NSANAYAK, MBOK!!! (Arc NYA-ETOK)
If you do not understand Ibibio language, then this is my humble suggestion: Look for an Akwa Ibom person, take her/him to a nice joint, give a the person a befitting plate of Afang soup with the swallow of her/his choice with, of course, the drink of her/his choice.
When the person is done, nicely ask, “Please what is the meaning of ‘NSANAYAK’?
If the person tells you anything other than “leave me, or leave me alone”, know that the person is not fully satisfied. Try again until the answer agrees with mine.
At the end of this story, you will understand why I chose to address a very a very serious issue with a seeming rebellious topic, with an assignment intro.
I was ‘jeje-ly’ on my own trying to make sense of all the happenings in the country when my phone rang. I pick all calls not minding if it is not registered on my phone, or is even a blocked number.
“Hi great Arc” I heard as I picked the unregistered number. “Who’s on the line, please” I inquired. “Arc, na Nuhu o” As if he knew that I wanted to ask ‘which Nuhu’, he quickly added “Your NSA, it seems you don’t have this number” “o, wow. This sounds like goodnews from a far country. To what do I owe this great call?”, I joked.
Within seconds, my mind switched from the Nuhu that I knew before now, to the Nuhu that is now the NSA.
“God, I beg which line could I have crossed?” I wondered. Eventually, I settled on the possible issue being my write up on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, “Chai, see wetin Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wan do me o!” I thought to myself. “Arc, are you there?” He inquired again on account of my momentary silence. “Yes o, I guess it must be network problem” -I Lied!!!!
“Are you in Abuja?” “Wow, no o, I just left Abuja yesterday. I am in Uyo” “It’s ok. There’s an urgent meeting that I have to have with you tomorrow by 8pm. Incidentally, the Chief Of Army Staff will be in Uyo by 4pm today, but will leave by 6pm back to Abuja. If you can make it, I can talk to him for you to come with him on the Presidential Jet. If the notice is rather short, then I can get you on Ibom Air for tomorrow morning” “ok, I guess I will rather come with the morning flight”
I thereafter tried to cunningly find out what the invitation was all about, but trust security people, his very diplomatic responses left me more concerned.
Expectedly, as soon as the call was over, I called my wife. We spent the next over one hour on phone talking, thinking and praying about the call.
About two weeks back, I had made a video where I called on Mr President to either address corruption head on, or just enjoy his life and leave us alone to bear the consequences of our electoral choices. That video was quickly followed up with my Mazi Nnamdi Kanu ‘encounter’ write up.
Over the years, I have tried to contribute my best to having the Nigeria of my dreams. In the process, I have adopted several avenues either to participate, or communicate, in all, to contribute my quota to make Nigeria better.
After going through the two materials several times, my conscience cleared me that I did no wrong.
My wife and I had agreed to talk again after two hours to reflect and pray again. I called her back as agreed. This time, it was a video call. She has a way of decoding my countenance. “You look settled. I’m happy. You’ll be fine” she assured me as we concluded our almost two hours banter.
Fast forward:
By 7:30pm, I was at Aso Villa first gate. As soon as I gave my name, I was ushered to a waiting car. My eventual destination was a very cozy waiting room where I was politely asked what I wanted to drink. It was pretty cold, so I asked for green tea.
Just as I started to sip the tea, Nuhu entered. “My brother, it’s been a while……”
For me, all the pleasantries was not it. As much as I was showing my teeth, in my mind, all I was saying was “please cut to the chase!!!”
Finally, he paused and said “it’s actually His Excellency, Mr President that asked to meet with you”. As if I didn’t quite hear him, I asked “so what did he want you to get from me?”
“No, I said that he, Mr President wants to talk with you”
It happened to me again! My mind had gone totally blank again. Which lie will tell this time? Can there be network failure here where he is facing me? I didn’t know when I muttered “Jesus!!!!”
There was silence between us. He knew I was concerned so he tried to get me to relax by trying a joke that I can’t even remember again, but came across as Tinubu and Obi in a room and Tinubu tries to crack a joke about the election! Whatever you make of it, that’s my own joke! Funny or not, na you sabi!
“C-in-C will be with you in about 10-15 minutes. My boys will direct you. Let me inform him of your presence, and we see after your meeting him”
With those few words, he departed.
A well dressed and soft spoken young man, most likely in his upper twenties, stepped in. Lots of briefing on the need to know that I would be with Mr President, and that they would be monitoring every word and action. That I needed to accord him every respect. As if he was soliloquizing, he muttered under his breath that there was something unusual about ‘this meeting’ as the sound may be muted in their monitoring room sometimes as Mr President may direct. I’m not sure that that was for my benefit. “Finally sir, there are three illuminated painting on the wall opposite you. They are special paintings that change background colors. The one to the left will have a green background. If the background ever changes to yellow, you will have to leave the topic that you want to address, or mind your language. If it ever turned red, you MUST INSTANTLY SHUT UP, even in the middle of a sentence. If the light remains red, know that you have crossed the line and, there could be consequences. But if it returns to green, then you are ok”. With these last words, he ushered me into the most beautiful white room that I’ve seen.
I almost didn’t notice as Mr President walked in. The young man however noticed and cleared his throat to call my attention. “Your Excellency, Mr President”, I stammered.
“Arc NYA-ETOK, please have your seat” Mr President nicely said.
I have met him before, -even when he was a governor. Besides being generous, (which most people tend to know him for), he has this capacity to be infectiously warm.
He seemed to have a lot on his mind today, so we went straight to the issues on his mind.
“I have watched you video to me, and read your dream, vision, or…. on Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. I also follow several of your interviews on, NTA or AIT or CHANNELS, and more recently ARISE tv stations”
He must have talked for about 30minutes.
The first thing that occurred to me was to find out exactly what the meeting was all about. He never complained about what I wrote in the write up, or said in the video, or any other interview at that. I listened. The more he talked, the more confused I seemed to get. I then resorted to a quick prayer for God to give me a serious combination of wisdom, and courage.
At a stage, he seemed to be talking to himself. It was at this stage that the first light of clarity struck me. He needed to talk to a Nigerian he could trust!
It suddenly occurred to me that I was not watching the painting. But what does it matter as I long as I was not the one that was talking.
He went on and on. The summary of what he was saying was effectively that (a) politicians are incorrigible, insatiable, and inconsiderate, (a) the system is totally run down, and (c) the people are becoming impatient. He recounted all the efforts that he is making and the need for the people to think of tomorrow.
While he was still talking, I do not know what came over me but from nowhere, I heard myself saying “with due respect, Mr President, ….” Boy, did I take the floor!!! I poured out my heart on behalf of the masses on the sufferings and the pains. I talked about the effect of the fuel subsidy removal on the poor, the set the downward slide of our Naira on the almost non existent middle class, my personal disappointment at his not knowing that all the sufferings of the poor are directly traceable to the corruption of some mindless supper rich that he referred to as the elite of the elite, and how he has been so loudly silent on the issue of corruption. Boy, you needed to see me. I had been completely possessed by a spirit that I will leave you to judge.
“EZEKIEL!!!!” He literally screamed.
At this point, I was sweating like ‘Christmas goat’. I had completely forgotten about the light picture frame. It had not only turned red, but was blinking furiously as if the glass was going to shatter!
When I heard “EZEKIEL!!!!”, it immediately brought me back to earth.
You will not understand that “EZEKIEL!!!!” call, until I tell you that it’s the call from my wife that makes me to instantly sweat! My wife calls me all sweet names until I cross the line. Even in the mildest form, the moment that I hear “EZEKIEL!!!!” from my wife, I know that kata-kata don burst!!! Who told Mr President about that call, or was it coincidental?
It was at the moment that I noticed that two young men had entered the room. I needed no prophesy to know that they had come to whisk me off.
Guess who saved me? Mr. President!!!
“I’m not yet through” he told them in a very subdued tone.
“My most sincere, and unreserved apologies, Your Excellency”
“I understand, it’s ok” he said.
We must have gone on for another 30-45minutes.
I guess he pressed a bottom, and Nuhu came in.
“Destroy that tape” was the first thing that he said.
“How do you know Architect?” He asked Nuhu.
I was very eager to hear his answer as it could very well determine where I would be going from there. “He’s a friend, Your Excellency, though we have not seen for a while”
I was happy because if he had denied knowing me, then I would be sure that there’s big trouble in little China!
I do not know where the boldness and audacity came from, but, even before leaving Mr President, and not withstanding my uncontrolled moment, I was happy that I spoke my mind about the sufferings of the people, and my take on his not attacking corruption.
As we returned to the first waiting room, Nuhu went back to see Mr President. It took almost15minutes.
When he eventually returned, as he opened the door, he stood there with the expression on his face bing as blank as cannot be imagined. He paused for a moment. Eventually, he said “Arc, I don’t know if this is good or bad news for you, but Mr President has asked me to…..”
Guess what happened?
Ah, I know. The alarm? No!!!!!!!
What happened then?
NSANAYAK, MBOK!!!!!!
Guys, I beg, de way I take tell Mr President wetin dey my chest, I no try?
I don’t even know what happened, but it’s been two nights now that I have hoped that Nuhu will reappear to tell me wetin Presido talk.
While I gait the conclusion of this dream (or whatever),
Please do have a JESUSful and RESOURCEful day, week, month, year, LIFE!!!
SHALOM!!!
Arc NYA-ETOK Ezekiel, FNIA.
