Loud whispers

“Good evening”

“Same to you”

“Ahhh! What manner of response is that? I can't recall us having any squabbles the last time we met.”

“You greeted, I responded. Why bother me? Look I've had enough trouble for the day. I'll appreciate if you just let me be.”

“Enough trouble for the day you say? Today of all day is the least day I expect to see you moody. Your messiah just signed your much talked about and highly anticipated budget of change. I came in hope that you'll at least offer me kola or palm wine to wash it down. You know what I mean now. ”

“You have a point, but my pocket is dry. Besides the hike in prices have made such an indulgence a luxury reserved only for festive days. ”

“Ohhh! Finally you admit that things are tough.  You always called me a wailer whenever I suggested such. , On other occasions an enemy of progress, simply because I refuse to suffer and smile. ”

“Na you sabi. As for me and my family we are not suffering but we are smiling. Suffering is a mere perception- a figment of one’s imagination. So if you are suffering I wish you Good luck and long suffering-sorry Patience”.

“Is that all you have to say? My imagination?  Is it mere perception that a litre of fuel goes for around 250? So it’s my imagination that the same amount my wife used to cook stew for the family can only buy rodo and other types of pepper?  After eating, my anus has to bear the brunt. ”

“I bought a litre of fuel 180 so I don't quite understand you. You have never seen anything good in this government. ”

“180! And is that normal to you? If I'm right you must have queued to get it. Then you go ahead and wish me Good luck and Patience in this situation. I always thought you were my friend, now I know better. ”

“Ehhhh... well at least the budget has been signed. The economy will receive a boost and you will feel the effect of change. ”

“Inasmuch as I hope that's the case, I'm baffled at what you cling to for hope. First you said when the cabinet was formed, now the signing of the budget is the magic wand with which the incorruptible messiah will fix an economy that's on life support. I admire your patriotism, it’s your optimism I don't get. ”

“I still maintain that with this historic signing of the budget we've turned a corner. Just watch employment will be on the increase. I'm the one telling you this. ”

“Employment?  I hope you are not referring to the one of dressing and undressing masquerades while others are joining the Central Bank jejely behind closed doors? ”

“Ohh....why did you have to mention masquerade?”

“I only said what I heard and read.”

“Besides what's wrong with dressing and undressing a masquerade? As long as it pays the bills, who cares? ”

“Really? I can't believe you just said that. Well I care, and I'll always do. ”

“I'm not surprised, after all you are a wailer.”

“Next time kindly qualify my ‘wailership’ with the prefix proud. I trekked back home thanks to transportation cost and you expect me not to wail. I can't pay increased power bill for zero supply and not wail. ”

”Suit yourself.  I stand with my Oga.”

“Last time I check your oga has been flying o. You should fly with him and not stand. In fact after signing the budget he flew to his hometown. ”

“Wow...what a humble man. To go to his hometown and meet his people after a year of hard work and dedicated service. ”

“Humble? You never cease to amaze me. By the way who told you it was his people he went to see? ”

“What are you driving at this time?”

“Didn't you hear that reprisal attacks left about 80 cows dead few days ago? He has probably gone to check if any of his is among the casualties. Open your eyes and see beyond your nose man.”

“Goodness me, your unbelievable. May your hatred for this man not kill you. How could you establish such links and draw such inferences? ”

“He has 150 cows, 80 yet to be identified cows were recently killed and then he rushes to see his cows and you want me to believe all of this is mere coincidence. All along humans died he didn't travel,  but as soon as cows died he did. My brother shine your eyes.”

“Why am I even listening to you? I think you should be on your way. Your wife would be getting worried.”

“She's not expecting me soon, she knows I have to trek back home these days. So I now arrive later than I used to when we had transformation.”

“There you go again, crying over spilt milk. Your dubious transformation and transformer are gone. Change has come to stay, so embrace it.”

“You don't get it, do you? I neither love transformation more nor change less. I only long for the days when there were no queues in our filling stations. I mean those days when food prices were stable and rice sold for N9, 000 a bag.”

“Like said this is the era of change, there's a new sheriff in town.”

”And it matters less to you if this sheriff is making things worse for us? Our today is worse than yesterday,  and if tomorrow looks like what it is, I don't want to be part of it.”

“Then go to the bridge and do the needful or climb an electric pole and jump down.”

“My problem with you is that you still can't seem the tough days that look above us. ”

“Honestly I can't, because there are no looming tough days. Like I said it's just a creation of your imagination.

“To see the picture clearly you mist first come out of the frame. The herdsmen have destroyed most of the farmlands that would have produced yields for us in a couple of months and displaced farming communities.”

“I'm sure Oga is on top of the situation, his body language is very strong you know?”

“By the time the ban of importation meets with lower harvest, the level of scarcity of food items will double and so would their prices.”

“As bona fide citizens the herdsmen have a right to feed their herds and also have freedom of movement, am I not right?”

“Sure, but their right ends where the farms of host communities begin. See, we can't call cow brother simply because we want to eat meat O.”

“Look enough of all these. You must be on your way now. Whether or not your wife is expecting you. I have other things to do than listen to your wailing. ”

“So well then. My regards to madam and the children.”

”They'll hear.”

”Goodnight.”

”Same to you.”