“Baptism In Fire.”
The bed is too wide. The President has tumbled around in it for months. Sometimes he would roll so hard to his side that Hadiza would wake up and just watch him stir and turn and reach for her hand. He had always been a haunted man. Now, the ghosts were real.
He wakes up to the loudest silent knock he has ever heard. He is not sure if it is real, but his wife is up, and her eyes are wide open.
-I think your country needs you, she says.
She is fully dressed and so he finally gets back to the truth of things: it is well past noon, he has been up and about since swearing on Awolowo’s bible the day before, this was supposed to be a one-hour power nap, and he can see from the face of his watch that he has only been asleep for twenty minutes. He thinks he knows what this might be about.
Chuks is at the door.
-what is wrong?
-bomb blasts. Maiduguri, Bauchi, Zaria and Zuba. Fifteen dead, over fifty injured
Hadiza holds his hands instinctively, like she can shield him from the wave of empathy about to make him numb and effective or angry and incoherent.
-that same group?
-they are claiming it
-where is Bello?
-already in the cabinet room, talking to governors
-I want Rotimi, Bukar and the Service Chiefs.
-statement?
-confirm who died. I want to talk to someone on the ground.
They are tears forming in his eyes, she is not sure if it is rage or pity or all these things running together. She tightens her grip, comes closer so he can see her face and all the things in it.
-statement?
His voice goes loud:
-do I look like I care about public statements?
-slow down, people are panicking. They may need a calming word or two.
-okay.
He is letting the tears go down his cheeks and she does not touch them or push them away. Not yet.
-draft it with that nitwit we have doing media
-okay. Now slow down on the abuse. This is a baptism of fire.
-Sure.
Chuks turns to go, taking his notes with him.
-Chuks
-Yes, Your Excellency
-feels more like a baptism in fire than of fire
-yes sir
Chuks is barely out of the room when she kisses his face.
-this is not your fault, she says.
-oh, but it is, he says, it is all my thing to do now
She holds his head. She knows he hates any push towards the maternal, hates any sort of mothering or nurturing or the tenderness needed in harsh moments. She does not care. There is no such thing as being alone and well to her.
Dramatis Personae
Richard Edewor Williams-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Chukwuma Nwachukwu-Chief of Staff to the President
Hadiza Williams-First Lady, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Abubakar Bello-Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Rotimi Afolayan-Secretary to the Federal Government of Nigeria
Joshua Tumbai Bukar-Party Chairman, the Democratic Party of Nigeria (TDPN)
Air-Chief Marshall Adolphus Rikam-Chief of Defence Staff
General Maurice Iwu-Chief of Army Staff
Admiral John Mbah-Chief of Naval Staff
Air Marshall Paul Ricketts-Chief of Air Staff
Adetope Adesuwa-Director of Communications
Henry Ojo-National Security Adviser
Emeka Ntiajuka-Director General, National Intelligence Agency
Article in Daily Chronicle
Militant Islamic Group Hits At Heart Of Democracy: Fifteen Dead And Scores Injured As Group Makes Good On Promise To Weaken Democracy.
Excerpt
By Anthony Nwabunor
“A day after the pomp and pageantry of the inauguration, the nation was hit by unspeakable tragedy as the Islamic militant group…made good on its promise to scuttle our nascent democratic experiment.
The group hit a market, just outside a military base and several places across three states and the Federal Capital Territory. The response from government has been swift and combative. The nation’s military forces are on full alert, twenty-four-hour curfews are being rigorously enforced in the affected places and there are reports of mass arrests of religious leaders who have failed to disavow past acts of violence or even encouraged the core message of the militant group.”
Transcript
Emergency Meeting With Between President, Vice President, Secretary To The Government Of The Federation, Key Government Officials And The Service Chiefs
1:45 pm
Excerpt
C-in-C: do we know anyone directly involved with the plot?
C-of-s: the NIA head, acting head, is on his way.
C-in-C: okay
C-D-S: our intelligence officers are mopping up the area and interrogating a few suspects already. We should have something for you by evening.
C-in-C: [redacted]
C-D-S: I assure you sir that we are keeping all our acts within the broadest definitions of the Geneva Convention.
C-in-C: [redacted]
V-P: I think the Generals means that they will take some leeway but not much.
C-of-s: make it not much and not at all if you can help it.
C-D-S: [redacted]
C-in-C: [redacted]
C-D-S: Then rest assured I will be on everyone’s case to ensure we keep within the narrowest definitions possible
C-in-C: (to the C-O-A-S) how many soldiers did we lose?
C-O-A-S: none sir
C-of-s: I thought there was a bombing at the base?
C-O-A-S: they could not gain access, so they detonated it outside the base.
C-of-s: I do not know if I should be happy or sad about that.
C-D-S: you can be both, sir.
