Yoke Of Love

Generous Friends

One day, Kolawole remembered Tunde Oredara his closest friend from their days together in the Polytechnic; Tunde gave him a roof over his head when they were still in school, and after he finished his National youth service in Cross Rivers State.

Tunde Oredara also gave him pocket money every month from his monthly salary when he was still searching for a job. Two years after Kolawole got married to Temitope; Tunde Oredara had visited him in his office and informed him that his Employer had transferred him to head their new showroom in Port Harcourt Rivers State in Nigeria, and gave Kolawole his office address in Port Harcourt.

Kolawole missed his friend greatly in Lagos, and he decided to bring his friend back to Lagos. In their bedroom that night, Kolawole discussed his friend’s issues with his wife; “My sweet chocolate, do you still remember what I told you about my friend Tunde Oredara? I mean the good part and not the part when we were sharing our girls between ourselves?”

Temitope looked at her husband and said as she smiled lovingly at him; “Thank God I met you when you have already changed from a bad play boy into a good and kindhearted man; yes, I remembered you told me how he supported you financially when you were still searching for a job, and that he also shared his one room apartment with you when there was no one that could help you with accommodation in Lagos at that time before Tunde Oredara came to your rescue; why are you going down the memory lane this evening my champ?”

Kolawole turned to face his wife on the bed, and said; “My friend has changed just like me, even though he is still unmarried; he is no longer a play boy because he is now in Christ; my point is that; to the glory of God, I am now in a position to pay him back for his generosity towards me in our younger days.” Tomitope smiled at her husband and said; “My champ, you have a heart of gold to repay kindness; but how will you pay me back for my love for you?”

Kolawole laughed and said; “Ha Ha Oliver Twist! You are already my wife, my business partner, and the mother of our glorious children; what else do you want my sweet chocolate?” She looked at him with her sexy eyes, and declared; “I want you to make love to me right now!” And Kolawole happily obliged her.

The following week, Kolawole took a local flight to Port Harcourt on Friday morning, and the plane landed in Port Harcourt International Airport by ten o’clock; and a cab took him to Sanyo’s showroom down town in the City of Port Harcourt.

A young sales lady led him into Tunde Oredara’s office; “Hello old boy!” Kolawole said as he entered his friend’s office. Tunde exclaimed; “Jesus is Lord! What are you doing in the city of Port Harcourt Bobo ‘K’?” They both embraced themselves, and Kolawole said cheerfully; “I came to say hello to you just to see how you are fairing in this city old boy.” Tunde Oredara was obviously happy to see his friend. “What can I get for you Bobo ‘K’?” Kolawole shrugged his shoulders and said; “Just a cup of tea and a pack of crackers will do just fine; I had my breakfast before heading to the Airport in Lagos.”

They discussed many things pertaining to Kolawole’s business and his young family of four children; and Tunde Oredara’s work in Sanyo Electronics generally, and Kolawole suddenly asked; “Why are you still single old boy?”

Tunde Oredara looked sad and said; “Bobo ‘K’, I am still searching for another Temitope that can also upgrade me.” Kolawole was very shocked to hear such words from his long time friend; “Ha ha, old boy, our destinies are not the same; if you are searching for a special woman, I doubt if you will ever find one, unless it is in your destiny; however, if you open your eyes and look for a God fearing woman that appeals to you as a good wife; then make your move before my children begins to call you brother Tunde.”

His friend nodded his head thoughtfully; he knew Kolawole was right; when one is searching for a special woman, one may never get it; he decided to change his attitude in his search for a suitable wife. Kolawole looked at his friend speculatively, and he said calmly; “One major reason why I came to visit you is to upgrade you old boy; but first, tell me the kind of business you will like to do in Lagos; and how much money you will need to start such business?”

Tunde Oredara thought his friend was just pulling his legs; “Are you for real Bobo ‘K’? The kind of business I will like to do will cost Millions of Naira!” Kolawole looked at his friend and said calmly; “Don’t worry about the cost, our God is able; just tell me what you wish to do finito.”

Tunde Oredara as an Electronics and Electrical Engineer, had it always in his mind to manufacture cables and wires in Nigeria; but it was just a dream that he believed would never materialized because of the huge cost of such business. “My business interest is to produce good quality cables and wires that would rivals imported brands.”

Kolawole was very surprised, that kind of business cannot be done by one man because of the cost, and he asked; “Will you be ready to welcome partners, because that kind of manufacturing business cannot be done by one man alone.” Tunde looked at his friend, and said; “That is why I considered my project as a dream that can never materialized.”

Kolawole laughed and said; “It is not a dream, but it is a real serious conglomerate business, but you have not answer my question; can you work with partners?”

Tunde Oredara then realized that his closest friend was not pulling his legs, and he said; “Yes, of course I cannot do that kind of business alone even if I am a millionaire.” Kolawole nodded his head and said; “I will have to discuss this huge business with my father-in-law, he is still the Chairman of National Bank of Nigeria; and if he is interested in the lucrative business, then it is a done deal old boy.”

Two months later, Tunde Oradara came to Lagos to have a meeting with Chief Alarape and other wealthy people including Kolawole his friend in attendance. Chief Alarape did not waste time at all after they were served with a bottle of red wine each, and the Chief said”Engineer Tunde Oredara, your friend Kolawole informed me about your wonderful project; now this is the deal; your friend and his wife will invest ten million, I myself will invest ten million, seven other people will invest ten million each; your own technical skill which we need to run the business is equivalent to ten million naira of the equity; we need Japanese partnership for the equipment; and I Chief Alarape will add another ten million as a Leader to enable us start with one hundred million Naira capitals in cash; do you agree with this arrangement Engineer Tunde?”

Tunde looked excited; “Thank you Chief; it is a perfect arrangement sir,” he said smiling from ear to ear because he is going to become rich and wealthy without investing any physical cash but his skills as an Engineer.

That was how NigerJapan Cables and Wires Industries was established in Oregun industrial layout in Lagos Nigeria; Chief Alarape was the president of the organization; one of the investors who was a seasoned Administrator was the Managing Director, Tunde Oredara was the Technical Director, Kolawole was the Purchasing Director, Temitope was the Financial Director; and other seven investors were the Executive Directors which formed the Board of Directors of NigerJapan Cables and Wires Industries Nigeria Limited.

Within two years, the Cables and Wires Company was posting two hundred million Naira annually as their gross income before tax; because their cables and wires were of better quality to the imported products. Tunde Oredara became a Multimillionaire after three years as the Techncal Director of the Cables and Wires Manufacturing Company which he thought was a dream that can never materialized; but which his long time friend Kolawole turned to reality for all of the investors.

Tunde Oredara met Wuraola Doherty at his local Church; he later approached her for courtship after he had observed her for three months, and she agreed to date him because she too had been admiring him from a safe distance.

Wuraola was a twenty-eight years old Barrister Lawyer; she was beautiful, elegant, smart, and God fearing; her close friends called her; ‘Beauty and Brain.’ Tunde and Wuraola finally god married at their local Pentecostal Church after nine months of courtship; and God blessed their union with three children. Thanks for reading!