ỌFỤ

"Son, hurry up! We don't wanna be late!" The middle aged Man called upon his Son as he went to knock on his door.

"I'll be out in a minute Nná m," The Man replied. His Father heard the door click open soon after and adjusted making way as his Son came out elegantly dressed in neatly pressed black cotton trousers, Ìsịágụ (an Igbo traditional red, short sleeved tunic bearing imprints of a tiger's head) and an Ókpụ Ágụ, (a Leopard's hat which was made of red and white nets which the tail always rested at the back of the head.) He equally clad a brand new designer shoe which had stopped reigning, trending a while back, the complete kit of the Dịọkpálá, the first or only Son of a titled man in the Ìgbo culture or of an Ìgbo person in general.

His father gave him a proud stare, patting his back he remarked, "Ómékánnáyá one!" The boy smiled feeling proud of himself as he knew his father was equally proud of him which he had just displayed by calling him Ómékánnáyá, from Ónyé ná éméká Nná yá meaning "One who acted like their father," a very rare praise only bestowed on those who followed the noble paths of their Fathers.

The boy knew he had done exactly that not only tonight but in other aspects of life in general which he or his Father deemed honorable. Tonight he looked onto his Father who had equally done himself and he the Boy, his Son proud as he clad his Ìsịágụ top, neatly pressed black cotton trousers and traditional Ókpụ mméé decorated neatly with the white feather of a rooster at the top which was only specific to Igbo communities with the Nzé ná Ózó, a sacred institution that signified nobility and which meant the person was now a living spirit or ancestor. They, both decorated with their mgba aka (traditional hand beads), mgba ukwu (traditional leg beads) and mgba onu (traditional neck beads) and he the father armed with his mkpọ, traditional walking stick crafted from the finest woods in Africa, and his Ákụpé, traditional Ozo handfan made from real animal skin bearing imprints of mkpị, a cow horn on both sides in the middle, it was carefully crafted and decorated with the name Ákụbuèzịọkwụ ọfụ nké Ónịchá Ádọ N'ịdụ engraved around it on both sides right above the horn imprints, the name was Onyebuchi's Ózó (chieftaincy) title or name, it meant "Wealth is truth" and ọfụ nké Ónịchá Ádọ which meant "One of Ónịchá Ádọ N'ịdụ" They gave each other proud looks as they walked majestically to their ride which had been awaiting them, the latest model of Innoson Vehicles motors brand, the IVM G9.

When they arrived their destination, the most influential people in the event all rose in applause to the presence of the Man and his Boy. The DJ wasn't even given a chance to make introductions, but was any introductions necessary? Who in the building didn't know the man who had just arrived the event?

To the outside world he was simply Ọnyị, a producer and CEO and president of the Égwú ná ètị ètị Group but to the people in there, he was no common man, excluding the disk and video jockey who just did his honors of announcing the presence of this renowned music mogul and businessman and his only Son, he was definitely gonna do his bid that day to get a signing or even just a meeting with the music giant. The entire house knew that he was Onyebuchi, he was more than a music icon, he had shares and investments in every business that they owned across the lands of Africa, all seated there, he had them all under his fingertips.

And there seated amongst them were Africa's top business moguls, politicians, law enforcement agents and top top celebrities alike from Ọbọdọịkụkụáyálá (Nouakchott) to Ọbọdọdịtó (Tripoli) to Ìdèmmịlị (Victoria) to Ọsịmmịlị (Praia) to Ọbọdọpụkụ (Antananarivo) across to Nwákáégọ (Katanga) in Ákpáégọ (Kinshasa) up to Éká'páá (Cape town) and Tụshụwáné (Pretoria) over to Ákụnáụbá (Juba) to Ájámméé (Maseru) and across Ánịnné (Africa), he was influencial, he was shrouded from the knowledge of the general public but he wasn't alone because as he went to take his seat, the guests rose again in applause for him...

"May we all rise in applause to the arrival of..."

His greatest competition and rival... "CEO and business mogul Ìchịé 'Ụbázụrụọkè' (The Fortunes or Riches are complete.) Okafor nwá Ágbálánzé," He forced a smile as the applause continued, he rose and approached him with open arms for an embrace which Okafor reciprocated whole heartedly both smiling and patting each other like old friends... they were! They shook each other's palms and Onyebuchi led Okafor to his seat right next to him as the applause slowly decreased.

The DJ could not help but wonder why out of all the top guests in arrival, it was only these two middle aged, long time friends who were not even top dogs in their various fields that all these top, important and revered celebrities, politicians and entrepreneurs alike stood up for. He, like the general public didn't know what went on in the background, he didn't understand the underground affairs of the top dogs shrouded in mystery and they weren't about to find out any time soon.

Onyebuchi took side glances at Okafor who got into a conversation with the seven year old Chiukwuemeka, his only Son and kid... for now he hoped. Onyechi knew that Okafor had three daughters, the last being Emeka's age mate and the only advantage he had over Okafor was the fact that he had a son, a heir and he didn't, but he would always recall Okafor's words when they were in junior high school, middle school.

"Omo way, if my partner no later deliver a Boy and she only creates Daughters, no wahala, I go simply turn our Daughter into a very rich Man, that's to say she won't just marry a rich Man, tufiakwa! That's backwards mentality bro, she'll become a rich Man herself so that her standards will be high and that of her friends and her Daughters. Their high standards won't be because of their body, never! That alone has caused more harm than bad to Ladies everywhere and society in general, society is its own problem, anyways my Daughters' standards will be so high because of their intellectual property, the work of their hands and not the rhythmic movement of their bodies and the Men they'll pick to court will be forced to match their status and standards because my Girls will not ever settle for less, no Girl gotta be subjected to settling for less by society because of her age or gender, my Girls will be no man's property, objects of sexual gratification or appendages and what not but they will be proper Ladies, decent and independent. Marrying at below thirty is settling for less because a girl should begin thinking of marriage at twenty four, by then they're matured enough and ready to begin thinking of Marriage, nothing less than twenty four. Because you'll never see a Guy marrying below thirty, he's still busy chasing success and being one so why should it be different for my daughters or any other Lady in general across the world? No my Mother Nneka didn't teach me that. Besides who needs heirs when you can raise Queens and heiresses?" He would always state, "But if I ended up getting Boys, ndị Mendem, that's ok because that will give me ample reasons and opportunities to teach them to respect their Sisters when they eventually came and to respect Ladies in general because Ladies are the givers of life, not Men like some crazy ass book stated and humans gobbled up, Ladies are Life and Life is Ladies, Woman is Life, Woman is Chineke (fate and destiny), they are fate and they are destiny. From them we came and to them we will go back, Mother Earth, Anị, Mummy ányị, Mother Africa, Alkebulan, Nnémmádụnchà, Mother of all Peoplekind, Ladies, they are great and mighty and we humans, we people, the children, we the Men are nothing without Women. I'm great today because of my Mother, Nneka Nné m is great mmá ná Nnéụwá kàchásị (My Mother Nneka is great but Nnéụwá is the greatest) My Mother is Nnéụwá because she gave me Life. So I'll teach my Sons to respect Ladies like they would an Álụsị, a Goddess or a God, a deity, like they would Chịụkwụ who is Nnéụwá, the great Alusi, the supreme being, the supreme deity, the supreme Heiress, the supreme Queen, you get, ókwá yá?" Onyechi would remember always making arguments about Ladies being appendages like the religious books stated, he even cited the religious books as evidence and how society championed and exemplified misogynistic mentalities and ideosyncracies but he knew there were so much strong elements of truth in the words of Okafor his friend but still chose to just make arguments for the fun of it and Okafor with his valid points and precise, firm teachings and attitude would always embarass him and after three plus years, he finally gave up ever arguing with Okafor over anything.

His respect for Okafor grew and tripled with time, most especially when after getting three girls from his late Wife he didn't fright or complain even adopting or worse remarrying, he kept to his words and as they sat there, his daughters were single handedly handling businesses and brands which they created, all three of them even whilst studying. The saying kept ringing in his ears 'Who needed a heir when you could raise Queens and heiresses?' He wanted so much to applaud his friend, he secretly did in his heart from time to time but not outwardly because of the fierce rivalry that had begun in senior high as a result of embers that had been heating up since grade school and junior high abi na Middle school.Throughout high school, University and in Life, the rivalry burned unquenchably till they both had taken their names and families to the top tier of the world order, the Uzokas and the Agbalanzes.

Onyechi had his own block of investments in stocks and shares under the name Uzoka, one of his Grandfather's name and Okafor had his under his Mom's name. Ọkáfór used his Mom's name as his áfá ịbá (surname or name from the Ancestral homes) Agbalanze is her name, her who had single handedly brought him up, the seed that resulted from a forced act which had her attempting to take her own Life after not being granted rights to abortion by the province in a time of political crisis that one only hoped wouldn't occur again in Omambala in Biafra, she got some pills to end it all but for sheer grace, Onyechi's mother Nweke which comes from the phrase Nwá Èké which means A Child born on the Èké market Day. 'Only a Sister truly understood a Sister' the old Ladies would always say.

Now successful and all, they both sat beside each other occasionally taking side glances, though laughing and smiling as it seemed, they were both thinking of business ideas to better the continent and least importantly, outdo themselves.

They were at the bachelor's party of Aboagye, son of the representative of the Motherland region of Ọbịụdọ (Ghana), Ónyé ọtú (Unionite or Comrade) Biakoye. The boy was to be wedded by Kutlwano the Daughter of the representative of the Motherland region of Gbọswáná (Botswana), Unionite Umoja. He had learnt from his wife Adamma that Kutlwano was hosting her Spinster party that same night in the Eastern regions of the Motherland and she had gone a day earlier in one of their family private plane to honor the invitation at the Savute Elephant lodge in Chobe, in the Motherland region of Gbọswáná. He was shocked however that Aboagye insisted on flying to his region to host his bachelorette party and in honor of he and Okafor at that, Kutlwano and her Mom Umoja decided the wedding was to be hosted there in the Western Motherland region in Ówụwá in particular and Aboagye didn't wanna be in a position to object his Wife's decision, this wasn't something both of them had to think through, they were one, no one was lesser than the other, so, he stuck to her opinion like chewing gum to hair.

"Power is power my friend," Okafor says to him as the event came to a close.

"No, Money is power bro, Égọ bụ Íke! Ákụ bụ èzịọkwụ, Wealth is truth, Ákụ bú ìfè nị nè! Wealth is all."

"I thought knowledge was power Dad?" Emeka asked as he clutched his Dad's palm. His Father shot him a mouth shutting glance to which Okafor laughed and tapping on the Boy's back, he said to his bro.

"Way Onyechi! Nyé yà way nyà ósịsó! Clear road for the Boy, the Boy has a fucking point or two you know," And Onyechi laughed shuffling his Son's hair.

"Abi?" He laughed some more. "Ehm, Okafor, e go be na, till next time," Onyechi bid him fare well with hugs and slappy handshakes.

"Oya na bro, see you when we will," And turning to the boy Chiukwuemeka, he said, "The Boy! the myth! the legend! see you around kid."

"Normal!" Onyechi replied for he and his kid as they each entered their various rides and were driven into the night.

Far from the event the driver decided to take another path much to the distaste of Onyebuchi.

"Azeez where are you headed?" He questioned the driver hastily. He got no reply. As he began screaming for help and reaching out to his phone to locate help while Emeka made to flee the moving vehicle but immediately felt a gun at the back of his head.

"Now kindly close the door like a good little Boy and relax for the ride," He heard the voice behind him command softly. He did as he was told and turning a bit he found his Father in the same state. As they fearfully relaxed, they were both immediately stabbed needles to their necks and they passed out in few minutes.

The driver contacted someone as soon as they had passed out, "Alaye mi, the job's done, moving them to the factory immediately."

"Good!" The voice blared from the speakers below, "I'll be waiting." The Men proceeds to knock the two out by hitting the gun on their heads so that he too can relax.

When they arrived at the factory, a dilapidated building due for renovation the next week, they tied up both Father and Son and for the next few hours awaited their awakening.

Soon the duo woke up much to the relief of the Men who had been waiting on them for a long while, "Alaye, dem don resurrect o." One of the men called out to the masked figure by the corner. As soon as he arrived Onyebuchi sent a hard slimy ball of saliva flying straight at his face landing on the mask. Though previously trembling in fear for being tied up like hostages he found this act from his Dad rather amusing and fought unsuccessfully to hold back his laughter.

"Shut up Boy!" One of the Men shouts and gives him a slap right across the face.

"You get your filthy hands off my Son you nkịtà!" Onyechi shouts in retaliation as Emeka began to cry. The masked figure stepped forward and gives Onyechi a hard slap, a knock on his head and a kick right across the tummy to which he groans loudly coughing out blood and saliva in the process.

"I've always wanted to do that you foolish human being, look at you now, sitting here looking helpless, not the richest Man in the world anymore hey? You said your money could buy you the world, it did but can it buy you your freedom?."

"Look! I don't know who you are, but I stand on my word in stating these two things, one being, to some, money sure can't buy everything but I only wish those people could look hard and realize, poverty can't buy anything, they had better pick a side and stop side hopping. And two, if they had also looked well enough they would realize, my money can buy me anything." He chuckles and continues. "What's your price? Ó Ndè?(Is it Millions?), kó Ụdè? (Or is it billions?), mó Ọzụélé? (Or rather trillions?) Ná Ègónné? (in Afrozx?) or Nnefes? C'mon, I'll get them for you, any amount you want."

The masked figure looked him dead in the eye and responded. "Nice offer Ìchịé, Ọnọwụ, Ịkèngá, Átákátá ábụá! But I think he made a far greater offer."

"Who?" Onyebuchi with his hands tied behind the plastic chair with new rope aks. The masked figure pulls out his phone and dials a number which answers in seconds.

"Onyechiiiii!"

"Ụbá?" And with that the masked figure pulls out a revolver and aims it at him.

"Nná m!" Emeka screams as the tears welling up in his eyes begins to flow generously, "Please leave my daddy alone, please leave my daddy alone, hápụ Nná m o! Rápụlụ m Nná m o, bịkọ zịè, please, please, we'll do anything you..." Another slap was sent across the kids face and his mouth was tied up with a rag as he struggled, mumbling the same words.

"I said leave my Boy outta this you cowards!" Onyebuchi commands.

"Alaye at the top," The masked figure calls out to the voice over the line.

"Run am!" The voice said calmly and authoritatively. And right before Emeka, numerous bullets were deployed into the heart region of his Father much to the amusement of the masked figure who was performing the deed. As he sat there looking at his Father's now lifeless body emitting blood and saliva in mass quantities from his mouth, heart region and all over, he suddenly began to scream as loud as his voice could take him, sadness and anguish ladden in his tone as the rag could not hold his tongue no more, the Men came to restrict him but he struggled so much with them that he and the chair fell to the ground breaking in the process, he was still screaming, crying out for his Father whom he just realized, he would never see again.

As they picked him up, the masked figure points the gun at him. Calling upon his Ancestors in his heart to receive him and grace him the ability to watch over his Mom and protect her and the unborn kids she was carrying as he would now be a dead relative, he shut his eyes waiting for the reception into the spirit realm but when they heard some rustling of leaves outside, they took to their heels toppling him over in the process and leaving him still restricted and to fate. To him, he was happy to be by his Father whether dead or alive, the worst could come, he had no one else now, suddenly he sees black all over again...

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