imagine you finished this story march 25 2015, and i just saw it on June 5 2016... oga DOMAWOLEYE this story touched me in the right places...taught me a billion and 1 lessons...... and to think it just made FP ,seun needs to be flogged, but thank GOD it did sha cos i may Neva have seen it.....


abeg words cannot express my appreciation of this perfect work...if i write everything on ma mind Federal government won't be able to foot the bill of the ink i will consume....


well good work..i mean perfect work..
i Also have military dreams sha...well, GOD dey sha He'll see us through.
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.... IJN......AMEN.....

I mean was I when you are writing this story a year ago that it just made fb now? Men I concur with the poster above me, Seun needs to be flogged. Thank you so much for the story, what a nice piece.

kikayboss:
imagine you finished this story march 25 2015, and i just saw it on June 5 2016... oga DOMAWOLEYE this story touched me in the right places...taught me a billion and 1 lessons...... and to think it just made FP ,seun needs to be flogged, but thank GOD it did sha cos i may Neva have seen it.....


abeg words cannot express my appreciation of this perfect work...if i write everything on ma mind Federal government won't be able to foot the bill of the ink i will consume....


well good work..i mean perfect work..
i Also have military dreams sha...well, GOD dey sha He'll see us through.
GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.... IJN......AMEN.....

Kikayboss your words of encouragement are so up lifting and it made my morning. God bless you sir. Thank you for your kind words.

@Domawoleye, these piece is one in a billion been so long I had a Nigerian write-up that got me so glued to its emotional, intriguing, romantic, compassionate, I tell you this piece should be published and sold .............. Meeeeen it's a good piece and I want to say, thank you for making this masterpiece available to us so we could appreciate your creativity. There were some parts where you could improve upon like use of grammar, spell check, and sentence check but in all you did a yo-mans job...............CONGRATULATIONS[i][/i][/size][size=8pt]

oruchechuks:
I mean was I when you are writing this story a year ago that it just made fb now? Men I concur with the poster above me, Seun needs to be flogged. Thank you so much for the story, what a nice piece.

My bros, it is better late than never o! thank you for taking out time to read my piece and i am glad you enjoyed it. God bless you sir.

solaceguy:
Your stories is inspirational. I really wish you would write more stories.

Thanks bros..of course i have more stories here on nairaland. check my works on my profile page. restless, Just wedded, Another wedding and currently The Abandoned child.
Cheers!

RockyEyo:
@Domawoleye, these piece is one in a billion been so long I had a Nigerian write-up that got me so glued to its emotional, intriguing, romantic, compassionate, I tell you this piece should be published and sold .............. Meeeeen it's a good piece and I want to say, thank you for making this masterpiece available to us so we could appreciate your creativity. There were some parts where you could improve upon like use of grammar, spell check, and sentence check but in all you did a yo-mans job...............CONGRATULATIONS[i][/i][/size][size=8pt]

Thanks a lot Eyo, i really appreciate your words of encouragement and your observations. God bless you sir. i will sure work on errors before publishing. i may need an editor as i am just a story teller.

Cheers!

bellville:
I'm surprised this story is just making FrontPage. It's about the only story that made me wet my pillow. I cried.

Thank you for your comment. Thank you for your time. God bless you.

bellville:
I'm surprised this story is just making FrontPage. It's about the only story that made me wet my pillow. I cried.

Thank you for your comment. Thank you for your time. God bless you.

exalt2009:


At first, I was happy for you and later you make me to cry out to God without knowing that is a things of past ..
Very grateful and may the good Lord you Sir...

Ha woo

Thank you Exalt2009. you shall be exalted in Jesus name. Amen

Sheguama:

Saluteey Soldier!!!!!
I spent 5 years in Enugu as an undergrad and was very very conversant with both 82 Div as well as the City. I can therefore relate well with this tale.
Who God has blessed no man can curse. You are blessed broda.
Still on pg 3.

Thanks a lot Sheguama. I appreciate your love. One love bro!

sherrylo:
Doma pls is this a true life story? Please I want to know.

It is 70% true life. 30% fiction. Thanks for reading

lioncoolst:
I do not have the exact words to describe the experience that I have had reading this heart-felt and emotional story. The emotional roller-coaster that it took me through is incredible. The experience while reading the totality of this pieces of story is bewildering and unbelievable. Then twists and turns were sensational. At some point, I could feel shivers running down my spine praying that your mom or even you would not lose your life. Those near-death experiences were really tormenting as I read along. In all, I say it is an excellent story.

Interestingly, I "ACCIDENTALLY" stumbled upon the story today at about 10.30 am, and from that tine till now, I have not been able to do any other thing (officially) until now - it's 5.20pm by my time. For me, the happiest part of the story is that God has kept your mom alive to see for herself that the Lord is indeed good and to also reap the fruits of her labour. I lost my mom to cancer few years ago; hence, I could easily relate to the pain that comes with having your beloved mom in the jaws of death, so to speak.

Finally, I wish you well in life, good Sire. God bless you.

Hanging out with you and seeing you face-to-face won't be a bad idea, that is if you do not mind. I am reachable at niyisodimu@gmail.com

God bless you once again.

Dear Niyi
Thank you so much for your comments, i am glad my story made an impact on you and you loved it. The story is actually centered on a friend of mine years back. Thank you for taking out time to read through.

i will email you.
Cheers!

Praktikals:

Your mother invested her prayers into your future and it is paying off. I sobbed (for the first time in about 15years!) when I got to the part where you described your mums joy when you first returned to the village after your POP; and laughed where you hailed baba meco baba o. Thanks for making my day.
My people abeg make we all vote for DOMAWOLEYE

Thank you Praktikals. i appreciate you. one love!

leopayne:
Am just coming across dis story and am extremely impressed. I Actually came across this story while trying to escape a boring morning lecture and I ended up spending the whole day glued to my phone making moody faces or lafing hysterically making my friends and course mates wonder what I'd gotten myself into.
The story was so captivating dat der wer times I just couldn't wait for it to end and other times where I wished it wouldn't end. I don't care if d story is a fiction or a true life story, all I know is that I was touched and av learnt a lot especially coz of d fact dat am also involved in a Regimented/Military lifestyle as am currently undergoing a officer cadetship training in a Maritime institution.
one thing am certain of is that this piece won't end with me coz I'll make sure dis gets to all those around me and the only thing I regret is dat I wasn't a Nairalander as of den so I couldn't follow you up, comment, like and vote your stories.
This story has made my day

Thank you so much for your kind remarks Leo. God bless you.
One Love!

ikbnice:
DOMAWOLEYE, your inspirational post of 2014 just hit FP. Seems nairaland just got some new mods with vigilant eyes.

I thank God it eventually made FB. Thanks IKBNICE

DOMAWOLEYE:


My bros, it is better late than never o! thank you for taking out time to read my piece and i am glad you enjoyed it. God bless you sir.

I love it

DOMAWOLEYE:
EPILOGUE

I am writing this story from the comfort of my study in my farm house. I am just forty three years old now in 2015 but the things I have been through in life makes me feel like I am seventy years old, I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly.

I am now into full time farming. I am also a writer as well as a consultant. I have some short stories published to my credit. It was my wife that actually encouraged me to put my life experience on paper so as to serve as a source of encouragement to those in unpleasant situations in life. Today I am also a worker in the house of the Lord where I worship and I cannot but give glory to God for all that happened to me in my life, I believed it was his way of preparing me for my today.

Funmilayo is away in Accra girls academy Ghana, while Kayode is at Command secondary School Abakaliki, they are both far away from home. Ekundayo and her younger brothers are also at Command Secondary School Abakaliki, they are all Boarders. During the holidays all the Kids come to my farm or they go to Abakaliki at Baba Dayo’s work shop to work and earn some money.

Amaka is presently a special adviser to the Oyo state Governor on legal matters, she has a Chamber in Enugu and another at Eleyele Ibadan. The competency exhibited while representing her Clients in Courts in Ibadan endeared her to the state Government that she was nominated for the appointment and the fact that she was Igbo married to a Yoruba man helped cemented her credentials for the appointment.

My farms are doing great, the palm plantation in my village rolls out hundred of drums of red palm oil for Companies and northern traders yearly, the Palm Kernels are not enough to meet the demand from companies that produce soap and farmers that need them for feeds preparation including my farm here at Ibadan too.

There is much to be gained from a palm plantation; when the fruits are ripe, we set traps and catch wild Boars and Rodents that come to eat up the fruits from its bunch or the ones that have fallen to the ground due to the activities of rodents, these are roasted and my share sent to me at Ibadan, and one thing I had loved from Childhood was Bush meat! When it is time to prune the branches of the palm trees, we sell them off to Basket makers in the community.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………................................................................................

I had gone back to Lagos after my annual leave in 2004 and resumed duty as the A.O. Finance. The monthly booty kept coming and I kept putting it in the separate bank account I had opened for it. I continued working while I monitored activities at my farms and residence. I sneaked into Ibadan or Esa-odo on free weekends and public holidays to monitor the work in progress.

My palm seedlings survived the first scourge of dry season and rain season, they developed new roots and I was assured that they would grow well, the weak ones and the dead ones were replaced while I handed the Farm over to an Igala Man that has being in our Village for as long as I could remember, we called him Baba Agatu.

The Farm at Ibadan was also completed in due time and the House at Eleyele too, it took us a whole year to get all these in place and I was ready for our plan B.
I made up my mind and went to meet my C.O with a mini tape recorder in my breast Pocket. I once again told him of my fears and my desire to be posted to another office. He went berserk and started to threaten me.

Look lieutenant! He said; I have had enough of this your stupid talks about not liking what we are doing here and wanting to leave the pension Office! Did I bring you here in the first place? Look if you are not comfortable here you better resign and get the hell out of here!
Think I will resign sir! I said; I have a feeling that all of these will back fire some day! I do not want to go to Prison again, not now that I have a Wife and Kids that look up to me!

Anything you want to do, do! He shouted; but let me tell you, people like you that have tried what you are trying to do are six feet below the earth now! And yours will not be an exception, I promise you that! You will just disappear! Where is captain Adekunle now? Where is staff sergeant Adamu? Where are major Isiaka and Corporal Johnson? They all tried to be stubborn but they forgot that the stubborn fly follows the Corpse into the grave! My friend, go and ask questions! Do you know the caliber of People that are involved in this cartel? Do you know how many heads that will roll and the number of families that will be shattered if you sing? My friend, this is not 82nd division Enugu o! This is Lagos! He shouted; my friend, leave my Office this moment before I charge with something that you will not be able to explain.

I stood up and saluted him, and then I told him that all the monies paid to me are still intact in my account, I asked him if he wanted it paid into his account. He was furious and he lost his cool and punched me in the face. I fell down on my butt. I got up and asked him why a general could condescend as low as to physically assault a fellow Officer.

I will give you another blow! He shouted: in fact I will slap you! And with that, he slapped me in the face, I screamed and fell down again.
In fact! Ojo, you are dead meat! You are dead meat I promise you! He fumed as he left his Office and banged the door while I was still on the floor rubbing my cheek.

I went home to meet my Wife who had flown down for the execution of plan B, and we replayed the tape recorder and heard all that transpired between me and my C.O.

We did not sleep at home that night; we went to a Hotel outside the Barracks and slept. The next morning, I went and submitted my resignation letter to my C.O.

The beauty of it was I had done a total of over fifteen years in the Army and I was pensionable. I would have loved to get to the rank of a more senior Officer before retiring but I guess that was not my destiny.

I submitted the letter to him with a Copy of the tape recorder in a compact disc; I saluted him and left his office as abruptly as I came in.

He knew my wife was a Lawyer, he knew she was the one that instigated the move at Oputa panel that eventually led to the dismissal and jailing of nine men and the demotion of a Colonel to Captain. He also knew she must the brain behind the recording of my discussion with him, he knows he was doomed if anything happened to me.
He called me after two hours and asked that we met and talked at the Officers mess immediately, I told him I would be available in the evening, he was so scared of my every move that he drove straight to my house to meet me and my Wife.

We talked for sometime but I told him that my mind was made as per leaving the Army. I told him I was not going to expose the decay and corruption at the pension office but if anything happened to me or my family, then the tapes would circulate and all hell would be let lose. He agreed to protect me and my family until his dying day. He was on his knees asking me to beg my Wife for him as he does not trust Lawyers especially female lawyers! He wished he could swallow all the words he uttered in the tape. The General was begging and crying like a small Boy before a Lieutenant and his Wife! Amaka later promised to bury the hatchet and he left our house with thanks and prayers for us.

I officially resigned from the Army in the month of March 2006 as a pensioner and came to settle with my family at Ibadan. Today my Wife speaks fluent Yoruba and is working for the state government. I have over fifty permanent staff on my pay roll. We sell eggs daily in thousands of crates, we supply fresh fish and Chickens to over twenty fast foods, it is a matter of first booked first served.

Traders in the Market book our Turkey, Sheep and Goats in advance. The grass cutter and the Snail farm are Money Spinners. My major challenge is to meet the demand of Customers. Politicians book my turkey and Ostrich months before they are matured so they can use them as gifts to their Political God fathers. Ostrich lay an egg in a year so it is very expensive.

I give lectures at symposia on Agriculture and Aquaculture, I have regular inflow of students on industrial attachment; I have investments in chains of businesses and my fifty million naira booty realized from the Army pension Office is still growing in the fixed deposit account. Indeed life, they say begins at forty. I guess I was not destined to stay in the Army because whenever I wore those boots, things go sour for me; it is like there are thorns in them that I had to pull them before I get some comfort. But the Army prepared me for my today; it was a means to an end for me.

THE END.

Damn, this story is really lovely, touching and motivating. You are a good writer Sir.
Thank you for this.

Nice story domawoleye

DOMAWOLEYE:
Dear Peeps, I want to say a big thank you to every nairalander that took time to read this piece. my respect and appreciation goes to every one that wrote down something to encourage or criticize me. it was wonderful. without your comments I would not have finished this Story in March, your hunger for more spurred me into critical thinking as to what next to write and how to write it so as to worth your time. you Guys are too much. if you enjoyed this piece then I would enjoy you to read up "Restless" at https://www.nairaland.com/1789365/restless...story-survivor. I will sure complete it now that I have your backs. I was scared of Pirates before.

much Respect to the Under listed in no particular Order

Peacefulness
Stonecoldcafe.....you stuck with me from page 1.
Rocksteady1
jesuzboi
AlphaBravoIndia..........(Charly Delta.......Oscar)
Okwilliams
apholaryn
Stez
Skinnydude
53cur3m0d3
Charijee
missmossy
Ifyude
prettyjoy
wasak
Olaitan3784
demmy66
heemah
jollyjoy
Abbamizzy
Barbieniece
ezystar
agileson
Donpoker9
Slimjoe
rondo235
Anaso9
Costlybabe
prettyjoy
Crislyn
bibie01
Olanipekuntomi
sebak
onosj
Timothy313.

I also thank you for all your votes for me as the best new comer in the month of March. I hope I win. Much thanks for Cuddlemi for nominating me. you are blessed.
domawoleye@yahoo.com.

this is by far the best story I have read in a longwhile. God bless u op and God bless me with my own amaka

DOMAWOLEYE:
Dear Peeps, I want to say a big thank you to every nairalander that took time to read this piece. my respect and appreciation goes to every one that wrote down something to encourage or criticize me. it was wonderful. without your comments I would not have finished this Story in March, your hunger for more spurred me into critical thinking as to what next to write and how to write it so as to worth your time. you Guys are too much. if you enjoyed this piece then I would enjoy you to read up "Restless" at https://www.nairaland.com/1789365/restless...story-survivor. I will sure complete it now that I have your backs. I was scared of Pirates before.

much Respect to the Under listed in no particular Order

Peacefulness
Stonecoldcafe.....you stuck with me from page 1.
Rocksteady1
jesuzboi
AlphaBravoIndia..........(Charly Delta.......Oscar)
Okwilliams
apholaryn
Stez
Skinnydude
53cur3m0d3
Charijee
missmossy
Ifyude
prettyjoy
wasak
Olaitan3784
demmy66
heemah
jollyjoy
Abbamizzy
Barbieniece
ezystar
agileson
Donpoker9
Slimjoe
rondo235
Anaso9
Costlybabe
prettyjoy
Crislyn
bibie01
Olanipekuntomi
sebak
onosj
Timothy313.

I also thank you for all your votes for me as the best new comer in the month of March. I hope I win. Much thanks for Cuddlemi for nominating me. you are blessed.
domawoleye@yahoo.com.

weldone Sir. splendid write up I must say. I picked interest in the story because the title. I desire to join the army on DSSC. I felt I will get some lessons from your story, in the end I got a life experience. I was captivated from the first day i saw the story and have followed up to the end. Thanks for sharing your story. you wouldn't know the number of people you have inspired! God bless you

I cannot but appreciate your effort, ingenuity and creativity. Your description of Esa Odo and beer parlour along Ilare was superb. You really got them right!!!! Kudos!!! I know the two towns wella. Love you brother!!!

A year and over 3months later, i read and appreciate your work even more than those guys that followed you up last year because honestly, i know sey i enjoy am pass them as mine was a straight, steady read while they had to wait for a day or two... all in all, i thankGod for the experience of that man and for giving you the inspiration to write and share with us.. and thank you too for heeding the advice of the Ultimate Creator/ Father of Creativity -TAMARA

Salute to that soldier man!!!

It was a tough and rough ride.

Good evening sir Mr. Domawoleye I send u a mail, pls respond.

Nyc story sir

nice

Thoroughly loved it

God bless you for the wonderful write up. your ink on your pen will never finish. more greases to your elbow.

DOMAWOLEYE:
I told my Parents my experience at my new Office and we all resolved that I leave the Army for good; after all I have enough money to move on.
By the end of the second week of my leave, we all drove down to Esa-odo, I drove in my Nissan Xterra fully dressed in my Army uniform, mama and Oga Luke drove her Car in turns while Baba Dayo drove in his Nissan path finder, the Kids were with us as they enter any Car of their choice whenever we stopped for refreshment or for biological reasons.

It was in 1991 that I left home when I visited mama after the depot training. That was thirteen years back, I was a private Soldier and we lived in a small mud house. Today I have come back home in my SUV to a duplex that was once a mud house!

Mama and Baba Dayo had sneaked out of the Village in rags with mama going insane and being abandoned by all to lick her wounds alone, but this day, she drove into the Village in the Comfort of her Car, with three healthy looking Kids and gorgeously dressed that our People opened their mouths in awe and reverence.

The popular but Baba Miko poor is now a force to be reckoned with as he had already told the whole Village about what God had done for him in Igbo land and an eye witness had gone to see and confirmed it to the Villagers.

We drove straight to my house and the convoy entered the Compound at exactly 4.00pm. I was impressed by the quality of the edifice that welcomed me home, the butterflies where running around inside my stomach; I took time and walked round the house as Baba Dayo and Mama coordinated the off loading of our Vehicles. There was a Plant in the generator house, there was an empty Dog house, the grasses were well mowed and the flowers well trimmed, I took a look at all of these and the big building and I wondered if they really belonged to me or I was in a dream.

There was no light in the Village so we put on the generator as we put things in place in the House. Baba Dayo had taken time to provide the best wooden furnishing in the house.

I wondered when mama went to sleep that night because we have hardly settled down than her sycophantic friends started pouring in.
I woke up late the next morning, It was the noise from outside the fence that woke me; I opened the door of my room and stepped onto the terrace upstairs to behold the crowd of Villagers that had come to fetch water from my house. They started to cheer at me immediately they saw me; I waved at them and went back inside the house.

Our case was like the proverbial Igbo saying that “Onu kwuru njo, ga ekwu mma” “the mouth that spoke evil shall later speak well”. The Yoruba’s also said that “Owo epo ni aye nba eni la, wan o kin la Owo eje” “ it is the oily palm that the world licks with you, not the bloodied one” that is to say when the going is good, many people will be your friend, but when the going gets tough, they all run away. Our People have no shame! They came in their numbers to gossip with mama, they told different versions of what each person had said against my family at different times and places. The women were busy maligning one another just to gain mama’s friendship. At the end they all left with nylon bag containing Rice, salt and match boxes.

The men were scared of me, they would rather go to Baba Dayo who had told them that I was angry with the whole Men in the village for not rising up to help me when I needed them most, especially the Kabiesi. It was made more obvious by the fact that I refused to go and pay homage to him upon arrival at the Village.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...........................................................................................

Mama and Baba Dayo’s traditional marriage was performed at Mama’s family compound, the dowry was fully paid up and every item that needed to be purchased was bought. Prayers were made and the Spirit of my late grandfather was appeased forever. I was avoided by my mother’s family members because it had been like that while I grew up in the Village; I had no friends save for Oga Luke.

The Kabiesi came to my house like Nicodemus at night some days to my departure from the Village, he apologized for his neglect of me and mama, he said he had no body in the Army to go to with my case and his Chiefs advised him to stay off my case so that he does not incur my late grandfather’s wrath. It takes a man of honour to apologize especially a king, so I knelt down in front of him as a mark of respect and acceptance. He offered to give me a chieftaincy title to pacify me but I told him that I was not ready yet.

Very early the next morning he came to my house and we drove with my Parents to the piece of land he gave me and retrieved thirteen years ago, he doubled the portion and returned it back to me. We all thanked him and took pictures on the land with him. Immediately we dropped him off at his house, Baba Dayo called the Surveyor that handled my building project to come over to the house; he came and we instructed him to get land registered in my name immediately and get all necessary documents handy, I then told him to get me the estimate of what it would cost to plant Palm fruit seedlings on the whole of the land, it was about fifteen hectares of land.

I also drove to Ibadan in company of Baba Dayo and Oga Luke to scout for lands to establish a farm and where to build a residential apartment. I had made up my mind to leave the Army and retire home to Ibadan with my family. We finally got a thirty hectare of land along Lagos-Ibadan express way adjacent to the famous Sat guru Maharaja Village, I paid three million naira for the land and I immediately contracted the building of my farms to an Architect introduced to us by a friend of Baba Dayo. He was experienced in designing Farm houses so I told him how I want the thirty plots of land divided. I needed portions for fish pond, Pigs, grass cutter, quills, Ostrich, Chickens, turkey, goats and sheep’s and I needed building for farm house as well as Offices. Baba Dayo, Oga Luke and the Architect have been to very big farms and they assured me that together we shall get it right. I also bought two plots of land for three hundred thousand naira at Eleyele town to build a personal house and Office apartment for my Barrister! With these machineries in place, I resumed back to duty after thirty working days leave.

Bros I really love ur story cos its so captivating and interesting and also emotional,but sir do u think at this day and age there could still be a lady like amaka.

mrtayesynchro:



Bros I really love ur story cos its so captivating and interesting and also emotional,but sir do u think at this day and age there could still be a lady like amaka.

Of course there are Amakas' everywhere. Search in the right place. Must not be in churches. But there are so many Amaka like ladies out there.

DOMAWOLEYE:
Dear Peeps, I want to say a big thank you to every nairalander that took time to read this piece. my respect and appreciation goes to every one that wrote down something to encourage or criticize me. it was wonderful. without your comments I would not have finished this Story in March, your hunger for more spurred me into critical thinking as to what next to write and how to write it so as to worth your time. you Guys are too much. if you enjoyed this piece then I would enjoy you to read up "Restless" at https://www.nairaland.com/1789365/restless...story-survivor. I will sure complete it now that I have your backs. I was scared of Pirates before.

much Respect to the Under listed in no particular Order

Peacefulness
Stonecoldcafe.....you stuck with me from page 1.
Rocksteady1
jesuzboi
AlphaBravoIndia..........(Charly Delta.......Oscar)
Okwilliams
apholaryn
Stez
Skinnydude
53cur3m0d3
Charijee
missmossy
Ifyude
prettyjoy
wasak
Olaitan3784
demmy66
heemah
jollyjoy
Abbamizzy
Barbieniece
ezystar
agileson
Donpoker9
Slimjoe
rondo235
Anaso9
Costlybabe
prettyjoy
Crislyn
bibie01
Olanipekuntomi
sebak
onosj
Timothy313.

I also thank you for all your votes for me as the best new comer in the month of March. I hope I win. Much thanks for Cuddlemi for nominating me. you are blessed.
domawoleye@yahoo.com.

kindly acknowledge your email sir