Itohan Was Stubborn

“Itohan! Me na Itohan mama. Itohan mama when born am no marry our husband. So na me take care of Itohan from small till she big con get bress. Na me send am go school. But she come go follow man run. When them manage come pay bride price, papa Itohan no gree make that man marry our pikin. But Itohan de stubborn. She was very stubborn. She still follow the man go back to Eko”. The old woman said to Lanre. She had used the language she could best communicate with, Nigeria pidgin. She had explained to Lanre that she was not exactly Itohan’s mother but she was Itohan’s stepmother who took care of her in place of her biological mother. This was because her biological mother refused to be with Itohan’s father. She had also told Lanre that she sent Itohan to school but Itohan dropped out early all for the sake of a man. And that she left with the man to Lagos, only to come back after some years with the man insisting she wants to marry the man. Her father was against the marriage and this made Itohan’s marriage not to hold. But despite this, Itohan returned with the man back to Lagos.

“E no go better for that man where him de (It will not be well with the man wherever he is)!” The old lady said yet again. Tears streamed down her cheeks. Then she opened her arms wide calling Eno to come hug her. Eno was reluctant but Lanre pushed her towards the old woman.

“You look like your mother!” The old lady said. Then she asked Eno her name.

“Enowa!” Eno replied. The woman asked her about her mother. Eno kept mute. Lanre asked her to go join Tega in the car, and that she will call for her when need be. Eno felt relieved to leave. But her heart had become heavy after she was asked about her mother.

Lanre went on her knees after Eno left.

“Mama, I brought Enowa here so that her mother’s family will know that their daughter is alive somewhere. Eno’s mother, Itohan died over a month ago. She was beaten to death by her husband. Mama, your Itohan don die! And Eno is the only one alive among all get children. The husband killed himself together with the twins after killing her”. Lanre said to the woman.

The old woman looked at Lanre. She made pushed her shoulder up and folded her arms. She was finding it hard to believe.

“I found Eno when she was sold into prostitution. It was a good thing I got there before they could use her for anything. I had to buy her out. Mama, Eno is the only person that is alive. She does not know that her sisters are dead. She does not know about her father’s death either. She only knows that her father killed her mother. But I don’t want her to know that her sisters are dead. So it will be better she does not know about them”. Lanre said.