Shettima’s Whispers and the PVC Plea
And as the storms raged outside, the Vice President, Kashim, called Shettima, did walk with caution within the King’s inner circle, for the shadow of the year 2027 loomed large upon him.
For even in the sixth month, the whispers had been loud, when in a gathering of the King’s party in the Northern lands, Shettima’s name was notably omitted in the declaration for King Bola’s second term.
And though the King’s messengers rushed to deny that a subtle plot to replace Shettima was afoot, the incident did reveal the deep cracks in the foundation of the King’s power, and the northern loyalty that was now much sought after.
And in the marketplaces, the scribes did speak of the King’s historical inability to retain his deputies in his former office, adding to the general sense of unease that surrounded Shettima’s future.
Meanwhile, Peter, the son of Obi, continued his ministry of teaching, and he condemned with a loud voice the wicked practice of buying and selling of votes, for it corrupted the entire electoral process.
He lifted up the importance of the Permanent Voter’s Card, or PVC, saying, “Behold, this card is the bridge that shall carry the people across the river of corruption and hardship into a new Nigeria.”
For he warned the people against exchanging their birthright for a temporary handful of silver, even as the government of the King, in an act of mercy and policy, did subsidize the cost of purifying the blood of those afflicted with kidney diseases, cutting the cost of dialysis from fifty thousand naira to twelve thousand naira.
And though this subsidy was a welcome relief for the sick, the people still questioned the sheer magnitude of their medical bills, for a famous video director did lament that his hospital expenses could purchase three chariots of the German make.
Thus, the kingdom remained a place of stark contrast, where the political elite battled in the courts and assemblies, while the common man fought for his daily sustenance, and the hope for a new beginning rested upon a small card of paper.