Whirlwind of Mercy: The Story of a Country at War with the Truth by Pearl Adams, chapters 5 & 6
Chapter 5 – Washington DC, USA
What Are Friends For?
“Ambassador Griffel, I sent for you because you are familiar with the politics of Nigeria. I got a phone call from President Akinluyi last night and he appeared to be losing grip of the situation. You and I know that our foreign policy initiatives in Africa would suffer a set back if Nigeria goes under. How can we help him to stay on top of the situation?”
Lucas Griffel, former American Ambassador to Nigeria looked at President James Baldwin and shrugged his shoulders. The situation in Nigeria as he saw it was beyond human control. He had always known that Nigeria was sitting on a keg of gunpowder, but he never in his wildest imagination believed that things would take the present form.
“Your Excellency, I wish with all my heart that I could think of a solution to this serious problem our ally is facing. You are aware that my wife is from that country. How can we confront forces that are clearly beyond human comprehension, Your Excellency? Perhaps, you may consider the possibility of sending troops to protect American interests and citizens if the siege persists.”
“Thank you Ambassador. If what is happening in Nigeria is an act of God, can we be spared? Who knows where the arrow is going from there. I’m disturbed because I know that our country is long overdue for judgment. When I talk on the need for Americans to return to God, my opponents call me a prude. They say I am only making noise to win the support of the evangelicals. Ambassador, I was brought up by my uncle, a God-fearing man, bless his soul. I was taught to appreciate honesty and the fear of God. Today, such values are treated with disdain. Some people even warned me that I wouldn’t go far politically if I continue to operate with a 19th Century mentality. Today, it’s Nigeria. I’m afraid that our country could be next”.
“Sir, don’t allow your person to be tormented by such thoughts. I’m sure there must be some explanation for what is happening in Nigeria. With due respect Sir it may not be the hand of God. Most people in that country are extremely fetish. Some communities in the oil rich Niger Delta in particular pride themselves in their mystical powers. The agitation for the control of oil resources had variously pitched restive youth against the Federal authorities. In 1999, Odi, a town in Bayelsa State was virtually destroyed by soldiers after militants killed some Policemen. Before the military intervened, the youth threatened to unleash their mystical powers on Government forces. Mystical powers also form part of local arsenal in other regions of the country. So, one can’t rule out the possibility of this calamity being engineered by aggrieved communities over the sharing of proceeds from oil and other natural resources that abound in that country. I advise Sir, that we draw up a contingency plan in anticipation of a violent take over of the Government by the military, which could capitalize on the situation to return to power.
“Thank you Ambassador. I will consult with the leadership of the Congress on that. That will be all for now. Good day. My regards to your wife”
The President of the most powerful nation in the world took a long look at his office and shook his head. Men struggle for power and when they think it is theirs, God shows up with a smile to remind mortal man that He is the Boss.
The development in Nigeria reminded him of the adversity he confronted during his campaign for re-election. He went into the election against the advice of his wife, who felt they had been unjustly crucified by the American press for committing resources and the lives of American soldiers to fight terrorism. Though he respected her views, he stood his ground and prevailed. He has never been a quitter.
He also recalled the night in Vietnam when his battalion was virtually surrounded by enemy forces. His Commanding Officer had been killed by the first salvo of bullets from the Vietnamese. He had to take over the battalion as the next most Senior Officer. He looked at a soldier that was badly hurt and saw the plea in his eyes that they should raise the white flag to signal their surrender. He thought of the horrors of Prisoner of War camp and the shame of returning to America as a vanquished foe. He couldn’t bring himself to give the order to quit, so he ordered the boys to fight on. He couldn’t recollect the exact sequence of events that day, but he survived to become the 47th President of the United States of America.
His visitor alert beeped. It was the Director, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Stanley Bowel.
“Stanley, I was just about to send for you. Is there anything new on the drama in Nigeria?”
Bowel grinned. He enjoyed making people uncomfortable with bad news. But you will never catch him showing anyone that side of his life. Sometimes he used to wonder if the devil has taken up abode in his body because he always has this strange thrill anytime there is bad news in circulation.
“Sir, our people have just reported serious breakdown of law and order in that country. A state of emergency has been declared in seven States out of thirty-six. Mobs have burnt down houses of people believed to be responsible for the siege, Sir; I suggest that we arrange to evacuate our people immediately. We fear that terrorists might capitalize on the confusion to attack Western interests. I hear the Israeli authorities have started evacuating their people”.
President Baldwin listened to the briefing with a far away look in his eyes. He had hoped to spend the Easter holiday at Camp David with his family. Of course, that was now out of the question. He thought of President Akinluyi. The poor man. This is the time he’ll know who his friends are.
“Has there been any news on the reaction of the military in Nigeria to the situation?”
“Yes Sir. Our man at the Defense Headquarters said the military top brass are uncomfortable with the situation. They sympathize with the President but things could change if the carnage continues. The President would tomorrow, meet with senior Military officers at Dodan Barracks, Lagos and the former seat of Government. Our man would brief us after the meeting”.
“Let me know if anything new crops up. I will also speak with our Ambassador to Nigeria, Chris Pollen later in the day. He should have more information that can help us handle this difficult situation. I need to know if Americans are in danger, particularly from terrorist attacks. The Congress is already calling for my head over the debacle in Iraq”.
“Sir, I also suggest that you contact our people at NATO. We may have to use their facilities if the situation deteriorates”.
President Baldwin was not so keen about asking the present leadership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for help. Most people ignorantly believe that America controls that organization. What they don’t know is that every decision on the deployment of troops and facilities has to be endorsed by a Board comprising member nations and headed by a non-American. His predecessor, President Kirk Benny had supported the arrangement to attract new members from Eastern Europe, who felt uncomfortable with what they saw as America’s domineering influence in Europe.
His first encounter with the group was at the start of the Iraqi invasion. The Chairman of the Board, General Alfred Palosvic from Georgia made it clear that NATO had no interest to protect in Iraq. He went as far as issuing a press release re-emphasizing the objective of the organization, but explained that member nations could support the American Government in their individual capacity if they so wished.
“Bowel, what makes you think NATO would assist us this time around? I haven’t forgotten how Palosvic snubbed me when we needed help for the Iraqi offensive. Let’s not bring him and his gang into this right now. By all means, get in touch with our people there just in case we may have to contact NATO officially. That will be all for now. By the way, has there been any form of contact by the Russians on this?”
“No Sir, I believe everyone is as perplexed as we are”.
“What about the Chinese? They have much investment in Nigeria.”
“I was informed that the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Tse Ming and his Taiwanese counterpart, Neo Wong, were summoned by their respective home Governments for consultation. They are yet to return to Nigeria.”
“Keep me informed of further developments. I should be meeting with the leadership of the Congress later in the day”
“All right Sir.”
Chapter 6 – Onitsha, Nigeria, Return to Sender
Chief Augustine Iweke wasn’t a man given to sensationalism in any form. He jumped up from his massive bed, anger written all over him. How could the management of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) allow such a program to be aired on a national network? The object of his anger was a Christian crusade by a local Evangelist, Otung David, where some people testified to having received their ‘miracles’ Still fuming, he tuned the television to CNN, just in time to catch the 10 pm news.
The strange scourge in Nigeria still attracted attention. Iweke sat down on a small stool by his bed to listen to the analysis on the Nigerian situation by a Caucasian described as an ‘expert’ on African affairs. The news anchor man, Ted Newman betrayed his ignorance of developments in Nigeria when he asked his guest if the Muslim-dominated North could hold its own in the event of an outbreak of religious war in the country.
The analyst merely parried the question, insisting that it was too early to make an informed judgment on the situation, since the strange famine wasn’t limited to any tribe or religion.
In anger, Iweke pulled out the DSTV cable from his television and tuned the channel to the local station, Anambra State Broadcasting Service. The newscaster was repeating a Police alert advising residents of Onitsha to desist from taking the law into their hands over the unfolding developments in the country. The Police said efforts were on to identify persons linked to violence recorded in the town in the past two weeks, in which forty houses of those believed to have acquired their wealth through questionable means were torched.
The arsonists had threatened to unleash more havoc in the town should the Government fail to find a solution to the strange famine, which they blamed on activities of ritualists.
He switched off the television and walked into the adjoining room. His wife and their youngest daughter, Ijeoma were sound asleep. He said a silent prayer to God for sparing the lives of his entire family via the Holy Communion since the plague broke out. He pledged in his heart to double his donation to the Apostolic Tent, an orthodox church he’d been attending since he pulled out of the Anglican Communion.
Returning to his room, he switched off the light and lay down on his bed, but sleep wasn’t forthcoming. Pictures he’d tried to exorcise in the last ten years came flooding back. He was tormented by his past.
He recalled his meeting with a visiting Pastor, Caleb Peter two years ago. The man many claimed was highly anointed was invited by the leadership of the Apostolic Tent in Onitsha to minister in the church, on the recommendation of some influential members who were unhappy with the exodus of young members to some Pentecostal churches in the town. The thinking was that the ‘man of God’ would work sufficient miracles to make the Apostolic Tent attractive enough for youngsters to remain in its fold.
When the issue was broached at the monthly meeting of the church, Iweke was among the few voices that sued for caution. The majority eventually carried the day. Of course, all adult members had to make voluntary donation towards hosting the ‘man of God.’ Because of Iweke’s aversion to the visit, he merely gave a token. The Pastor of their Parish, Kennedy Oguta tried unsuccessfully to co-opt him into the committee set up to handle the visit. Iweke tried to justify his stance, but couldn’t understand why he’d taken a dislike to someone he hadn’t set his eyes on.
When the ‘man of God’ arrived, he found himself warming up to the guy. The Pastor was simple and amiable, quite unlike those he’d seen in Onitsha who walked around with their noses in the air as if they were ‘junior gods’. Two days into the four-day program at the church, he worked up the courage to visit the ‘man of God’ at his hotel room. He needed to know why God was ‘punishing’ him by giving him only daughters. At that time, his wife was pregnant with their eighth child and the scan had revealed that she was expecting another girl.
He was beside himself with worry because his people had started mounting pressure on him to take another wife, despite the fact that his church frowned at polygamy.
He was shocked to his marrows when the ‘man of God’ welcomed him with, “The Lord told me you’ll be coming to see me this evening”. He just flopped on a chair and stared at the Pastor. Before he could say a word, the ‘man of God’ continued, “God says He’s willing to forgive you for what you did to your neighbour, Ukiwe Onuoha in 1997 if you repent and make restitution to his family.”
On hearing this, Iweke screamed, “Did I not say it? You must be a wizard, otherwise how would you have known what transpired between Ukiwe and I in 1990. I haven’t discussed it with a soul since then. You are definitely a wizard.” He stood up to leave, but the Pastor blocked his way. ‘Sir, your life’s in danger if you choose to reject the mercy of God. Immediately you walked into this room, I saw an open vision, something like a video clip of what you did to Ukiwe portrayed on that wall. I saw you seating in your shop in Kano, a city in the northern part of the country, looking forlorn because your neighbor, Ukiwe was making a brisk sale and customers weren’t interested in your wares. Angry and dejected, you visited one Umar Zonkwa, a man with mystical powers; his house was close to Kano city gate.
He agreed to assist you and asked you to procure some items for the rituals, including the head of a python and a live tortoise which you duly supplied. Thereafter, he gave you some concoctions to smear on the wall of Ukiwe’s shop. You were surprised when two days after the deed had been done; Ukiwe disappeared and hasn’t been seen till date. The Lord says He knows you didn’t intend to kill your neighbour. All he wants from you is repentance. Are you ready to make peace with God?”
Iweke opened his mouth to say something but couldn’t. He just shook his head. He couldn’t bring himself to say sorry because he knew the Lord would also demand for restitution to the family of Ukiwe. He recalled how much he’d wept at the meeting of Igbo3 indigenes in Kano when the fate of Ukiwe came up for discussion. Thereafter, he single-handedly transported the deceased man’s wife and three children from Kano to their village in Aba, another town in Eastern Nigeria. How would he be able to face the woman and her children and tell them, “I killed your husband and father?” He walked out of the hotel room without looking back.
On getting home, he sent for his wife, Nkechi intending to open up to her. The moment she entered his room, he became tongue-tied. It wasn’t until he thought of something else to discuss with his wife that he found his voice. He forced himself to share some tidbits about the ministration at the church with her, since she couldn’t attend the program due to her condition.
Immediately his wife gave birth to their eighth child, his relatives came out smoking. They made it clear that they would ‘explore every avenue’ to break the hold Nkechi had on him, which prevented him from taking a second wife. They said none of the males in the Iweke family had problem siring a male child, so the problem must come from Nkechi’s family.
In fairness to Iweke, he tried to resist the pressure. He even sent Nkechi to Raphael Ugwu, a renowned gynecologist based in Abuja, with the hope that the situation would be remedied. After two years of ‘treatment’ without any tangible result, Iweke resolved to try his luck with another woman. He made the decision three months before the strange famine broke out. Since then, all his attention had been on how to secure his family against any attack by religious extremists who were hiding under the cover of purging the society of occultists to cause chaos.
He turned on his side on the bed to switch on his reading lamp. It was then he perceived the acrylic smell. Something was burning in the house. He looked out of the window. The western wing of the house where his seven daughters and three cousins were quartered was engulfed in flame. Iweke ran to his wife’s room to alert her to the development. In panic, he ran back to his room to pick up his telephone. At least he could call the head of the Fire Service, Egoh Allen, a member of his church. Before he could put the call through, it was too late for Iweke, the man some journalists had described as the ‘pillar of Christianity in Onitsha.’