Episode 4- In this Nigeria have influential friends
When I graduated from university, there was a huge party thrown in my honour. My parents were really proud of me. No be beans to get a first-class degree. My Pastor, Paul called me a living testimony.
My mother once invited Pastor Paul to pray for me back when the processor of my brain was you know na. To my mother, my failure could only be the devil’s handwork, therefore I needed deliverance.
To be honest I don’t know if Pastor Paul’s prayer was really behind my higher degree. I seriously doubt, because Pastor Paul’s prayer still hasn’t gotten me a job, so let’s keep according thanks to my new brain’s processor.
Back to the party, it was a real turn-up. A few of my friends came from other schools. The host of the party was my former roommate, Jasper.
Let me tell you a thing or two about Jasper.
1. He is an extra year student (we call him god-father in school) He is 3 years behind his year.
2. His father works in the federal ministry of power, housing and works (Pot-bellied short devil)
3. He makes his living off sell cocaine and bozz(a real addict)
Wondering how this goon became my friend. Simple.
1. Jasper is a giver, (his 550k allowance and drug money are spent on parties and helping others)
2. Jasper goes to church (for some reason, he is very religious). He literally drags me by the hair to church. Ironical, right?
3. Jasper has connections in high places (who doesn’t want to be friends with someone with influential networking)
These were just a few reasons why Jasper was our go-to guy when it came to throwing loud parties.
We were having the time of our lives in one of his father’s landed properties in Ikoyi. Girls and guys rubbing off on each other in what they called dancing, another group smoking off their destiny and just a few lost in the succinct happiness of free bozz.
I, on the other hand, was stupidly trying to toast a babe who kept bragging her father works in the army (that babe was proving hard to get)
The party was to be an all-night one, Jasper suggested me and some other group of guys head to a near hotel to get some decent sleep, because we were all exhausted. Leaving his house to complete strangers was not a bother for him; the guy was too loaded to worry over that.
Around 2 am in the morning we were on our way to Eko hotel and Suit, Jasper had made some reservations. 20mins to the point of destination we encountered some men dressed in all black, carrying heavy ammunition, apparently they were SARS operatives.
My first thought was “Ati ku le ni” The Yoruba in me sha.
Jasper as a big boy pulled out some cash, but these men were not willing to bulge. After a couple of harassment, Jasper called his father and before I could blink 1million naira was wired into their accounts each (they were four in number, 4 million naira in total).
It was there and then I knew I had no other option than to keep Jasper around, not for his money, but for his big-time connection. I will say this only once, HAVE INFLUENTIAL FRIENDS!
Because you have no idea when they might come in handy. I know I sound like an opportunist, but this is the Nigerian reality.
As the saying goes; one for one is one for all. Your network has a way of rubbing off on you whether you like it or not, but if you maximize the grand gesture; it will rub off elegantly on you.
It’s just so sad that Jasper’s father was probed by the EFCC before I could exploit the connection in landing myself a lucrative job. But nonetheless, connection is good.
35% of my friends who graduated with lower degrees have jobs today based on their network with people of influence. One particular girl who dropped out of college got employed in her father’s friend’s friend firm(you sabi the networking)
If only Jasper had spent the time invested in planning for parties on his education, he would not only have graduated but be one of the best in his class.
I know, what you’re thinking, sometimes SARS no dey look rich pikin son, true, but luckily for us the girl I was toasting at the party wasn’t lying after all, her father really was a military lieutenant, who was friends with Jasper’s family.
Connection na good thing, find one.
If you’re just reading this series for the first time I have just one question for you- What took you so long?
Let’s just say I forgive, you can catch up on previous episodes below(sha make sure you share them with your friends.
