“What do you mean you are withdrawing?”
Babatunde stared,as he tried to make sense of what
Adejare was telling him
Adejare shrugged, “You are not exactly deaf my friend. I
have no intention of being a reluctant king. If I was the right king , Ifa
would not be dropping that bombshell that there was a missing prince.
Beside I have had serious second
thoughts. I would like to live abroad and this king business will cramp my
style. I can’t be king from abroad you know”
Babatunde sighed and paced his office.
Adejare looked at him from the chair he was sitting in,
then he became puzzled, “That really should make it easier, just hand the darn
thing over to Adewunmi and he will let go”
Babatunde gave a wry smile, “Adewunmi for your
information is considering withdrawing from the race too. He came to see me
last night. So I am wondering what type of game this is between the pair of
you. First I was offered money but the money turns up in my account , then the
government insists on seating in on the selection process and as if that is not
enough, you both want to pull out. No can do”
“I don’t get you”
Babatunde returned to the seat and gave Adejare a level
stare, “The selection process will go on with the government official sitting
in and whoever is selected can jolly well tell the gathering of elders
including the whole town that he is turning it down. You will state your
reasons to the town and not me, I am just a member”
They stared at each other
Adejare laughed “You can crown an absent king?, I have
not the slightest intention to turn up for the next meeting. I have booked my
flight, I am taking Ireti to London and there is no force that will stop me.
You can arrange your town meeting between now and tomorrow for I am leaving for
Lagos as my flight is for midnight tomorrow. Now how are you going to stop me?”
Babatunde gave him a long look and asked abruptly, “You
are being threatened by who?”
Adejare stared at him, tried to laugh ,went silent and
clenched fists raised to his eyes, “I…” swallowed and made for the door, but
Babatunde was quicker and stood barring Adejare with his back to the door. Both
men looked at each other Adejare was the first to drop his defiant stance. He
slumped back into the chair and covered his eyes with fists, chest heaving.” I
am not qualified to contest, my mother pleaded that I should withdraw as she
does not want the secret of the missing prince to be disclosed through her, for
it will mean death”.
Babatunde went back to his seat, “there really is a
missing prince somewhere?”
Adejare simply nodded
“Who is he?”, Babatunde pressed
“She would not tell me, but knelt and begged me that what
Ifa said was true and she begged that if I went ahead and contested, she could not
imagine the consequences”
“Fine time for her to beg you to cry off, but for
Adewunmi, you would be about finishing the rites to being crowned”
“I told her that and she said I would have been dead
before I could walk into the palace, later an old man came to visit her late at
night, she wouldn’t tell me who the person was but she became really frightened
after that visit and refused all entreaties to speak except to tell me to save
her life and not be a contestant”
“ Is there a reason to suspect that you may not have been
what you have portrayed yourself to be? I am tired of all these mysteries”
Adejare bristled and glared, “What exactly are you
suggesting?”
Babatunde gave him a cold stare, “Is there a deeper
reason that we may have been deceived into thinking you had a right to be
king?”
Adejare was enraged and stood up glaring, then he growled
deep in his throat moving towards Babatunde who gave the same growl. At the
same time they moved towards each other. Somebody knocked on the door and the
men froze. There was puzzled pain in Adejare’s voice, “I have never done that
before.” Babatunde uncurled his fists and he was puzzled too.
The door opened and Babatunde’s father stared at the two
men. “What is going on here?”
Babatunde frowned, “What do you mean Papa? I was having a
chat with Adejare”
Babatunde’s father gave both of them a close look and
they returned his questioning look a blank stare. He sighed and walked out of
the room.
