In the morning, the heavens opened and it began to rain. Bella grabbed her umbrella to get to school, as she walked out of the hostel the first
could not stop imagining that a man of his integrity occupying such a seat had no male child to be the heir to his throne when he ceased to exist.
Oti was wondering how his name would die when he exit the earth. This became an incubus to him being het up over the issue provoked him to quickly summon his elders to a meeting without hesitation. Onyeka, his second in command, was among. Though he found his condition thrilling—an opportunity for him to be crowned the next king—he pretended to pity Oti's predicament.
After explaining to them the reason for their visit. "Your Highness marry another wife to bear you a son," Okoli suggested." shut up and sit down! Okoli, are you that stupid? Don't you see that those who married two wives are now regretting their action and here you are trying to deceive our king in the name of advice," Onyeka protested. "Anyway, the quest for a desperate king requires extreme measure and decision," said Ogbuefi.
The people of Oguma land never lacked food. Their crops yielded rapidly and plentifully. Their land produced enough and sustainable produce to the satisfaction of the whole people in the community. They got rich from the sale of their farm produce. The people loved and cherished their king, Oti, so much that they were ready to sacrifice their last drop of blood in a bid to secure and retain him on the throne.
Oma was the only child of Oti. She grew up to be very beautiful. As a young girl she never boasted of her background. So the Oguma people respected and honoured her for that virtue. They all recognized her as the humble princess of the land. she was very hardworking and above all wise. Oma controlled a piece of farm land which her father entrusted in her hand on which she cultivated plants.
It was noon after the king's discussion with the elders Akuoma arrived with her daughter Oma. She had brought her from school on her way back from the market to procure some food items. No sooner had she finished undressing than Oti sincerely informed her of his fret. Akuoma could now understand the reason for his outrageous behaviour the moment she returned. Then he was looking forward to seeing her reaction while she kept staring at him. Tears were streaming from her eyes. Oti always wanted his wife to be happy, and would not want to hurt her feeling for anything.
He remembered the time he got acquainted with her and how they fell in love despite how people peddled malicious gossip in order to put asunder and part them, all to no avail.
For a long while Akuoma did not respond. She was not callous but cared for her husband's feelings. Her husband's speeches really touched her healed wound and made her have a flashback to the day of her labour. She had encountered some difficulties during her labour, but God saved both the baby and her. She quickly remembered the warning of the doctor to guard against another pregnancy for she would not survive it. After this thought must have rung bell and passed in her heart tears profusely gushed out from her eyes.
Later did she find out that crying would not solve the problem; rather it would worsen the situation. She also realized that her disagreement to her hisbands wish would be whimsical because of the love she had for him. Her refusal means killing the royal name forever which is disastrous. "you can marry another wife for a son but..." she manged to speak though delayed in her response. Oti became more confused and speechless that moment than ever. The couple were confused about the dilemma facing them. "I won't abandon you not for any other woman, it is true that I will marry another wife, but don't worry," he promised after a little while. Oti who set out on a quest for a son was now confirmed really determined no double mind after all.
A week later Oti married Ona. Ona was a braggart, because her father, Chief Njoku, was enormously rich. He was a native of the neighbouring village. He was an idol worshipper in fact, a pagan who believed so much in making sacrifice and all sorts of ritual activities, thereby saying out of ignorance that there is no God. Chief Njoku was very wicked and mean to people so his daughter inherited that unpleasant behaviour from him.
Not long after their marriage she conceived. Immediately after she had discovered her pregnancy, she became quarrelsome and started showing her real being, to the extent of threatening to deal with Oma. Everyone overlooked her actions due to her condition which they thought might be the cause of her unhappiness. She put to bed nine months later.
"She gave birth to a bouncing baby girl," proclaimed the messenger. Oti was peeved and furious when he heard the news. The news was actually disgusting to him, so he didn't even bother himself about going to see her and the baby in the hospital, until she came back to the palace.
This story unvails the importance of a male child in Africa (Igboland)
Cultural values and heritage. May the names of our heroes never be forgotten.
Happy father's day to all our fathers across the world and beyond!
Read also other short stories
The confused prince and his story
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