The State

K got to where his father was. He noticed that council members were with him. The father looked at him one eye. And then clears his throat. He asked K to sit down. K did as told. He sat down on a seat that seemed to have been reserved for him. He was wondering why he was here with his father and his council members. Even the deputy governor, Bamidele was there.

A file was placed on the table in front of him. He wondered what it was. He was expecting somebody to say something because he was not going to open it up. But the Governor asked him to open up the file.

He did not want to disrespect the Governor in front of the council and his deputy. It seems it was official. The Governor as far as Lagos is concerned is the first citizen of Lagos state. He opened the file and saw that it contains some documents. It was a contract.

“Why am I being given this appointment?” K asked. He wondered since when the state affair turned into a family affair.

“The state is awarding this contract to you Mr. Adewale Kehinde. You will be in charge of the new housing complex. You will be the one to choose a suitable place and then manage the project until it is complete”. The deputy said to K. He smirked. Was this a scheme to keep him in Lagos? Or his father just want to use this as a means to embezzle money? He wondered which one of this is.

“I’m not vast in real estate. I don’t know anything about building houses either”. K said. Then he dropped the documents on the table. He was about standing up when the Governor told him he will pay the price for disrespecting the governor if he dares to stand up before the Governor when he has not been permitted to leave.

It seems the Governor was desperate to get what ever he wants. “You control half of the estate in Abuja. You have been a real estate owner right from when you were in school. You do own some in Uyo as well. Are you now lying to the Governor, and rejecting this contract?” The Governor said. K sighed. He looked over at the men all seated in the meeting. He nods his head.

“I will take it. How long do I have to finish it?” He asked. He was given a period of eight months to be done with it. He nods his head and took the documents. Then he told the Governor he would put in his best.

“I will announce this in the party since it is not just an engagement party. It is also an official party. You will have to remain in Lagos to carry out this task”. The Governor said. K laughed in his mind. It seems the man wants him to stay in Lagos.

K only got up to leave after he has been dismissed. His father was definitely going to do anything to make him stay.