Growing up as a child, Anas loved running errands for the elderly in his neighbourhood. An act which became habitual with him to the extent that it marred his thought provoking relationship with his bosom friend, Naabu. The act unknowingly set the tone for his investigative ambition.
Naabu on the other hand, cherished the company of his friend. He was however jaded with Anas’ addiction to greeting and running errands for the elderly. To him, Anas was gaining notoriety for this as it either delayed their daily agenda or often compelled them to prematurely terminate their interesting discussions or fun. Although they had been taught in school that greetings among other things removed fear, brought people together and showed respect, to Naabu, such importance of greetings were mere part of the numerous boring notes to be chewed and poured during examinations. They were not practicable in any way.
Any time he was the first to see an approaching elderly person whose presence could merit Ana’s cup of gold, especially when they were discussing funny past happenings in class; a moment he enjoyed most. He would try in a Tom and Jerry fashion to dissuade his friend from carrying out his addiction. His cunning pranks however, mostly failed to pan out.
In one instance, he shouted into Anas’ ear that his bully at school was coming in their direction. Within a blink of an eye, Anas dashed off as fast as a hare to the opposite direction without a second thought.
His alarm reminded Anas of Ibrahim’s previous promise to use him as a litmus paper for his latest style of punches, any time he cited his eyes on him again. This was after a Good Samaritan had foiled his previous attack on Anas when he tried to protest the exchange of his newly bought pen with Ogidi’s floated one. He only knew it was a false alarm on his return when Naabu’s explanation failed to add up. He ended up teasing Anas. Unfortunately however, the poor old woman had already gone and failed to taste Ana’s act of kindness.
He later saw Naabu’s tricks as blood smeared on a door post to remind the angel of death of the presence of an Israelite. Naabu didn’t know that his friend, whom he knew so well like the scar on his own nose and could predict like a Kumahood movie, saw the reason for his actions in different spectacles.
To Anas, spiritually, his act merited blessing from Allah and physically, any time he greeted or ran an errand for especially old ladies, for the first time; they asked him of the name of his dad. The moment he told them, they recounted his father’s past life which were unknown to the young boy. This they did, to prove to him that they knew his dad from the back of their hands and indirectly replicate Oliver Twist’s act in the workhouse. Anas enjoyed listening to his father’s good deeds. He saw them as unfinished business he had to complete.
One of such old ladies, aunt Fatima, who Naabu abhorred most and simply saw as a spoilsport, would gracefully highlight Anas’ father's feats especially those that related to his academic laurels and finally ended by saying, "no wonder you greeted me", that is if it came after a greeting or "no wonder you assisted me" in case Anas had ran an errand for her. Their narrations undoubtedly made him believe that the deeds of parents are the mirrors in which their children were seen.
One Friday evening, as the two friends were doing their Citizenship Education homework together in Naabu’s parents’ living room, Anas confessed to his friend that the information on his late father from the aged propelled him to take his studies serious. He revealed that his aim was to beat his dad’s academic records.
Naabu lauded his friend for his reason. He however said he was baffled that any time his father turned on his radio or television set to listen to news or follow media reports which he thought could influence his studies, all they heard was corruption and embezzlement of state funds by some public officials. He added, “These unfortunate practices are gradually eating deep into the fabrics of our society at breakneck rate”. He paused for a while and asked rhetorically, “Can you imagine that the act is more evidenced among politicians and public officials who are faithfully entrusted with the public purse with mouthwatering conditions of service?”
His father, ASP Baba Zakariah who was eavesdropping, was astonished at the sudden enthusiasm and observation of his fifteen year old son. He therefore leaned quietly against the wall to listen with rapt attention to the conversation of the boyos. Surprised Anas, whose mother had no time for neither radio nor television news asked his friend, “Are the deeds of such bad nuts in our society going to propel their wards to do worse than they are doing now for their unquenchable quest for wealth at the expense of the state? Then a bleak future awaits us, Naabu.”
Their conversation quickly reminded ASP of a quote from the renowned author of "Wealth for All", Idowu Koyenikan who said, “Show me the heroes that the youth of your country look up to, and I will tell you the future of your country.”
Naabu, retorted, leave them Anas, they are just literate robbers! ASP Baba suddenly remembered his university days, when as a campaign manager for his friend, Theodore Dogbe, he secretly bought twenty vetting questions for twenty thousand Ghana cedis to help Dogbe win his election through foul means. He was then vying for the position of National Union of Ghana Students’ president. This made his friend exude excellent performance to the amazement of his audience during the vetting process. No wonder he won the then election hands down.
ASP Baba saw his friend’s current corrupt practices as a Cabinet Minister as slippery effects of their dubious acts during their school days. He beat his chest for condoning all those bad deeds. He consoled himself with the fact that his regular connivance with Honorable Dogbe, to assist his father who was the then Speaker of Parliament, gave him the opportunity to be recruited into the police service. Although he had not done his national service by then. An act, he later regretted.
Anas remained silent for a moment, sighed and said to his friend in an ecstatic manner, “I see corruption in Ghana as cyclical. The poor primary school teacher acts corruptly by taking monies from students for favours. The teacher is cheated by the trotro mate by cheating him or her with the change or charging him higher. The mate is cheated by the police or traffic warden, the warden is also cheated by his superior for promotion and other favours. The list is endless”.
Naabu replied jokingly, “I put it to you that you are pointing fingers at my father that he is equally corrupt.” They laughed over the matter again. This made ASP Baba much tensed at his hid out. The once compelling father, only saw himself immersed in the lake of guilty consciousness and totally covered with an ocean of timidity.
Naabu went down memory lane and said, “I remember when I was a child, Issah, my elder brother one day knocked me in the head for removing his mobile phone from charge to play games. This made me wail to the hearing of all. When he realized that I was becoming uncontrollable which could make my dad repay him without question, he consoled me with a bar of chocolate. He then asked me to accuse Miriam, my cousin of beating me and I did exactly that when daddy asked me. But Miriam was not beaten anyway”. Anas also confessed, “For me a stern look from my bully which demonstrated the possibility of further beating was enough to keep my mouth shut.” They both laughed again.
This made ASP Baba think the children were snatching defeat from the jaws of their victory over him. Before he finished pondering over a plan to further counter their thought, Naabu continued again, “Anas although it is an undeniable fact that human beings by nature are inherently greedy and insatiable, as demonstrated by our greatest ancestors in the Garden of Eden. We must all be demigods in our own rights through the minute loyal services we render to the state even in secret. For it is said that the gentleman, is the man who does the right thing even without supervision and not the man who prides himself in ostentatious goods”.
“You are right Naabu”, Anas replied and continued, “My R.M.E teacher once told me that the Abrahamic religions most of us faithfully follow, thrived because they were made state religions. Hence, attacking them was tantamount to attacking the states and vice versa. I think we can prioritize the growth of Ghana with the same enthusiasm and attention we give to our religious lives”. Yes I support you. “Our pride in Ghana should not come after she becomes great, for she becomes great because of our pride in it”. Naabu added.
Accepting his psychological defeat from the lads, ACP Baba finally bulged out from his hide out. With a bold expression of remorse on his face, he corrected Anas and Naabu that although most rumors have some level of truth, news of corruption in the media were mostly allegations since a number of them were not proven at the law court. He however admitted that corruption is pandemic since its consequence is fatal than a civil war. He urged them never to back out from their commitment to stand against the vice. He entreated them to fight the canker with the interest of the nation at heart.
Sorry for cutting in dad, Naabu apologized and continued, “Daddy you are right because the good of the country is the good of all. While the good of only our nuclear families only attracts insecurity, envy, sleeplessness and makes us target of robbers”. “Yes son”.
ACP Baba nodded in agreement and jokingly added, “If robbery reduces, you will always have your dad with you at night because there will be no night patrols.” The three laughed in unison.
Anas warned, “We must also note that our evil acts against the country will not only remain on the lips of old ladies but it shall be captured by the media and preserved for the next generation. This will definitely be distasteful for the children of the culprits.” He therefore chose to be an investigative journalist in future.
I agree with you as well Anas. ACP Baba admitted. He asked them to always remember the words of a famous Indian public speaker and author, Vishwas Chavan who said, "If every citizen can get rid of indiscipline syndrome, we will have immense potential to build more productive, conflict-free, harmonious and peaceful communities, societies, cities, nations and world". With this, the discussion ended and the boys continued with their homework.
ASP Baba said to himself, “In fact Anas Yakubu and Naabu have indeed taught me that apart from Allah, the next Anas I should fear in my life are my kids since they can easily learn my corrupt nature and practice worst when they grow. What would happen to them if they are caught?”
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