One Chance III
ONE CHANCE
Mayowa Ojo
6/10/20265 min read
Banjo arrived home before Jummy and he immediately threw himself into daddy duties. He fed, bathed and prepped his girls for bed. He read them the same story twice before Temple, the younger one fell asleep. Kara remained awake for a third read and started to fall asleep halfway through that. The time he spent with his girls was priceless to him and he feared that becoming governor would ensure he missed out on them growing up.
He tiptoed out of the room, had a shower and ensured he was asleep before Jummy returned from work. Anything to prolong the inevitable conversation around the recent allegations.
*********************
"I have you booked on two radio stations today. Then you have a TV appearance in two days. I have shared topics that are off limits of conversation at these interviews with the media houses but you have to familiarize yourself with them. it’s important that you know how to steer the conversation away from what happened yesterday. Then there’s the…"
Liz, his PRO, was spitting a thousand words per minute. Banjo found it overwhelming but said nothing. She continued to rattle off more details but he was barely paying attention. His mind was preoccupied with what or when NK’s next move would be.
"Why are we taking this route?" he asked.
"Chief wants to see you," Promise replied from behind the steering wheel.
"True, forgot to mention that. Anyway, here’s your schedule for today," she said as she handed him a sheet of paper.
Banjo took it but barely saw anything on it. His mind was on a bigger issue. Chief.
***********
Known to many as Chief, to Banjo he was political godfather, father in-law, boss and sponsor all wrapped up in one. The man was as filthy as they came and the only reason they connected was how filthy Banjo used to be too. He started off as Chief’s executive PA, then became head of Admin and eventually Chief of staff where his political grooming started in full.
His meeting with Chief was more a scolding than a meeting. As he left, chief tossed him a newspaper that sent chills down his spine. On the front page was a woman who claimed banjo was her secret lover and the boy beside her was his son.
By the time he got to his office, almost all the office phones were ringing at the same time. His mobile phone rang and from the ring tone he knew it was Jummy.
"Is it true?" the steel in her voice was unmistakable. He could tell she had been crying.
"No."
"Here’s what you’re going to do. Challenge the lady to come forward and make her allegations with proof and that if she’s right you will step down from pursing your political career."
Banjo swallowed hard. Although he knew his hands were clean because he did not know the woman, he also knew that such a statement was as good as sitting in an electric chair and flipping the switch himself.
"Okay babe. Liz and I will go over the details before my first interview at noon."
"Good. You and I need to talk, tonight," Jummy said and hung up the phone.
Banjo put his head on his desk and willed the world to pause. His day had just gone from very bad to incredibly bad. First it was chief then it was the newspaper and now, Jummy. He knew what Jummy wanted to talk about but he was not ready to talk.
He wondered how he would tell her that NK was the true love of his life. That he spent the first couple of years in marriage wishing he had the nerve to annul the marriage and go back to her. Chief made him a promise that was too good to resist on the conditions that he married his only daughter and so far the man had made good his promises.
NK was his girlfriend from university days. She was the one who more or less sponsored him through school, using her money to feed the two of them in his tiny flat. She stole for him, lied for him and did terrible things for him because she believed in him. she allowed him pursue his student union aspirations till he became powerful on campus. They graduated together and lived together until political connections aligned his path with Chief’s and a deal was made.
It did not take Jummy long to fall for his charm and the moment he proposed, the wedding happened in what felt like the blink of an eye. But his heart always belonged to NK. In recent years he had grown to truly love Jummy and was fine with it until NK called him a week ago. NK… the woman he shared his bed with on his wedding night after Jummy drunk herself to sleep or was it he who drugged her so he could run off to be with NK? The details were unclear or so he liked to believe.
***************
Banjo went through his day trying his hardest to keep his head up through the interviews. Liz had managed to secure a third interview with yet another radio station but it would be via phone.
As soon as Banjo was out of a meeting with his campaign manager, Liz grabbed him by the shoulder and edged him toward the conference room down the hall.
"Your interview is in five minutes. The radio show has begun and they’re more or less waiting till you’re seated before they announce that you’ll be joining them for the show via phone."
Banjo listened and gleaned what he needed from everything she said. He was fast learning that art with Liz and he only hoped, one day soon, it would not back fire. So far, the day was looking good. Once he was done with this interview he was going home to face Jummy. he needed to feel good before then because he knew that meeting had the potential to ruin his night.
He sat in a chair as the tech guy made a beeline for him and attached a lapel mic to his shirt. "Just speak into this once you’re on air sir. Please ensure your phone is switched off to prevent static sir."
"So I’ve told them you have only five minutes to spare. The bulk of their questions will be political but the last one will be about this woman’s claims. Just stick to the script and you’ll be fine."
He smiled but it barely left his lips let alone touch his eyes.
The interview started and like a professional, he danced through question after question. He started to get comfortable somewhere along the line. There was a short commercial break on the radio so Banjo had a minute to look at his phone. He fiddled around on his phone and just before he went back on air he got a text message from NK.
He bolted from his seat, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets.
"Promise!!!" he yelled for his CSO.
"What’s the matter?" Liz asked as she ran to him.
Promise burst through the door.
"Kara has been kidnapped," Banjo announced as he yanked the cables off him and left the conference room.
Liz grabbed his phone and saw the message. Nice interviews today and smart move with the challenge. Well done. By the way, do you know where your older daughter is?
Liz quickly checked the number used but found that it was sent as a broadcast via an online platform. She stomped her foot in anger and raced out of the room in pursuit of Banjo. The radio interview forgotten.