THE BLACKMAIL

The story....

Mr. Inuaiko was ready to employ all his usual antics.  He was a cunny hare who was known for being dubious in all his dealings. Other animals in the field hated Inuaiko due to this attributes

He knew the leadership position of the farm was his, at least going by the moves he and his political godfather had made. He also knew it wasn't going to be easy owing to his opponent's popularity in the farm.

Later that evening, plunged in deep thoughts, he send his son to go get him his smoking pipe to help calm his nerves while waiting for the day to break.

Dragging and oozing out smokes into the air, he recalled what Whimpi, an aged dog, his political godfather and the most cunning animal in the farm has told him about the demands and dangers that lies ahead of the journey of becoming the chief custodian of the farm.

He lay on his back while recounting areas his opponent had an edge over him and this made him even more worried 😟. 

  ''good evening Chief. Ano-owo-mkpo ( that was how his political boss, Whimpi was known and addressed by most animal in the farm, it was a title he recently bought when a group of hunger stricken hens  recognised him with an old dog tag to get their feeds delivered to them first in their farm house), Inuaiko greeted, looking frustrated as he adjusted his seat to a more open position...

...Ano-owo-mkpo the seat you asked me to run for is slipping from our grabs...." Inuaiko continued without waiting for Ano-owo-mkpo to utter a word..

"What do we do now that he has even consulted our party,  the revolution party, pulling the most crowd and support from party excos and faithfuls?" He asked eagerly, waiting to hear the advice of his boss.

"...I told you that you don't need to loose your sleep 😴over this...and trust me whenever I say you shouldn't...." Ano-owo-mkpo said convincingly with his voice bringing life back to Inuaiko. 

' if the trend continues ( speaking about popularity of the leading candidate, Mkpeyen, a son of late Chief Aduaka, whom he (Inuaiko) shared great grandfather with), we will have to take our last ditch by burying him forever... Ano-owo-mkpo added with his voice becoming heavier.

Ano-owo-mkpo was known for his political ploys. He has long soiled his hands in the dutiness of politics and never wanted to be left out of power despite age not being on his side... He was feared by all  in the farm and they  don't dare mention his name even in his absence. He was dreaded and notorious that his name was like a demi god who pours out anger when not properly appeased.  

"...He feels that because he has the backings of the farm and that of the revolution party  that he can do as he wishes... No, it won't happen while I am the political calculator of this farm, never...," Ano-owo_mkpo bragged, whisking his tail here and there, backward and forward. 

The last lines of Ano-owo-mkpo's brag got Inuaiko smiling. He could recalled the well laid out plans to bury the image of his opponent forever, and how they have mapped it out to make sure it hits the target. 

For the first time in his life he was sure that the plan was going to work perfectly, knowing that the political calculator ( Ano-ow-omkpo)of the FARM wouldn't like someone like Mkpeyen to ascend the exalted office because he felt he was a threat to his existence in the political stage.

A Saturday night,  by 11:45pm, Inuaiko while about to got to bed heard a knock on his door and with fear tiptoed to check who was at the door. Making sure his eyes were not deceiving him, opened the door to allow in Randon, a cat who has become Whimpi's special messenger.

Randon carefully relayed  instructions from his boss which he said that a certain dog will meet him (Inuaiko) in about 20mins to obtain some documents containing information on how to blackmail Mkpeyen that night, about 48hrs away from the election.

In about 20mins after Ekim, a hairy fox with a red ribbon appeared. Handling over the documents,  Inuaiko instructed the executioner, the old fox that he wants the whole farm to be awashed the following morning with information contained in the Black-MAIL of how his opponent,  Mkpeyen once killed and ate  the daughter of his brother even when the law of the farm prohibited animals from eating other animals, and that  once it was done,  he will be out of the race entirely. 

During elections, Mkpeyen was suspended and every attempt to approach the farm court proved abortive as Ano-owo-mkpo made sure it wasn't possible by promising the two fat pigs who served as judges handsome reward once Inuaiko succeeded in ascending the office as the custodian.

Inuaiko succeeded in ascending the exalted office as the custodian of the farm just as was plotted by  the political calculator,  Chief Ano-owo-mkpo.

12 months into his administration, since his foundation was built on lies and blackmail, Inuaiko started recording failure. 

First, on the event to celebrate the anniversary of the GREEN GRASS,  an annual celebration to remember the day the farm field was irrigated, Inuaiko failed to decorate the irrigation machines with ribbon as the custom demands. Many animals were left stranded as the custodian was no where to be found.

His cabinet members started accusing Inuaiko of being power drunk while others tendered their resignation letter accordingly. 

The farm under Inuaiko's watch became a mockery and old story of itself as scandal rain from the rumour mill daily.

During band harvest, Ano-owo_mkpo made sure Inuaiko never denied him of his share of the harvest as was agreed before he was brought to power.

Nemesis visited Inuaiko who blackmailed his brother to become the chief custodian of farm.

SATIRE 

Patrick Ekong