I was so terrified because there was no trace of him. 

I started growing cold feet about what was happening at the site. Just as I was contemplating what to do next, a Hilux drove in at speed with some hoodlums. They jumped out wielding weapons like machetes and golf clubs, invading Tayo and I. They were speaking in some very weird language like touts. 

We were bundled into the truck and they drove us to the supposed boss who had sent them on a devilish mission. 

Tayo was so resilient and was speaking with a threatening voice like he can fight the mob, I was just there, asking for mercy and pleading with the boys not to hurt us. 

When the boss finally arrived, from the verandah, he cleared his throat, and walked majestically to the living room where we were made to sit on the bare floor. I was just there at a freezing point, I dare not look into his eyes. I only opened my ears to listen to what he has got to say. 

You this child, are you the one dragging that land with me? I pity the day your mother gave birth to you, else you'd be buried where no one will ever see you again. 

When I heard that, I started to sweat. But Tayo was fuming with anger. I can feel his rage. I just winked at him to take it easy. While I was doing that, my friend just jerked up from his sitting position, as he was about to speak eyeball to eyeball with the boss, he just kept quiet. 

Why isn't he talking? 

I asked myself. 

Slowly, I looked up at his face. He was just there with his mouth opened ajar and unable to say a word. Then next thing that came out of his mouth was:

Uncle Dele!!

Uncle Dele is Tayo's maternal uncle. He was so fond of Tayo. Every Christmas, he would buy him a special gift. Tayo had told me a lot about his uncle. 

I was so confused when he mentioned Uncle Dele. Could it be that his uncle is a professional land-grabber?

Without mincing words, Uncle Dele asked the boys to excuse us and to bring Bello. 

He asked that we be served food and drinks and that we should be taken back to the site.  He ordered his boys to be on the watch out for that land so that no intruder or disturbance must be heard. 

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