Chapter 3 A manager or a whitchhunter

As Malam Yusuf raised his head, Mr Alex was momentarily taken aback by the fire of anger burning in his eyes and when he finally spoke,it was as if he intended sending a grenade right through his heart. 'Mr Alex or what do you call 'yoursep(yourself)I hab(have) had enougp(enough) op(of) your nonsense in this department he growled. Yes, I gib(give) you quari(query) because you deserve (deserve) it. He went on and on in his thick Hausa accent . He carelessly chose his words and tried as much as he could to sound sarcastic and threatening.

'You mean you hab the gut to question me in my oppice, ehh? Well Mr Alex you deserb an answer. I made a ward round to search out all the sick workers in this department and discobered you . I am ready to search out those who will not do their work but at the end op the day they try to play smart and receive affraisals and recommendations prom the top.

'I am sorry sir but I don't know what you are talking about '

'I might as well have lost my senses Mr Alex but take this as a warning or a threat - whichever one suits you best. Some op us are really out to gib you your place in this company. The child that is not of age and starts asking what happened to his pather what claimed the lipe op his pather will ebentually claim his. If you love your work as you claim and make people believe and you intend to last one more year in this company, you better watch your back young man's

That was it. He has had enough. He felt like strangling him. In a fleeting second, he thought of how easy it will be to choke life out of him but someone has to remain sane. Well, since that someone happened to be him, he was still not about to let this excuse of a man go so easily.

' You are right sir, I love my job, there are very few of us remaining in this company but it doesn't matter and I assure you sir that we are not going to sit over a plate of fufu and egusi soup or a bowl of rice and chicken early in the morning to celebrate our incompetence and failures. We are going to keep championing the course of this company not minding the obstacles on our way and our tools to achieving this is going to remain discipline and integrity.

Malam Yusuf was shocked. For a moment it was as if his feet were pinned to a spot and his tongue tied. He was not used to receiving such confrontations from junior workers. They were either too hurt and bitter by his utterances and actions or too afraid to lose their jobs. He was not ignorant of the fact that all the junior workers referred to him as a tyrant at his back but it's ok by him as long as they don't say it to his face. He just stood transfixed for a moment. He knew Alex was a hard nut to crack. Recently the MD had appraised him publicly with so much accolades, of he takes any report concerning Mr Alex to him, he is bound to ignore it on the account that he is an asset to the company in as much as he had promised to always grease their palms and rub their backs as long as they keep supporting him. In two years, he had engineered the sack of three workers from his department and one from Survey and the MD had endorsed all but he has to be careful with the MD over this one so as not to sink in mud water. Now the game has just began.

' The battle line has just been drawn Mr Alex ' he thundered. ' in less than one year you hab received two quari, whenever you get a third one just know your time is up'

' I will keep that in mind sir, just know that Alex does not cower down at anybody's threats' he lashed back.

'Get out prom my oppice ' Malam Yusuf bellowed. Alex tried his best not to bang the door behind him as he stormed out of the office.