Babatunde agreed with her on that. When he had visited and was given money, Kabiyesi had simply handed over the money to the community purse demanding that a treasurer should give account of whatever the politicians offered them. They had decided to convert such a collection for the common good. At one meeting, she had heard Babatunde state that the populace should ask to be given seeds they could plant.
“If they bring you rice, thank them and ask instead for rice seeds. We will plant them in the rice fields we have and soon we will sell the rice to the same politicians in a few years. Ask them for what we can use to repair our roads too.”
The personal secretary knocked on her door to let her know that the First Lady was waiting to receive her at her reception office. Ife thanked him and handed over the small gift she had made ready to give him. It was a wristwatch. The secretary was surprised and thanked her profusely.
Suddenly Ife knew how she could accept the imposed gift waiting for her—she would sell the jeep and channel the funds towards the clinic. She would even name the clinic after the First Lady. At that thought her heart lifted and she followed the secretary.
~~~
Almost four months later, in a private room attended by nurses as well as traditional birth attendants, Oba Adeolu was informed that his throne now had an heir.
Prince Adeife was born in the early hours as the dawn rose and a golden finger stroked the cheeks of the town.
Numen! Page 19