I am not giving to celebrating any day set aside by any international organization to mark anything.
For me, celebration of that which is dare to me, should be daily and not a day set aside for long speeches that do not transform the heart of the listeners or move the readers to action, positive action.
So yesterday, I was reminded that it was International Women’s Day. Every page I opened, everyone is celebrating women, even those that beat their wives, girlfriends and refuse to treat night nurses well, after they had rendered services at agreed considerations.
So I started thinking and a character from Festus Iyayi’s book, Violence, jumps at me. Her name is Adisa, the wife of poor Idemudia.
While thinking of Adisa and her one time adulterous congress with Obofun, just to raise capital to start beer selling business to augment the no income from Idemudia and also pay for his hospital bills, I remembered a confession by a women who sells pepper soup and beer somewhere in Abuja.
Uncle, this man has being harassing me.
Which man?
You will know him, if I describe him. He sits with you when you come.
You know a lot of people sits with the Bishop if I am buying the alcohol. So I won’t know which one.
Uncle, I even told him I am a married woman. And he is still insisting. Last time he bought food, drinks worth N35,500 but paid N100,000 into my account.
Have you told your husband?
No.
I think you should tell your husband. When next the man comes around, let me know him, so that we will join his table and drink him under. We will preach sermon on why men should leave married women alone.
If his wife no de do him, let him go and marry. Are Bible people not allowed to marry 7 while Quran people marry 4?
Uncle Bishop, where is it in the Bible, Alahaji with 4 wives and plenty concubines, I grew up meeting but this your Bible own, I no understand.
I hope you phone has a Bible App? Oya, open Isaiah Chapter 4:1-7. I no go talk, just read.
Uncle, na only this kind part of the Bible you go know. But Uncle, I don’t understand, it is not only him. If you see what I face. Daily they put pressure on me.
But you are a fine girl, forget say you get big belle from over drinking with your customers. You need to stop taking free drinks and gifts from them. Put your feet down and run your joint strictly like a professional.
Stop touching your customer, don’t show them any care beyond giving them cold beer and hot pepper soup or any other food they ask for.
Uncle, it’s true oh!
Also, carry your husband along. Explain to him what you are facing. Let him breeze into the joint, run men drinks and let all know that you are his territory and he will fiercely protect it.
Thanks Uncle, it is not easy what married women go through in this Abuja. I cannot reduce myself to that but…
But what? Why is but cumming into this now? Are you having double mind?
Uncle it’s not like that. The painful thing is, after all these sacrifices, I don’t get appreciated by my husband.
What? I will sit his ass down and talk with him. You are a good woman and for trusting your Bishop, I will see to it.
We cum to garden to drink, bury our sorrows and not wreck peoples home or tempt their wives into adultery. To say they even want you to divorce your husband and marry them, I fit even de reason am but this indecent proposal, just to cum and leave you with a moral burden, is what I don’t understand.
Uncle the Bishop!
