Nuhu Tunde

Have you read SISI SHALEWA – Part 6 yet? I’ll know if you haven’t. 😏 Should we do a trivia on it? Loyal readers might just be rewarded. 😉

SISI SHALEWA PART6: THE DEAL “My enemy sat beside me.” Akin’s eyes narrowed. “Are you talking about Sisi?” For the first time since they met, Chief Olukoya laughed. The laugh of a man amused by how little another man knew. “If Sisi had been your enemy…” He shook his head slowly. “…you would never have become governor.” Silence. “She carried secrets that could have destroyed your marriage.” “She protected yours when others were already plotting against you.” “She stood between you and storms you never even saw.” Akin said nothing. “You’re angry because she didn’t tell you about Tobi.” “I had a right to know.” “You did.” “So why didn’t she?” Olukoya looked into his teacup before answering. “Because she knew exactly what it would cost.” “To whom?” “To everyone.” Akin’s voice hardened. “She should have trusted me.” “She loved you too much to gamble with your future.” The words lingered. For the first time since Sisi confessed, Akin wondered whether her silence had been an act of fear… …or sacrifice. Olukoya set his cup down. “No, Governor, Your enemy wasn’t the woman who kept a secret.” A pause. “It was the man who made her keep it.” Akin looked at him. “You!” Olukoya held his gaze. “No.” Another pause. “I am guilty of many things.” “I destroyed lives.” “I built careers.” “I decided elections.” “I made kings.” His voice remained calm. “But I did not remove you from office.” Akin frowned. “Then who did?” Olukoya leaned back. “The man who convinced you to keep looking at me while he quietly dismantled your government.” The words hung in the air. Akin searched the old man’s face for a lie. He found none. “You expect me to believe you?” “I don’t expect anything.” “Then why am I here?” Olukoya reached into a leather folder beside him and removed a single sheet of paper. He slid it across the table. Akin looked down. It was a list. A list with three names. Three members of the House of Assembly. “What is this?” “Three men.” “So?” “Within forty-eight hours, all three will publicly admit they were pressured into voting for your impeachment.” Akin laughed. “You’re bluffing.” Olukoya ignored him. “By Monday morning, your party chairman will call you.” “By Tuesday, newspapers that condemned you will begin asking whether justice was served.” “Within two weeks, there will be public demands for your case to be reopened.” Akin stared at him. “You sound very certain.” “I don’t predict outcomes.” “I arrange them.” The confidence in his voice unsettled Akin. For the first time, he wondered if his political rise… …and his political fall… …had both been decided in rooms he had never entered. “What do you want?” Akin asked quietly. Olukoya answered without hesitation. “Remove Tobi from your legal team.” Akin blinked. “What?” “He must stop representing you.” “No.” “You answered too quickly.” “I don’t need time.” “You do.” Akin folded the paper and placed it back on the table. “Tobi has done nothing wrong.” “I know.” “He’s fighting for justice.” “I know.” “Then why?” For the first time, Olukoya hesitated. Only for a moment. “Because he is asking questions that must never be answered.” “He deserves the truth.” “He deserves peace.” “The two are not always the same.” Akin leaned forward. “Does he know you’re his father?” “No.” “Will you ever tell him?” “No.” “And you’re asking me to help you keep lying?” “No.” Olukoya’s voice was almost a whisper. “I’m asking you to protect him.” “From what?” The old man looked away. Then back at Akin. “From becoming the son of Chief Bamidele Olukoya.” The words hit harder than Akin expected. For the first time… Chief Olukoya did not sound powerful. He sounded tired. Akin rose to his feet. “You can give me back my office.” “You can restore my reputation.” “You can even make the people believe I was innocent all along.” He pushed the list back across the table. “But if the price is betraying the only man still fighting for me…” He shook his head.

SISI SHALEWA PART6: THE DEAL “My enemy sat beside me.” Akin’s eyes narrowed. “Are you talking about Sisi?” For the first time since they met, Chief Olukoya laughed. The laugh of a man amused by how little another man knew. “If Sisi had been your enemy…” He shook his head slowly. “…you would never have become governor.” Silence. “She carried secrets that could have destroyed your marriage.” “She protected yours when others were already plotting against you.” “She stood between you and storms you never even saw.” Akin said nothing. “You’re angry because she didn’t tell you about Tobi.” “I had a right to know.” “You did.” “So why didn’t she?” Olukoya looked into his teacup before answering. “Because she knew exactly what it would cost.” “To whom?” “To everyone.” Akin’s voice hardened. “She should have trusted me.” “She loved you too much to gamble with your future.” The words lingered. For the first time since Sisi confessed, Akin wondered whether her silence had been an act of fear… …or sacrifice. Olukoya set his cup down. “No, Governor, Your enemy wasn’t the woman who kept a secret.” A pause. “It was the man who made her keep it.” Akin looked at him. “You!” Olukoya held his gaze. “No.” Another pause. “I am guilty of many things.” “I destroyed lives.” “I built careers.” “I decided elections.” “I made kings.” His voice remained calm. “But I did not remove you from office.” Akin frowned. “Then who did?” Olukoya leaned back. “The man who convinced you to keep looking at me while he quietly dismantled your government.” The words hung in the air. Akin searched the old man’s face for a lie. He found none. “You expect me to believe you?” “I don’t expect anything.” “Then why am I here?” Olukoya reached into a leather folder beside him and removed a single sheet of paper. He slid it across the table. Akin looked down. It was a list. A list with three names. Three members of the House of Assembly. “What is this?” “Three men.” “So?” “Within forty-eight hours, all three will publicly admit they were pressured into voting for your impeachment.” Akin laughed. “You’re bluffing.” Olukoya ignored him. “By Monday morning, your party chairman will call you.” “By Tuesday, newspapers that condemned you will begin asking whether justice was served.” “Within two weeks, there will be public demands for your case to be reopened.” Akin stared at him. “You sound very certain.” “I don’t predict outcomes.” “I arrange them.” The confidence in his voice unsettled Akin. For the first time, he wondered if his political rise… …and his political fall… …had both been decided in rooms he had never entered. “What do you want?” Akin asked quietly. Olukoya answered without hesitation. “Remove Tobi from your legal team.” Akin blinked. “What?” “He must stop representing you.” “No.” “You answered too quickly.” “I don’t need time.” “You do.” Akin folded the paper and placed it back on the table. “Tobi has done nothing wrong.” “I know.” “He’s fighting for justice.” “I know.” “Then why?” For the first time, Olukoya hesitated. Only for a moment. “Because he is asking questions that must never be answered.” “He deserves the truth.” “He deserves peace.” “The two are not always the same.” Akin leaned forward. “Does he know you’re his father?” “No.” “Will you ever tell him?” “No.” “And you’re asking me to help you keep lying?” “No.” Olukoya’s voice was almost a whisper. “I’m asking you to protect him.” “From what?” The old man looked away. Then back at Akin. “From becoming the son of Chief Bamidele Olukoya.” The words hit harder than Akin expected. For the first time… Chief Olukoya did not sound powerful. He sounded tired. Akin rose to his feet. “You can give me back my office.” “You can restore my reputation.” “You can even make the people believe I was innocent all along.” He pushed the list back across the table. “But if the price is betraying the only man still fighting for me…” He shook his head.

Some songs are too emotional bruh!😭