Light Obi: Why is father in jail? (30 Days, 30 Voices)

 

by Light Obi

asfscd

”It still sounded paradoxical passing through a hard life in the hands of a government that promised a better life programme so eloquently.”

 

Mother! Where did I come from? When will I wear long trousers? Why was father jailed?” ~OSWALD M.M

* * * * * * * *

Today makes it exactly two weeks since father was taken away. The image of him being led by those dark goggled soldiers into the ‘Black Maria’ is and will continue to be fresh as long as I live.

Today, I open yet another page -a full page of a life without father. Today’s entry is not different from the previous ones. It will have the same content as the rest- sad and heavy; prayerful and supplicant. This is how our past 14 days have been. This is how my memoir will read.

No one expects to make ecstasy out of sorrow. Life without mother has always been unusual but, we have learnt to adjust to her annual absence. It has become a routine for her and everyone, including Ugo- the last child in the house -knows that mother takes Grandpa abroad yearly for his check-ups and medication. Mother’s month-long absence is not unusual; but father’s absence is.

No one has ever witnessed father’s absence for more than two days; not to mention two weeks. No one had anticipated it!

I know he usually suspended business meetings that would take him outside town, in order to stay with us. He would rather risk the daily drive or flight even if they were long distances than stay away from home.

It’s been two weeks since they took him away. Life in the family has been unstable. Christy, our elder sister has taken over mother’s domestic roles as she is wont to whenever mother is away.

Though I am almost 20, I have never tried doing father’s job, because he has never been away before. I have never read night stories to Ugo on his bed, I have never organised and led morning prayers; neither have I distributed the chores nor directed the house helps on their daily chores. I have not done many things I now do, because father has never been away as he is now.

* * * * * * * *

Now, the difference in today’s entry is Ugo. Yesterday was his birthday. A birthday that had been planned even before mother went on her trip and father was taken away. Father had planned it to be a great bash, as it coincided with Ugo’s graduation from primary school. I had watched Ugo, intoxicated with excitement and anxiety, tick his countdown; even after father’s arrest.

As the day drew nearer, I became more troubled. It had been very difficult walking in father’s shoes, presiding over Ugo’s birthday. I knew it would be difficult. But we still carried on; with calm and ease, I carried on.

At last, with the combined effort of every one at home, the birthday celebration was successful, despite the sombre air that hung like February cloud all through the event.

It was with the same air that Ugo had borne father’s absence – silence. His calmness was almost mature. Then as we retired to bed ,after a moderated feast, he quietly asked me the question I had waited too long for, “Why is father in jail?”

I have never thought of asking anyone such a question, not even myself. Though the answer was not far, I found it hard to give.

My lips stood like a disused entrance, gaping at his curious eyes. “Father is in jail because … eehm”, the words stuck to my throat. I cleared it effortlessly. “…because some bad men think he is against their evil ways.”

“What are they going to do with him?” he asked, almost in whispers.

“Nothing!” I quipped. “He will soon be back.”

Then that question continued to haunt me. Why was father arrested in the first place? Why has he been detained for these two weeks? I knew the answers to those questions but they still boggled me.

It still sounded paradoxical passing through a hard life in the hands of a government that promised a better life programme so eloquently. Yes! That was why father hated everything about it, and they hated him too.

They had issued warnings to him severally to close down the publishing firm he operated. To stop producing and circulating his publication. His “anti-government” publication as they wrote in one of the letters they sent him; but father had refused.

Father is a fearless man who stands for what he believes in. He was open in his criticism against the cruelty of a government that hides under the cloak of kindness. He criticised them in print and in many of his long public speeches. The last straw which broke the camel’s back was his last speech titled the ‘NEW NAME CRUSADE’, where he had said:

“There is no benevolence with a gang that speaks and does brutality.”

Then, the government had declared him an enemy of the state and charged him of treasonable felony. They came to our house and took him away. That was two weeks ago.

Father hated the government. The government hated him too; and that is why father is in jail.

———————————-

Light Obi is a poet and short story writer.

30 Days, 30 Voices series is an opportunity for young Nigerians from across the world to share their stories and experiences – creating a meeting point where our common humanity is explored.

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail