by Patrick Ogungbola
MD/ CEO, BLUEHEDGE REALTORS
“Evans… Evans… Evans…’’
“(No response)”
“Evans… No be you I dey call? Evans… Evans……’’
“(Still no response)”
“(Steve runs further and hits ‘Evans’ at the back) …Evans, you don deaf, you no hear say I don dey call you since”
“Are you sure you’ve been calling me? I thought you were calling Evans, and not me”
“Ah! Ah!! You dey normal so? Your name no be Evans again?”
“Bros ye, e be like say you travel? My name is now Adeyemi, and no longer Evans, (puts hand in the pocket and brings out a paper); oga Steve, see the affidavit for a change of name”
“(Steve in a very confused state) Evans… oh sorry, Adeyemi, but something is not right here. You are a confirmed Ibo guy, how can you change your name to Adeyemi, a Yoruba name, and what will even warrant the change of name in the first place?”
“Oga Steve, your questions are very funny. This is Nigeria and anything is possible in this country. That I now bear a Yoruba name is strange to you, abi? Haven’t you seen my fellow brothers bearing Hausa names such as Abubakar or Danladi? As a matter of fact, my close friend who was my best man during my wedding has gone to Mecca, and he’s now referred to as Alhaji Ibrahim”
“That must be Uche you’re referring to?”
“Yes, his ‘baptismal name’ was Uche, he’s now being referred to as ‘Alhaji Ibrahim”, and for your information, he is presently learning how to speak Hausa language”
“Evans, I’m really confused here, what’s really the need for all this name change?”
“Oga Steve, a point of correction please, I’m Adeyemi, not Evans”.
“Oh, I’m sorry Mr. Adeyemi, but you can just go ahead and answer my question”
“Well, if you must know, people change their names for various reasons, some, due to some benefits derivable from association or relationship, while others like me, it’s due to the exigencies of the time and season. Let me start from that of my friend, Alhaji Ibrahim (formerly Uche), the name change was as a result of the recent warning from the Northern Youth Group that all Ibos should leave the North, and you know my friend’s business and entire livelihood has been in the North, hence he is faced with two options, either to leave the North, come to his Biafra state and start all over again, or become ‘one of them’, that is, ‘if you cannot beat them, then you join them’, Alhaji Ibrahim went with the latter option.
“Umhhh… (long sigh) Something really dey happen for this our obodo Nigeria”
“Bros ye, na so we see am, when cunny man die, na cunny man go bury am’
“I get you bro, I really understand. But why did you change your own name Mr. Adeyemi”
“The reason is very obvious most especially if you’ve been listening to the news lately. You should know by now”
“Oh! Oh!! Oh!!! Is it related to the recently arrested notorious billionaire kidnap kingpin – Chukwudimeme George Onwuamadike popularly known as Evans?”
“Oh yes!!! it’s partly related to the incidence; but I had another nasty experience as a result”
“Abeg, gist me, my ears are itching”
“Exactly two days after the billionaire kidnapper was caught, I was driving to the East from Lagos. Shortly after Ore Town in Ondo State, some policemen stopped me and they requested for my driver’s license which I presented. They asked for my name, which I told them is Evans, I was asked to repeat my name, and I told them again. The sergeant that collected my driver’s license whispered to his superior, and before I know what was happening, I was asked to alight from my car because I am a suspect”. Initially, I thought it was a joke, until I was asked to sit on the floor, and they alleged that I am an accomplice and that my boss has been caught. I explained to them that I’m not in any way related to the kidnapper but that I am into importation of motor spare parts. Everything I said fell into deaf ears, until I called my friend who is a DPO, he spoke to them and apologized on their behalf for the embarrassment and the ill treatment”
“You don’t mean what you just told me? Are you saying you were unjustly punished for no offence? You need to sue these people for damages”
“Oga Steve, which people I wan sue? And where do you want to sue or report them to? You’re talking as if you don’t live here? With the current Nigerian legal system, you won’t only lose money; you’ll also get frustrated with the slow pace of proceedings and judgement. For me, I leave everything to God to fight for me”. To avoid a repeat of such an incident, I decided to change my name, you know ‘once bitten, twice shy’”
“Well, I understand, sorry, ehn, but I feel that’s really uncalled for. But, what’s your take about your former name sake, Evans?”
“Honestly, I don’t want to comment or be associated with that guy, remember, he had once made me suffered unjustly, and my Bible says affliction shall not rise up the second time – Nahum 1:9”
“I’m not talking about association, I’m only asking about your opinion on the whole scenario”
“Well, if you insist, I feel the guy is an unrepentant and heartless kidnapper. Unrepentant in the sense that he wasn’t sorry of his wicked acts until he was arrested, he had a lot of chance to repent but he never did; and heartless in the sense that he demands for heavy ransom majorly in U.S. Dollar, and you cannot even negotiate with him. The figure he demands is what you must pay, and if you delay too much, the figure may be doubled, or the victim’s life is at stake”
“Umh….. So, sad….. Many people’s life have been wrecked and even so many others have lost their lives as a result. Can you imagine the torture and the inhumane treatment his victims and their family go through. It’s better imagined than experienced. Investigation even revealed that he was a leader of a dire-devil armed robbery gang as far back as 2006 where they robbed three banks and shops at Alaba International Market, and were later apprehended around National Arts Theatre, Iganmu while sharing their loot, but they were released after the case was transferred from Lagos Police Command to Imo. Report also has it that Evans has been a kidnapper for a long time and has been on the wanted list of the Police in Anambra, Abuja, Enugu, Edo and Lagos States. This shows to us that Evans and his gangs have every opportunity to repent, but it’s like they’ve sworn by the grave of their fore-fathers that they will die as kidnappers”
“Oga Steve, what is wrong is wrong and what is right is right; likewise, what is black is black and what is white is white. These people never knew that they could ever be caught, moreso, they are fully equipped for their ‘profession’ and they are usually fully fortified by their ancestral juju. As a matter of fact, during the interview, Evans confessed that he still found it very unbelievable that his otomopo failed him”
“(Steve singing) Every other power, powerless power… otomopo power, powerless power”
“Why the song now, we are not in the church o”
“See you, didn’t you hear that my father in the Lord, Pastor E. A. Adeboye prayed earnestly on June 2nd during the Holy Ghost Service that every person involved in any form of kidnapping will be exposed together with security operatives working with them, and exactly a week after, Evans was arrested with some of his accomplice. (Steve singing again) I’m serving a God of miracle, I know, Yes, I know… I’m serving a God of miracle, I know…”
“(Cuts in) Bros, abeg make we hear word, no be church we dey”. But why does the renowned Pastor have to wait this long before interceding”
“My brother, God’s time is the best, and it’s better late than never. One thing is sure, God still answers prayer, and He still rules in the affairs of men”
“You’re right though, but I’m just thinking; Evans is such a smart, calculating, sophisticated, crafty and intelligent criminal. He confessed that he uses powerful and expensive technological gadgets such as multi-million naira high-end satellite phones equipped with anti-tracking device so that his conversations with his operatives in the field could not be monitored. He also kept his gangs ignorant of each other and only gave the most limited information necessary to execute assigned duty. He also claimed that he does not collect ransom through the bank also to avoid being traced”
“Can you imagine the level of influence and wealth he acquired as a kidnapper? He lives in a respectable, upscale neighbourhood of Magodo Phase Two, apart from other luxurious houses he owns in Nigeria and abroad, drives very expensive cars, acquired foreign citizenship and had personal expensive accessories. One would mistake him for a genuinely successful businessman”
“But you know, with this level of influence he commands, coupled with the money-centric nature of Nigerians, he could get as many chieftaincy titles or honorary doctorate if he so wishes. Before his arrest, he could even unknowingly be appointed to chair some high-class events or occupy some sensitive positions in his church (if he attends any).
“Just thinking too, how marvelous would it be if he had utilized his high intelligent quotient to a more positive and productive activities”
“It’s just so sad, because someone also gave birth to him, and the parents will never know this is what their son will turn out to be – a menace and nuisance to the society”
“But that’s where the lesson is – every parents or guardians have the important responsibility to train up their child to be responsible and God-fearing. Even the Holy Book say, ‘Train up a child in the way he should go, so that when he is old, he will not depart from it’”
“Which means Evans’ parents may have failed in their responsibility. If parents do not train their children in the right way, friends and society will train them in the wrong way”
“But come to think of it, how about the children that the parents teach and train, but they refuse to adhere to their parents?”
“Well, if that seems to be the case, the parents will be vindicated, and the blood of such erring children will be on their own head”
“This story should actually be a lesson to everyone doing one form of evil or the other to repent and turn a new leaf before the day of repercussion comes”
“It calls for deep soul searching and for all to have a heart of repentance for every negative and evil things we do. May God have mercy on us all. It’s Evans today, we don’t know whose turn it will be tomorrow”
“Incidentally, this period also marked the end of Ramadan fasting. May Allah accept the acts of Ibadah during this holy month (Amin).
“(Steve phone rings and answers) ‘Hello sir, I’m already on my way sir, I’m close already’. Bro, I need to leave right away, my boss needs me immediately”
“No shaking, see you next time… Bye…”
“Bye”
As usual, we want to remind you that we care so much about you, and that when it comes to your real estate investment, we are always here to give you the very best service you can never get elsewhere. That is our promise, and will always be.
We wish you the very best in the month of July 2017.
Thank you.
