July 24, 2023
(Directed by Harry Agina)
Greetings!
I am Harry Agina. Welcome to AfroCultural Drama series on Afro-Scope.com, titled, “In God’s Name.” It’s about religions in Africa; about misguided and mischievous Pentecostal Christianity; and about ignorant destruction of the African Culture by Africans, all in the mischievous and ignorant name of the Lord.
This is episode 17, and the day that we see Pentecostal Christian Pastor K’s method of exorcising “Marine-spirit-husband” out of another man’s wife. And we also have the matter of Nigeria Police Force, and a customary habit of “busy chasing after rats while a house is on fire.” That’s what was happening as we left the last episode at the scene of terrorist-banditry at “Nadi’s Unique Salon.” We saw a Nigeria Police Seargent and two Corporals threatening to arrest Nadi’s sister who was grieving over her sister’s kidnap by bandits. They ridiculously accused her of what they called “withholding information from officers of the law.” So, here is “In God’s Name,” episode 17 for you:
Scene 1. INTERNAL, IN PASTOR K’S OFFICE; AT DUSK.
PASTOR K IS STILL UNDRESSED DOWN TO HIS DESIGNER SINGLET AND BOXERS, PERCHING ON AN EDGE OF HIS DESK, AND LOOKING AT THE RESTROOM DOOR AS IT CRACKS OPEN. HE LICKS HIS LIPS AND SMILES LASCIVIOUSLY. DOOR OPENS WIDER AND TIYA IS NOT SEEN AND DOES NOT COME OUT. THE PASTOR WAITS A COUPLE OF SECONDS THEN FROWNS…
PASTOR: Well…?
TIYA (Out of sight): I am here, Pastor.
PASTOR: Well, then come on out!
TIYA (Out of sight): But…I uh…I am naked, Pastor.
PASTOR: Good. And that is how you should be! That’s the whole idea.
TIYA (Out of sight): So, I should come out…like this?
PASTOR: Look, if it is any consolation to you, I am naked too. Come out, Sweet Tiya. Let’s not delay.
TIYA (Out of sight): Okay, Pastor.
BUT SECONDS PASS AND SHE STILL DOES NOT COME OUT…
PASTOR (Now getting upset): Look, this is not funny anymore. Do you want to do this or you don’t?
TIYA (Out of sight): Of course, I want to, Pastor. Why would I come if I didn’t want to? I am just shy.
PASTOR: So, what do you want us to do?
TIYA (Out of sight): Any way you can help me, Pastor. Please!
PASTOR: Fine. Would you like me to come in there and bring you out?
TIYA (Out of sight): Uh…I think that might help a bit, Pastor. Yes, please.
THE PASTOR RISES FROM HIS PERCHING POSITION AND TAKES JUST ONE STEP TOWARDS THE RESTROOM. AS IF ON CUE, THERE ARE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR. THE PASTOR FREEZES, PUZZLED. THE KNOCKS COME AGAIN, LOUDER THIS TIME, AND THEN THE KNOB IS TRIED…
TIYA (Out of sight): Is that my husband, Pastor?
PASTOR (Low tone): Shhhh! I don’t think so.
THE KNOCKS COME A THIRD TIME, EVEN LOUDER…
Scene 2. INTERNAL, A DECENTLY FURNISHED LIVING ROOM; AT DUSK
A TV IS ON, AND A NEWSCASTER IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A REPORT ON THE “NADI’S UNIQUE SALON” KIDNAP INCIDENT…
NEWSCASTER: …and information reaching our studios just a few minutes ago is that Nigeria Police Force has finally arrived at “Nadi’s Unique Salon.” And the same information has it that, the bandits had long gone after their operation before the police arrived on the scene. Meanwhile, our reporter on the scene is keeping us on hold for “a new development on the scene,” as she called it just a moment ago. We shall bring you the development as soon as…
Cut…
Scene 3. INTERNAL, IN PASTOR K’S OUTER OFFICE; AT DUSK.
KONO AND HIS DAD WAIT FOR RESPONSE FOR THEIR KNOCKING AND STILL HEAR NONE…
KONO: Could he have gone home?
DAD: How possible? Was that not his car we saw out there?
KONO: Well, he is not responding.
DAD: Why not try the door to see? If it is not locked, then he might be taking a nap.
KONO: I already did that. It is locked.
DAD: Well, then maybe he is using the restroom. Let’s sit and wait. I have to see him.
DAD GOES TO SIT…
KONO: Why don’t we go home, Dad? What if he left his car because something was wrong with it?
DAD: In that case, call him and let us be sure.
KONO (Hesitates a bit): Okay, let’s wait a bit. If he is using the restroom, then he will come out soon. If he does not, then he likely has gone home.
THE FATHER SHRUGS. KONO GOES TO SIT. THEY BEGIN TO WAIT…
Scene 4. INTERNAL, BACK IN PASTOR K’S REST ROOM; AT DUSK
TIYA IS NOW TYING ONLY A LARGE TOWEL ON HER CHEST; HER DRESSES HANGING ON THE BATH CURTAIN RAIL. PASTOR TIPTOES INTO THE RESTROOM AND LOCKS THE DOOR…
TIYA: We’re not going out anymore?
PASTOR (Low tone): Keep your voice down. I think there is no need to go out. Prayer has no stipulated venue.
TIYA (Not convinced): Uh…okay, pastor.
PASTOR BEGINS TO TAKE OFF HIS SINGLET…
PASTOR: Take off the towel. You must not wear anything for this.
TIYA’S EYES POP OUT IN SHOCK PRONTO…
TIYA: Pastor, I am totally naked under this towel already. Must I take it off too?
PASTOR (Very impatient, nearly pissed now): Oh Tiya! Why are you acting so naïve? Even if you cannot fully comprehend everything I have said, couldn’t you use your tongue to count your molars? Must I say it as if I were talking to a six-year-old?
TIYA: Please, Pastor, say it to me like that. Please!
PASTOR SHAKES HIS HEAD DESPAIRINGLY FOR A WHILE, AND THEN LETS OUT A LONG DESPAIRING SIGH…
PASTOR: Well, here it is: to put a stop to the marine spirit coming to have sex with you, I must do it with you.
TIYA: You must do it? I don’t still get it, pastor. Do what with me?
PASTOR: Sex.
NOW TIYA’S EYES POP OUT IN SHOCK…
PASTOR (Shrugs): Without that, the prayers will be in vain.
TIYA: You can’t be serious!
PASTOR (Gravely): I am very serious, Tiya. And having come this far, you simply cannot turn back now. I didn’t ask for this. You came to me.
TIYA: Yes, I came to you. But never for this!
SHE GRABS HER DRESSES FROM THE TUB CURTAIN RAIL AND BEGINS TO HURRIEDLY PUT THEM ON. THE PASTOR BENDS, OPENS THE PLUMBER HOLE UNDER THE TUB, GETS A PISTOL, AND POINTS IT AT HER. MORBID FEAR CEASES TIYA PRONTO…
Cut…
Scene 5. EXTERNAL, BACK AT “NADI’S UNIQUE SALON”; SAME TIME
‘SOCIOLOGIST’ MICHAEL IS ARRIVING ON THE SCENE IN HIS CAR A VERY WORRIED AND SCARED MAN IN A FRENZY HURRY. HIS CAR HARDLY COMES TO A HALT BEFORE HE ALIGHTS AND RUSHES TO NADI’S SISTER, WHO IS NOW THREATENINGLY FLANKED ON ALL SIDES BY POLICE OFFICERS. SHE IS SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF HER VOICE…
NADI’S SISTER: You’re all mad…you hear me? Very mad!
MICHAEL: Tia, what is going on here? Where are my wife and your sister?
NADI’S SISTER/TIA: Mike, can you believe these fools that they call Nigeria Police officers. Your wife and my sister have been kidnapped, and these fools were obviously hiding as usual, until after the operation. Now they come out from their hiding place to arrest me in place of the kidnappers.
MICHAEL: Arrest you? For what?
TIA: You ask them for me, my dear.
POLICE SERGEANT (Rudely To Michael): Mr. Man, who are you?
MICHAEL: Well, I am Michael, and this is my friend’s sister-in-law. Why are you arresting her? And why are you not after the kidnappers of my wife? Is she the…?
SERGEANT (Cuts in): Hey, hey, hold it there, Mr! Too many questions…
Cut…
Scene 6. INTERNAL, IN NADI’S INNER OFFICE IN THE SALON; SAME TIME
NADI, NADIA, AND AWELE ARE STILL SQUIZED UNDER NADI’S OFFICE DESK, ALMOST PETRIFIED, UNAWARE OF WHAT IS HAPPENING OUTSIDE. THEY ARE TALKING IN WHISPERS…
NADI: What is going on out there?
AWELE: It has suddenly gone very quiet.
NADIA: Too quiet…maybe they’re gone.
AWELE: Somebody has to check and see what is going on.
NADI: Yes, but not me.
NADIA: I am not getting out from under here until I know that they’re gone.
AWELE: It doesn’t really matter who goes to peep, ladies. If they catch any of us, then they have caught all of us; remember?
Scene 7. EXTERNAL, OUTSIDE “NADI’S UNIQUE SALON”; SAME TIME
THE CROWD AT THE SCENE AROUND TIA, MICHAEL, AND THE POLICE OFFICERS HAS GROWN LARGER. THE ARGUMENT HAS GOT HOTTER, WITH MICHAEL NOW FUMING AT THE POLICE SERGEANT AND HIS COLLEAGUES, WHO ARE NOW FIVE…
MICHAEL: As Tia here has said, you are all mad!
THE SERGEANT (Enraged): We are all mad?! Officers of the law?!
MICHAEL: Officers of the law my foot! You waited until the bandits left with my wife and Nadi. Now your heroes’ act is to arrest Nadi’s sister, with your ridiculous charge of “withholding information.” What information is she…
TANDA, MICHAEL’S FRIEND, NADI’S HUSBAND, SCURRIES TO THE SCENE, AS WORRIED AS EVER. THE ATTITUDE OF THE CORPRAL WHO STARTED THE WHOLE THING WITH TIA QUICKLY CHANGES TO ONE OF OBVIOUS APPREHENSION AS SOON AS HE SEES TANDA. ALSO OBVIOUSLY, HE STARTS TO SNEAK AWAY FROM THE SCENE…
TANDA (Panting): Mike, what is going on?
IN RESPONSE, MICHAEL SCOWLS AT THE POLICE SERGEANT. HE OPENS HIS MOUTH TO ANSWER TANDA, BUT ANGER SEEMS TO BLOCK THE WORDS FROM EMERGING…
TIA (Obviously relieved to see Tanda): Hello, Tanda.
TANDA (Still panting): Oh, hello Tia.
TIA: I’ve been trying your phone line forever.
MICHAEL: It must be network problem. My phone is on.
TIA: So, why are you panting like that?
TANDA: My car has been stuck in traffic a couple of miles away, like forever, and I had to abandon the car with my driver to run the rest of the way here. The news said that the kidnappers have gone with some victims. Did they take Nadi and Awele, too?
MICHAEL (Calmer): Apparently. Nobody in the salon. Awele’s phone still rings each time I try it, but she doesn’t answer it; not since after that first time that she answered without saying a word.
TANDA: Nadi’s phone remains switched off. I can’t reach her…but what are the officers here doing about it?
MICHAEL (Renewed anger): But you know the only thing that your so-called police officers are good at; don’t you? They want to arrest your sister-in-law, Tia.
TANDA (A little puzzled): Arrest her for what?
MICHAEL: On a stupid charge of “withholding information from officers of the law,” as they call it. Can you believe these idiots?! The bandits are getting away with our wives, and these crooks are busy trying to intimidate and extort Tia.
TANDA: Do what?!
THE SERGEAT (To Michael): Look, Mr. Man, we have given you enough respect here. Respect yourself now, or…!
TANDA (Furious): Or what?! Shut your stupid mouth, Sergeant!!!
THE SERGEANT (Scowls at Tanda): And who are you to talk to an officer of the law that way, huh?
TANDA: You want to know who I am; right? No problem, you wait and find out.
TANDA FETCHES A PHONE FROM HIS POCKET AND STARTS DIALING…
Cut…
Scene 8. INTERNAL, PASTOR K’S OUTER OFFICE; AT DUSK.
KONO’S DAD CHECKS HIS WATCH…
DAD: Call him now.
KONO CHECKS HIS WATCH, TOO, THEN GETS HIS PHONE, AND DIALS. THEN TIYA’S HUBBY WALKS IN. KONO STOPS DIALING AND ALL GREET. KONO INTRODUCES HIS DAD TO TIYA’S HUBBY…
TIYA’S HUBBY: Nice to finally meet you, sir.
DAD: Nice to meet you, too. You’re here to see your pastor, too, I suppose?
TIYA’S HUBBY: Actually, I came to pick my wife. I dropped her off for some exorcism prayers.
DAD: You trusted your wife alone with that man? With all the kinds of rubbish we hear these days that they do with people’s wives?
KONO: Dad, please!
DAD: Will you make the call and stop scolding me?! By the way, is there any need to call anymore? You heard what your friend said. His wife is here. So, your pastor is here.
TIYA’S HUBBY: You thought he was not?
DAD: Well, we have been knocking for a long time. No response. Must be the exorcism prayers, you think?
TIYA’S HUBBY (Checks his watch): Uh…I don’t know. But it’s quite long since I dropped her off.
WITHOUT A WORD, KONO’S DAD RISES, GOES TO THE DOOR, AND BANGS ON IT VERY HARD…
DAD (Loudly): Pastor, I am the father of Kono, your member. I told you I would come back to you for answers, and I have been here and knocking since. And I know you are in there! I am not here alone, too!
DEAD SILENCE FOLLOWS…
THE END
Written by Michael Shaibu and Harry Agina.
Yes, indeed, it is a known fact that Nigeria Police Force has gradually degenerated into those stated facts in recent years, and even much worse! And they do it with utmost impunity because they are hardly penalized for their atrocities. The height of it was during the eight years of the terrorist reign (2015 to May 2023) of the immediate past evil government of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Yes, indeed, it is a known fact that, in recent years, Nigeria Police Force has gradually degenerated into the facts stated above, and even much worse! The height of it was during the eight years of the terrorist reign (2015 to May 2023) of the immediate past evil government of President Muhammadu Buhari, who destroyed Nigeria. Sadly, the current president who took over from Buhari last May has said repeatedly that he will “continue the legacy of Buhari.” That mere pronouncement alone is an abomination!!! Anybody who follows the legacy of Buhari is evil, just like Buhari!!! Now, beyond the pronouncement, Tinubu has shown that he is probably going to be much worse than Buhari as an evil lawbreaker, by empowering law enforcement agents to terrorize Nigerians. Like Buhari, Tinubu is apparently a vendetta war monger. He is obviously waging a war against the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele. It is not just apparent, but actually obvious. Emefiele changed naira notes to forestall Tinubu’s presidential election-rigging through illegal use of hoarded cash money. Now, Tinubu, obviously, is using a so-called law enforcement agency of Nigeria, the DSS, to disobey court orders and illegally hold Emefiele in detention under apparent torturous conditions.
If that is not a clear vendetta war by Tinubu, then nothing else would ever qualify, as far as I am concerned. I’ll draw my point home with a comparison. Nigerians are resoundingly calling for the removal of Mahmood Yakubu as Chairman of INEC, who destroyed Nigeria’s electoral revolution in February/March, 2023. But Tinubu refuses to remove Yakubu because Yakubu rigged Tinubu into the office of president. Such obvious contradiction with impunity is simply evil!!!
If I said it once, I said it a gazillion times that the man who I call evil-Hurricane Buhari was truly evil as a president. He was the most corrupt, most lawless, most heartless, most incompetent, indeed, the most satanic president that Nigerians have ever had the misfortune to endure. So, it will nail the coffin of the already dead Nigeria if Tinubu will truly “continue Buhari’s legacy” as he pronounced. It is a known fact that Buhari had/has little or no regards at all for human life beyond his Fulani kin. Disgraceful ancient open-grazing mode of Cattle Rearing is a major occupation of Buhari’s Fulani race in Nigeria. And Buhari, against everything that makes sense, encouraged and supported his marauding Fulani kin to hide under open-grazing to terrorize and massacre Nigerians and destroy farmlands all over Nigeria. Buhari’s utterances and acts as president abound, which portrayed him as placing higher premium on the lives of his Fulani kin’s cattle, than the lives of non-Fulani Nigerians.
All that, just to make the point that Nigeria Police and other Armed Forces under Buhari had no regards for the lives of Nigerians. This was because the acts and inaction, as well as the verbal and body language of their Commander-In-Chief, Buhari, encouraged the atrocities. As I saw it, Nigeria Police officers under Buhari wasted more Nigerian lives in extra-judicial murders as criminals in federal uniform, than they saved as law enforcement officers. If you didn’t know this, and you don’t believe me, then I refer you to the 2020 “EndSARS Protest” in Nigeria. It saw one of the most notorious outings of Nigeria Armed Forces under Buhari’s evil reign. Hundreds of Nigerians were massacred in just one day of October 20, 2020. Their only sin was to protest, unarmed and very peacefully, mind you, against Police brutality, torture, extrajudicial killings, and evil extortion of Nigerians. Buhari’s evil government destroyed several corpses of the massacre victims, along with other bodies of evidence.
Three whole years after, just a few days ago (July 23, 2023), the wound of that satanic incident was opened again. The authorities finally decided to secretly bury 103 massacre victims in a mass grave. But this is a new information age when secrets hardly last long, and the secret mass burial was exposed. If you know about the evil criminals who rule Nigeria, then you must know that if 103 corpses were exposed and admitted, then you can be sure that it must have been much more. And, check this out, people! Typical of the criminals who rule Nigeria, Lagos State government claimed to have spent sixty-one million naira for the mass burial. Now, even idiots in Nigeria know that the exercise would not cost anything above five hundred thousand naira, maximum. If they gave me the contract, I could easily get few boys to dig the pit and burry the corpses with just a hundred thousand naira. But Nigeria’s criminal rulers jacked it up to 61 million naira to embezzle money, in their insatiable quest for blood-money, as usual!! Mind you, the heartless Buhari and his evil government had vehemently denied the massacre. They committed even more atrocities of victimizing newsmakers to deny it, despite abundant irrefutable evidence, and the report of a panel of inquiry.
Anyway, this is where I call it quits for now, to come your way again next week. And coming with me are the converging climaxes of Pastor K’s unholy exorcism of Marine-spirit-husband out of another man’s wife, and Kono’s father’s final showdown with the same Pastor K. Not to forget the fracas between Nigeria Police and Michael’s group. Until the next show, it’s bye for now.
LINK TO EPISODE 18:
AFROCULTURAL DRAMAS ON RELIGIONS AND CULTURE, “IN GOD’S NAME,” EPISODE 18