I am a Cain’s boy
INT. RERE’S HOUSE- NIGHT
(Rere opens the door for Roti to come into her apartment, Rere walks to the sitting room with Roti walking behind her)
Roti: you look good (Rere smiles, He smiles too) oh you are smiling
Rere: is it a bad thing?
Roti: of course not, it is just that this is a new look on you. You are not smoking and your smile is genuine
Rere: what can I say? The omega works bill has been approved, the scientists are back and I got the job. Everything is going according to plan, we should celebrate
Roti: I think we should do that when we get the president elected the second time
Rere: you are right about that but we should still celebrate. One glass of champagne won’t hurt
Roti: (smiling) of course it won’t
Rere: wait here (she runs into her kitchen and comes back with two glass and a bottle of champagne. Roti collects the bottle from her and opens it, the bottle gives a pop sound and he pours the drink into into the glass cups.)
Roti: (sips his wine) this is good
Rere: (sits at the edge of her three-seater chair and Roti sits down at the other end of the chair facing her) while we are speaking of getting the president elected for the second time, I need the name of all the delegates that will vote in the primary
Roti: the list is on your desk as we speak
Rere: and I also need you to get me the name of people and companies that can sponsor the president’s election
Roti: that is also on your desk (sipping his drink)
Rere: this is why I love working with you, you think like me
Roti: I will take that as a compliment
Rere: you better do. The real works start now, we need 60% of the delegates on the president’s side. We are going to have to work fast
Roti: convincing 60% of the delegate is not going to be easy, and blackmail is not going to work on the entire delegates
Rere: blackmail? That is just a complete waste of time. The primary is less than a month, we don’t have that time
Roti: if not blackmail then what is your plan? Money?
Rere: (smiling) yes money
Roti: (chuckles softly) bribing the delegates is your plan
Rere: of course, once we get a sponsor. Money will flow in
Roti: you know some Nigerians cannot be bought with money
Rere: I highly doubt
Roti: I am serious Rere, some people have a conscience and cannot be bought
Rere: then those are the people I will blackmail
Roti: I give up, (sighs) so, we need 30% from south-west, 15% from the north and 15% from the east and south-south to make a total of 60% but is 30% vote a done deal from the south-west?
Rere: no it is not, I don’t think Bashorun will deliver
Roti: I think you are right about that, from the whispers I am hearing, his loyalty is with Ameberu
Rere: I thought as much which is why I need to see the south-west governors
Roti: (confuse) the governors? I thought you will want to see Bashorun
Rere: it is not yet time for me to see Bashorun
Roti: it is not yet time for you to see Bashorun, what does that even mean?
Rere: it means I have no business with Bashorun yet
Roti: the governors do what Bashorun ask them to do most of the time (pause) you know what, strike that out, they do what Bashorun wants all the time. So tell me how you are going to get the governors to support the president without talking to Bashorun first
Rere: by doing what I do best
Roti: blackmailing them?
Rere: of course not, by convincing them that Bashorun is an old cargo that needs to retire and they need to look into a bright future with the president
Roti: huh (chuckles) I don’t know how that will work out for you
Rere: It will, trust me but I only have one shot at persuading them and if I am going to do this right, I need the six of them to be in one room together
Roti: the monthly Governors’ meeting is fast approaching, I will get you the shot you need
Rere: thank you. Do you want chips?
Roti: yes (Rere stands up and goes to her fridge. Roti pours himself another cup of champagne and Rere walks back to him) we can get 15% from south-south and east but I am not sure about the north, we will be lucky to have 5%
Rere: which is why I need you to get me the names of eligible Hausa candidate for the position of secretary of state, I heard that the present one is retiring because he has cancer
Roti: yes, but I hear that the president is making Diekola the next secretary of state
Rere: Diekola is a Yoruba woman and she is of no use to us, we need a Hausa so that the Hausas will know that they have a place in the president’s administration. That way we might be able to persuade a few of them to vote for the president and we may get the 15% that we need
Roti: that is a long shot
Rere: I know but it is the best strategy, we have
Roti: so how are you going to get the President to change his mind?
Rere: I just have to make him see that it is the best move for him
Roti: (stands up with his suits over his arm) I am going home
Rere: speaking of the best thing for the President, Pamela Okonkwo
Roti: (looking serious) what about Pam?
Rere: I need you to keep sleeping with her
Roti: excuse me?
Rere: keep your friends close and keep your enemies closer, she is not someone we can leave unmonitored. We need to keep close eyes on her and who best do that if not you
Roti: I don’t know about that, we are no longer friends
Rere: (stands up) then be friends with her again, am sure you got it
Roti: (his expression turns serious) I need to tell you something Rere
Rere: what is it?
Roti: (breathe in deeply) it is about Cain’s boys
Rere: (packing the plates on the table) what about them?
Roti: (closes his eyes and signed deeply) I am a Cain boy
Rere: (stops bent over and looks up to Roti with a plate in her hand) what?
Roti: I can explain, it happened when I was just starting the firm, I needed information about the whereabouts of a politician and the only person i can get that from is his wife
Rere: and the only way for you to do that is to sleep with her?
Roti: yes, and she was willing to pay for it
Rere: the money you use in running this place is not from organising events but from Cain’s boys
Roti: the money you gave me was running out fast and this woman was willing to connect me with big women and when I say big women, I mean powerful cash madams in high places. I needed the money, so I figured that I can get information and also get money from this woman. That was how I built my network (Rere continue packing her plates and she goes into the kitchen in silence, Roti follows her) say something Rere
Rere: (without turning to him) what do you want me to say?
Roti: anything, ask me anything that pops into your head
Rere: are you the only Cain boy?
Roti: no, every male staff in the office is a Cain’s boy
Rere: (plate falls from her hand to the floor) oh my God!
Roti: I am sorry Rere but I had no chance
Rere: what are you sorry for?
Roti: Rere!
Rere: I may have given you money but I left you alone to the job, I should be the one saying I am sorry
Roti: (looking surprise at her show of remorse) Rere!
Rere: and to think that I am asking to keep sleeping with Pam, I am so sorry
Roti: if it makes you feel better, I stopped after the third time and I recruited more guys
Rere: well it does not, forget about Pam
Roti: I will take care of Pam, I just felt you should know
Rere: I am so sorry
Roti: it is fine (checks his wrist watch) I need to go, it is late already (he turns to leave and then he turns back) we are not going to talk about this again
Rere: Roti!
Roti: promise me that
Rere: I promise (he turns and leaves) bye
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