Chapter Three
'Abinla, please, go check who is at the door,' Boma said from the backyard, where she sat washing Abinla and Ayibaemi's clothes.
Abinla left her food and headed for the front door. Opening the door, she saw Bola. 'What are you doing here?' She was surprised to see him.
Bola shrugged. 'I am not the only one here,' Bola said laughing as he waved his hand.
Abinla was stunned. She didn't believe that her teacher as well as her classmates would be here. Of course, Mr. Johnson was here as well. Mr. Johnson took off his pair of dark rimmed glasses and slipped them in his trousers’ left pocket, and smiled up at Abinla.
'We needed to change the world so our teacher invited us here to talk about it in detail.' Bola's words sounded amusing.
The moment they entered inside, Bola didn't wait to be offered anything. He picked up the plate of jollof rice Abinla was about to eat and began to wolf it down.
Abinla was speechless. She wondered if Bola was forcing himself to eat the food so as to create a good impression but when Bola said he wanted more, Abinla knew he wasn't pretending, rather he ate the food because he was hungry and not because of making any good impression.
Tariebi signalled the students to hand Abinla the grocery bags they had come with. Abinla was speechless again. What's happening? She wondered, looking into the bags filled with groceries. She was indeed grateful.
'Bola, bought them for your mum,' Tariebi said, and Abinla turned to Bola, giving him a thank-you-smile.
Since there was nothing in the house, Abinla didn't know what to serve them. But then, she knew they had come from afar and needed water, so she ran to the kitchen, brought a jug of water and smilingly served them. They all drank the water, feeling pleased.
After drinking the water, and Abinla putting away the bags, it was now the time to talk about the main reason they had come.
Amaoge said excitedly to Abinla, 'I came back with bamboo plants. We all know that tree planting is one of the ways of tackling climate change caused by greenhouse gas.'
Bola glanced at Abinla and said, 'I had to ask my father to support us with our mission. He pulled out a hundred million naira for this.'
'Hundred million naira?' Abinla looked shocked. 'How was that possible?' She sat down on an empty chair.
Bola smiled. 'For him to win the 2023 Presidential election, my father had no other option than to agree to support us. Besides, he bought his presidential ticket with a hundred million naira. What's hard in forcing him to fork out another hundred million naira? You know wise citizens make good use of the election period because once the politician sits in office; he would obviously wave behind his promise. Only a few keep to their promise. My father isn't among the good ones.' He let out a slight chuckle.
‘I had to compel him to support us. Honestly, politicians, including my own father, have drowned us with empty words and promises. They say one thing and do another. They break their promises once in government. I had to do what I did for my father to support our movement.’
‘You did the right thing. For so many years we have heard nothing but sweet words that have yielded no good result. We only know about our hopes and future sinking in their empty words and promises. Not anymore!’ Abinla smiled at Bola. ‘This is our future. We will be foolish to keep waiting for those in power to decide our future; from what we eat, what to do and how to live. We will take action and make them follow us. They refused to be the engine. We had no choice than to make them become the caboose while we become the engine and the wheel. We will together steer our car to the beautiful paradise blooming in a blossoming sunlight beam. Thank you Bola for compelling your father to donate a hundred million naira to this project.’
They all looked happily at Bola. It was a good thing he came to his senses. The world needed a lot of money to avoid climate catastrophe. Abinla couldn’t help but to be grateful that someone as rich as Bola was here with them. Through Bola, many other rich politicians and rich business tycoons pulled out billions to support this mission that would benefit everyone. Anyway, it was obvious they had supported this mission in order to win the forthcoming 2023 election, and also to boost their businesses now and in the Dream Paradise. However, it was still applauding to have them contribute and still willing to support more.
She might not have succeeded this far by just talking, protesting and wishing. According to her research, she found out that it would cost about 131 Trillion dollars to reduce global warming. But then, she believed that if Rome was not built in a day, hopefully, gradually, her dream paradise would someday be actualised.
'I will have to produce more of my oil sucker. It is equipped with solar panels and it is carbon emission free. It doesn’t burn fuel. I was able to speak to students from other schools to help us in this mission,' Mr. Johnson said.
Abinla nodded and said with a look of fascination. ‘We are going to plant billions of trees, use Mr. Johnson's oil sucker for sucking out oil without damaging the lands. But we will only go for the oil if it is absolutely necessary. With the eco-friendly colourless liquid I have produced with the help of Aunty Tariebi, we will use them to get our water clean again. Again, I plead that we try our best to reduce our carbon footprint, that way we save our planet as well.' She looked at Tariebi and smiled, then glanced at her classmates as she continued to speak. 'Biodegradable waste will be used for compost manure, while non-biodegradable wastes would be sent off to be recycled.'
Tariebi looked proudly at Abinla. 'She's really my student. I am proud of you, Abinla.'
Bola touched his nose, and then chuckled and said, 'Aunty Tariebi, am I not your good student?'
Tariebi smiled and said, 'Of course, you are.'
‘Last year I watched a short film on Twitter posted by the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg during the International Day of Biological Diversity,’ Bola said, and everyone turned to listen to him. ‘The film was made in collaboration with Mercy For Animal; an organization that campaigns to prevent animal cruelty in the livestock industry and encourage people to take up veganism. The film brought to light the link between factory farming, climate change and public health risks due to zoonotic diseases. It was in that video that I understood that climate crisis, ecological crisis, and health crisis are all interlinked. I think we are saving the world with what we are doing,’ he smiled.
Mr. Johnson nodded. ‘I watched that video too. People only look at fossil fuel companies to be the main reason for climate change. That’s not always true. Yes, their activities contribute to climate change. But then, we all contribute to climate change as well. In the video, Greta said that because of the way we farm and treat nature, cutting down forests and destroying habitats, we are creating the perfect conditions for diseases to spill all over from one animal to the other, and to us. According to her, humans kill about 60 billion land animals per year. We kill fish in such large numbers that we measure their death in tons. She was right when she said that if we keep making food the way we do we will also destroy the habitats of most wild plants and animals, driving countless species to extinction. We need to have mercy for animals because I believe that those animals too want to forge friendships, plan for the future. They play, they help each other. They want to coexist with us. They are cute and deserve to be loved.’
Amaoge shook her head confused. ‘Sir, I don’t get it!’
Mr. Johnson turned to Amaoge and asked, ‘You don’t get what?’
‘I mean, you want us to be vegans or vegetarians?’ Amaoge shook her head. ‘I can only accept being a vegangetarian.’
‘Vegangetarian?’ Abinla curiously asked, laughing.
‘I don’t even know the meaning of that word. But I have a special meaning for it. By vegangetarian I mean that I will eat all animal products once a week. You know that the sweetness of our soup is in the fish and meat. Please, don’t tell me to eat more plant-based foods. I will grow skinny.’
They all laughed at Amaoge’s amusing words.
‘Amaoge, no one is asking you to be a vegan or vegetarian. Mr. Johnson wants us to have compassion for animals and for our planet. For me, I love meat, I love fish, I love all that stuff. But I eat them once a while,’ Tariebi explained.
‘Aunty, that means you’re vegangetarian?’ Amaoge asked and they laughed.
‘Amaoge, eat what you can but always try your best to do what you can to save the world,’ Abinla said to Amaoge with a smile. ‘And always remember to be eco-friendly in your everyday life.’
'Oh my God!' A male student exclaimed and everyone turned to him. 'Illegal oil bunkering explosion kills over hundred persons in Imo state.' The student held up his phone for them to watch the news.
'It happened in Abacheke in Ohaji Egbema,' Mr. Johnson said. 'I read that from the newspaper this morning.'
'What was the cause of the explosion?' A female student in a beautiful cornrow asked curiously as she took a book with a faded blue cover, belonging to Abinla.
'No one knows yet,' Bola answered. 'But some leaders of the government alleged that government and security agencies are involved in the business...most of the people said that hardship, unemployment were the major reasons for the illegal bunkering business,' Bola sighed sadly. 'Anyway, we are here to create a beautiful world.'
After the long discussion on the way forward, the group rose up to leave. Just then, Boma came in carrying a plate of chin-chin she had gotten from a neighbour.
'Ma’am, who are those for?' Tariebi jokingly asked.
'You and your students,' Boma answered. 'I couldn't just watch you people talk for a long time with nothing to eat.'
'You should not have bothered, really. We bought akara and bread on our way and ate it.'
'Then I will put the chin-chin in a bag so you can eat it on your way back.' Boma was smiling. She turned to leave the room. She was a wearing blue faded dress with puffy sleeves.
'Mum, don't worry. I will do it,' Abinla said and her mother turned back.
Abinla left and returned with a bag, and she put the chin-chin in the bag. Then, she handed the bag over to Tariebi, who took it with a grin.
As the group walked out from the house, Amaoge remembered something and asked Abinla, 'Where is Ayibaemi?'
'He should be busy with picking plastics,'Abinla replied. ‘He left after wolfing down his food.’ She was smiling.
Bola smiled and said, 'Your brother seems to be very busy, I don't think he would have the time to join us in saving the world.'
'Actually, we don't need him,' said Abinla. 'We are more than enough to get the world rolling in green and clean.'
'Didn't you say that for us to achieve this, we must all work together?' Bola looked at Abinla and reminded. 'We need everyone, including the villagers. They have to help in the planting of trees and other things. I think you need to talk to your people to help as well. I have already sent a message to those in the slummy areas of Lagos State to join in this movement. Abuja has slummy areas too; I will have them join us as well. Everyone needs to be part of this. We can't do it alone.' Bola took out his phone and showed them the positive responses of his friends who were from upper-class society. 'They have contacted their parents to sponsor us in this movement of Abinla changing the world and becoming the hero of our time...most of my friends promised to donate refuse bins with their own money. They would also help out with disposable bags so that if there are no refuse bins on the street where you are, you could throw them in the disposable bag...nothing at all is a waste. We can always recycle those trash and turn them into something beautiful for everyone to embrace.' He smiled, looking at Abinla. 'For us to achieve all of these, we need everyone as you have always preached.'
'Yes, you're right. We can't do it alone,' Abinla smiled.
Before they left, they waved and said to Abinla that they would do their best for the Dream Paradise. Abinla sighed satisfactorily, and walked back inside.
'Mum, how did you get the chin-chin?' Abinla asked her mother when she entered inside.
'From our neighbour,' answered Boma with a smile.
'Thank you,' Abinla said smilingly.
That night, Abinla dreamed of little shafts of sunlight piercing through the thick forest, and also she dreamed of her classmates, and their beautiful world. Boma, on the other hand, dreamed of having a company that turned trash into treasure. Ayibaemi was busy snoring. But then, it seemed that his snoring added in making the world a safer place. The smelly air coming in from the window shattered the dream, as Abinla had to wake up to close the windows and cover her nose with her hands.
The next morning, and with the help of Boma, Abinla was able to gather the villagers and tell them about her mission and how they should all work hard to make everyone benefit from it all. After they were informed about it, the people all sat back talking and laughing. The children played happily, older ones slapped each other's hands in agreement and smiled excitedly; there was much nodding of heads, and talking of prosperous years ahead.
Meanwhile, Abinla leaned back with her drawing notebook, her eyes beaming with happiness. The day was soon going to be fine, with a clean breeze, and trees flushed with green swaying with the touch of the breeze.
Looking up, Abinla sighed happily at the green and clean future coming up.
One Saturday morning, everyone set out for the clearing of the trash around them. Abinla was dressed in a faded overall and lace-up boots she had pulled out from her Noodles shoe box.
Everyone was dressed in their work clothes, as they participated in building a clean world, and for several weeks, Abinla and her team as well as other people kept on working. Scientists locked themselves up in their laboratories working on eco-friendly projects. Reporters from several media sources followed in the movement, thereby making it interesting even more.
The press gave Abinla, specially, a close-up, while a reporter commented on TV.
'Abinla Perelayefa, the SS3 student of Ogbia Comprehensive Secondary School, has for weeks now been leading in the clean, green and just future movement. She wants us to reduce our carbon footprint to help save the world from breaking completely. Miss Abinla looks extremely hardworking, and hopeful that her Dream Paradise would be actualised. It is said that she started having this dream ever since she was admitted into primary school. The big dream for a clean and beautiful world has touched the whole world. Not only does Miss Abinla have great vision, she also has a beautiful loving heart, and is on top of her class. Since her primary school, she has always been a straight A student. What a precious woman! It's rare to see a young, motivating woman like Abinla in this generation. Her mother has taught her well. Her late father would definitely be proud of his adoring daughter.'
When the part was broadcast on TV, the President was watching from his magnificent office in Aso Rock Villa and he beamed with delight. Bola's father had told him about Abinla, so of course he became interested in the clean and green project. Several top government officials in the President's office commented on the news, ‘Abinla is so brave, so beautiful and clean. She's a big hero that has saved the world but was unlucky to be born in a poor area.'
'She is teaching us how to turn trash into treasure. I heard that her next agenda is cyber safety. She was hopeful about going to create a digital vaccine that would fight electronic viruses. I’m not good with computers but the sound of Abinla’s new agenda makes me have complete faith in the new world. She might also create a device that might stop us from rigging elections.'
‘The sweetness of politics is the rigging, not the free and fair election. I might not want her to create that device.’
‘Does she really want us to reduce our carbon footprint? That would mean flying less or not at all, cutting down on meat consumption or becoming a vegan! I am not King Nebuchadnezzar who in the Book of Daniel was driven from men and did eat grass as oxen…’
‘You still know your bible. Well, since you still know that portion of the holy book, I guess there is nothing wrong with eating grass like cattle.’
‘My only sin is the sin of rigging elections and corruption. I didn’t disobey GOD rather I did what everyone does. Since GOD didn’t punish me for it, why should I punish myself by eating grass? Okay, let’s assume that I accepted to eat grass to save the world from the climate breakdown, which I don’t even know the colour of. What about the idea of rich people reducing the way we fly? How do we deal with taking a boat instead of an airplane? What about catching a bus and chatting with the poor folks? Can you deal with all that? Honestly, I would only reduce my carbon footprint if GOD tells me to and not when some crazy people who just want to get attention say it.’
‘We can do nothing except to roll along with the new world. If my constant flying contributes to destroying the world, why should I keep destroying it? If I destroy it all, what joy would I have to rig the election and become the President?’
'Before 2200, the world will be clean, green and lavished magnificently.'
'I have pulled out two hundred million naira to sponsor this project. Election is coming soon. I have to take advantage of this for more votes during the 2023 election.'
The workers were busy planting trees and clearing out trash. Road construction companies were not left out, even oil companies helped in the movement. It seemed everyone wanted to have a share in this new world. Different species of plants were purchased and planted. From the TV, the President as well as top government officials watched the activities going on in this clean and green project.
On the other side, Abinla helped in the field work. Just then, Bola walked up to her and said, 'Are you hungry? I ordered food. Go and grab a bite.'
'I just have to finish this,' Abinla said without glancing at Bola.
'You have worked really hard.'
'Everyone contributed to making this a success.' Abinla wasn't the type to take credit for what she didn't do alone.
Bola knew that Abinla would never want to take food and eat until she was done, so he turned around and walked towards the food he had ordered, took some and walked back to her.
'I thought you went back to work?' Abinla asked, wiping sweat from her forehead.
'I came back for this,' Bola said, showing her the takeaway in his hand.
Now that Bola brought the food closer to her, Abinla felt hungry. She had been busy since morning and was tired but she never wanted to rest.
‘Thanks.' Abinla accepted the takeaway after so many pleadings from Bola. She sat on the ground, opened the takeaway and took a big bite of her delicious fried rice. She finished the food in less than two minutes and immediately took the apple, Bola handed it to her, finishing it in three bites.
'You look really tired,' Bola said, picking up a bottle of Eva water from a basket, turning open the cap, and passing it to Abinla who drank the water. Bola slowly sat down beside her. 'Abinla, I know you and your classmates hate me because I was very rude.' He looked at Tariebi who was sitting with Mr. Johnson eating, and then, he turned his gaze to Abinla’s classmates and finally looked back at Abinla. 'I am sorry about all that I said. Can you forgive me?'
'I already did,' Abinla said, smiling.
Bola smiled back at her. 'I am happy for this dream of yours.' He reached out his elegant hand to help her wipe away the sweat on her forehead.
'Thank you for helping out,' Abinla smiled again.
‘I told my father that once he becomes the President, he should make sure to include Environmental Education as well as Personal Finance in our school curriculum; from Nursery to University.’
Abinla looked up at him with delight. ‘I agree with you. Both should be taught in school. Money touches everything,’ she paused and said after a while, ‘Many schools teach Mathematics, Geography, Science, Home Economics…all are valuable for sure. But then, how often do we need to solve equations or read the map? However, Personal Finance is our everyday necessary life skill that should be taught in schools. I think it should really start from Pre-Nursery.’
‘I also agree with you, Abinla. A child in Pre-Nursery can differentiate between paper and money. Give that child both to choose, no doubt, the child would go for the money and might even shred the paper into pieces and throw them at you.’
Abinla laughed.
Bola looked at the way Abinla’s dimples had looked attractive when she laughed. He looked at her beautiful dark eyes, and her neatly plaited hair. She was beautiful in every way, he thought with a blissful smile.
'Aren't you going back to Lagos for your exams?’ She suddenly asked.
‘I will go when this is all over…but I will come back after seven years…for you,’ Bola said in a serious tone as he rose to his feet and walked over to his rich friends that had just arrived.
Abinla blushed, understanding what he meant. However, she doubted if the future would permit their meeting again after he leaves for Lagos State. But then, whatever it was, she was hopeful for a beautiful future.
Now alone, Abinla reached for her diary, placed it on her lap, she gently opened it and began filling the blank pages with writings of the beautiful world she had created with the help of her friends.
After several months of planting, Abinla found a few pieces of fruit on the fruit trees, and for the first time there were many fruit vegetables in the vegetable garden. Everything looked flourishing. The streets were smooth and adorned with trees and street lights powered by renewable energy sources.
Here and there benches were set out as well as dustbins. Abinla couldn't be more excited as she watched the birds flying over the water that had once been cloaked in oil and trash. She was glad about the delightful fields of flowers, about the advanced technologies that could solve 95% of human problems, about the flow of grains, happy activity in the market, and the glowing sun.
Abinla walked through the familiar streets that had today been transformed into a breathtaking sight. Although some work was still going on, but she felt that the environment was peaceful.
Today, she had a flower bud on her head. It was her dream to wear a flower bud someday, and matching it with her white dress, she looked fresh and beautiful. What more can I wish for? She thought blissfully as she strolled on. This was what I wanted, my dream paradise. Before 2200, I am certain that the world would be almost like the paradise promised us in the new Heaven...
Her smile was radiating, and she looked like blooming flowers. As the sun sank beyond the western horizon, Abinla finally turned back to return to their new home adorned with colourful decorations. It was a mansion built for her family by the newly elected Bayelsa State governor.
Reaching home, she was surprised as well as excited to see her classmates who had graduated from secondary school with her, laughing with her mother and brother on the back lawn of her house. She saw Mr. Johnson and Tariebi there too. They were all dressed in their finery. Some of the invited villagers helped around, serving drinks, ice cream and delicious dishes; both local and western dishes. The long table was loaded with food and decorated beautifully.
Somewhere not far away from the lawn, a group of children were happily playing on the swings as the adults who were more of Abinla former classmates, gathered around the table, eating and chatting with happiness.
Bola, who was feeding his pet puppy, looked up when he saw Abinla. Lifting the white Kimola puppy in his arms, he strode over to Abinla who was greeting the people that had visited. He had returned only to host this feast in honour of Abinla. He would go back again this evening as his family's private jet was waiting to take him back to Lagos State, then, he would fly back to MIT where he was now studying Computer Science. But as promised, he would return after seven years, especially for Abinla.
'Who would have thought that this little girl would become the hero of our time,' Bola said with a smile.
'My sister has always been the hero, but we decided to refuse to believe it,' Ayibaemi said, happily eating his ice cream.
‘Did you fly?’ Abinla asked Bola.
‘Yes, I did. I couldn’t catch a bus because it would waste my time.’ He looked up at Abinla’s dark beautiful eyes, which were obviously expecting an explanation. ‘The jet is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It could save up to 66 percent in fuel...in order to reduce carbon pollution, a team of scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, along with government and industry collaborators, is redesigning airplanes that would reduce carbon footprint. Instead of throwing away what we use, we produce and redesign things that would reduce our carbon footprint. Don’t you worry, Abinla. My airplane is among the new planes redesigned to reduce carbon footprint. It was supposed to be released by 2035 but I had to pay hugely to facilitate the process.’
Bola was now studying Computer Science at MIT but he had come to host this victory feast for Abinla. Abinla got scholarship to study medicine at University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Everything was fitting into place as Abinla had dreamed.
Abinla smiled as she reached for a glass of milk, taking a sip, she said, 'We only have to believe in our dreams. Before 2200, the world will be like a glassy Paradise, everything would look almost like the paradise from the new heaven...'
'You still have more dreams?' Bola chuckled. 'I thought this was enough.' 'It's never enough. Don't forget that the beautiful ones with computer brains are not yet born, so is the glassy world that is magnificent beyond description... We are the world; we mould it the way we want.'
As Abinla said that, those that heard her words, turned to look at her in silence; perhaps wondering what the world would be like in the months or years to come. I wonder that myself, Abinla thought silently, lifting the glass of milk to take a giant sip. One thing was sure; the world would be magnificently breathtaking.
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