POWERDRUNK...A TALE OF MONEY, POWER AND RESPECT EPISODE 2

If you missed episode 1, click HERE.

All 4 aspirants drove back to their various houses with each of them thinking up ways to dislodge the other person in the upcoming debate.

Engineer Tunde Coker who lives not too far away arrived home first. Tunde was born into wealth. His dad, Mr.Badmus Coker owns houses scattered all over the town including Coker Shipping Line (CSL) and is also a major stakeholder in various business franchises in the State. Apart from all these, Mr. Badmus who delved into underground politics almost a decade ago has sponsored all councilors, local government chairmen and even 2 governorship candidates under the AUP , including the incumbent governor. The Coker family name is surely one that opens doors in the state.

Tunde who grew up in plenty was yet to earn the respect of his father. At about 9pm, Tunde’s SUV pulled into the Coker Villa. This Villa was so big,it housed 3 generations of the Cokers. In anger, Tunde slammed the door and headed straight into the living room. His father was seated there, awaiting his arrival

TUNDE: Eku irole daddy (Good evening daddy)

BADMUS: Welcome Tunde. How did the meeting go?

TUNDE: Dad, please I would rather not talk about it.

Pointing to a seat, Mr. Badmus tells his son to sit down while calling a maid to get him a bottle of cold water. After Tunde had taken something to drink, the conversation continued

BADMUS: Kilo sele(what happened)?

TUNDE: Can you imagine that Linus, because he is now a poor architect attempted to buy me out of the governorship race with a paltry N50 million.

BADMUS: You call N50 million a paltry sum? Tunde have you ever made N10 million from your sweat?

TUNDE: Daddy see that is besides the point.

BADMUS: The point is that you and Linus are not in the same level. Linus hustled all his way to the top and now I bet you he would put in same vigour to clinch the party’s ticket.

TUNDE: So did I!!!! (raising his voice)

BADMUS: Ooh,you have(with that sound of sarcasm). How interesting. Please tell me what you have achieved all by yourself without my input.

Silence pervaded the entire room for about 5 seconds.

BADMUS: Someone is now suddenly deaf and dumb.

TUNDE: Look dad, its not my fault that I was born into a family where I was given all I ever needed and even what I did not need. There was no need to struggle.

BADMUS: Exactly!!! My boy, in as much as you may feel Linus isn’t up to the task money-wise, he is not one to be done away with so easily.

TUNDE: My money paves the way now dad. I am a Coker for crying out loud.

BADMUS: Money I worked for, a name I gave all its meaning

TUNDE: It really doesn’t matter who worked for the money or who built the name to this point, all that matters is that the Coker name must not be dragged in the mud; must not be associated with failure.

BADMUS: Tunde do you know just how expensive it is to prepare and contest for an elective office in this state?

TUNDE: The expenses would all be child’s play if you support me.

BADMUS: (Laughing out loud) Support you? Tunde, in as much as I own more than half of this state, I still believe in putting the right man for the job in that position so the state can keep advancing.

TUNDE: (Standing up) I am the right man for this job, I was born for this, I live for this position.

BADMUS: When you are done spewing all this rubbish from your mouth, you take a seat and address me like one who is sensible.

Tunde sits down and Badmus continues

BADMUS: Olatunde, you are not the right ,man for this job.

TUNDE: How wrong you are dad.

BADMUS: I have watched you grow and I know how many times I had to pay your way through school and even buy grades while at it. The only thing you are good at is spending money not worked for.

TUNDE: Well if that is what you feel, then support me. How many governors work for the money that is allocated to their states? It is all about spending dad and like you rightly pointed out, that is my field, I am good at spending what I never worked for; just like all the governors so just support me and allow me do what I know how to do best.

BADMUS: Have you ever heard of the story of Kunle Adesanmi?

TUNDE: The guy who squandered the wealth of the Adesanmi family?

BADMUS: Exactly.

TUNDE: Well I know he now works for you.

BADMUS: Did you ever bother to ask how a man whose father was my father’s boss ended up working for me?

TUNDE: (With a look of surprise) My grandfather worked for Kunle’s father?

BADMUS: Ooh yes. Kunle’s father was a very wealthy man. He died in a road accident alongside your grandfather who was his personal driver at that time. You weren’t born then. I had just finished from the University and immediately started a small business. After all the burial rites, Kunle became a sudden millionaire as his father bequeathed everything to him, being the only surviving member of the family since his mum passed on many years earlier. I convinced Kunle to lend me some money which he agreed to and that singular act blew me into the big league. Kunle practically expended more energy in spending than in manning the family buisness. I grew my buisness to the point where I was able to pay off the loan Kunle gave me and then bought his father’s company off him. With total rebranding, I changed the name of the shipping company to CSL and decided to help Kunle out by making him work for me. At least he gets a steady income for his family.

TUNDE: This is really interesting.

BADMUS: You know that I am not one to talk for nothing. I see a lot of that Kunle trait in you.

TUNDE: Dad please that is not possible I am a Coker

BADMUS: Another legacy I built. Infact…

Before he could finish, Tunde’s 5 year old daughter Esther and his wife Caroline both stroll into the living room.

ESTHER: Welcome dad.

TUNDE: Awww, see my angel. Why are you still awake?

ESTHER: I couldn’t sleep. Mum doesn’t know my bedtime song like you do.

CAROLINE: Oh yeah,(laughing) who wrote the song this child?

TUNDE: Don’t mind your mum. You play with your grandfather while I get something to eat.

CAROLINE: Babe its way past her bedtime you know

TUNDE: Honey, it’s a Friday, leave her be and I am hungry. Dad please we are not done with this discussion. We shall continue another day.

BADMUS: Tunde, I think I am done, perhaps you are not.

ESTHER: Grandpa, what discussion?

BADMUS: Family talk dear.

ESTHER: I am a part of the family right?

BADMUS: (laughing)The type meant for grown-ups.

ESTHER: Now I feel cheated, I would grow up one day and no one would use that line as an excuse anymore.

BADMUS: We all await that day. You sure are smarter than most kids your age.

While Badmus and Esther were talking and laughing, Tunde and Caroline headed towards the kitchen area.

CAROLINE: What discussion were you referring to earlier?

TUNDE: Please,not you too.

CAROLINE: Babe, I am your wife and the first lady to be. I think I have earned a seat at the table.

TUNDE: Okay. Dad is still not convinced enough to support me in my governorship race.

CAROLINE: Oh my God!! This spells doom if it is true.

TUNDE: Babe(holding her hands), I got this covered.

CAROLINE: Honey, you gat nothing!!!

TUNDE: Lower your voice.

CAROLINE: Oh, I am sorry but if your father doesn’t support us then this is all a waste. He runs the streets, the thugs, the party. What am I even saying, he runs the entire state.

TUNDE: Babe and I am his son!!!!! Have some confidence in your husband and understand that I gat this.

CAROLINE: Ok o, my husband gat this. Tunde gat this oh. Just know that one way or the other, I am gonna be the 1^st lady so you make sure when your dad tells you to jump, you ask him how high, when he tells you to run, you ask him how fast. Whatever he tells you to do, you do it and get him on our side.

TUNDE: All noted love. Please I am hungry oooo!!!!

CAROLINE: Oya go to the dining table, I would be there in a bit.

He pecks her on the lips and heads to the table.

While all was seemingly okay at the Coker’s, hell was brewing at Dr. smith’s house. Smith arrived home from the meeting at about 9.30pm and met his family outside shouting for help and a male figure setting his garden ablaze. Jumping out before his car grounded to a halt, he was shocked to see that the person setting the garden ablaze was…

Catch the next episode of this adventure next week Saturday.

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