.ADVENTURES OF SST PART 9 SST AND THE FOREIGN EXPERT Our next stop was at the Ministry complex where Kabiru came with a contract proposal some weeks earlier. He didn’t get to even pass the personal assistant to the commissioner. He told me the personal assistant looked briefly at the booklet containing his proposal with disdain, with Kabiru still standing in his office. He didn’t offer him a seat; he then shoved it into a drawer nearby and turned his attention to the side to see what was on the television. He managed to remember after a few minutes that Kabiru was still standing there and then told him that they will get to him. Nobody needed to tell Kabiru he didn’t need to call back. Kabiru seemed to have had a bad deal the last time he was here. But not this time; I was coming in with a new deal. when we entered the huge building, Kabiru led the way to the commissioner’s office. I could see many people waiting to see the commissioner by the corridor. I nudge Kabiru forward. He opened the door and we were facing the personal assistant, a young man in his early twenties seating behind a small mahogany desk. He gave an insolent sneer as he saw Kabiru came in but suddenly, I saw the hard face dissolved into a great smile when I entered after Kabiru. But I could see the smile was not for me. He was smiling at Franklin as he came in behind me. He quickly stood and stretched his hand beyond me to shake Franklin. “Sir you are welcome can we help you please?” he said with a smile. Kabiru quickly came in, “yes we are here in regard to my last . . .” But before he could finish the young secretary cut him off. “Please!” He said as he turned to look at Kabiru with a clear strain at holding his temper. “I will get across to you give me a minute, I say please!” I quickly came in. “Oh this is Mr. Franklin Janun.” I started introducing from where his interest was clearly directed. “and I am SST, a trained quality supervisor in the United States; we are here with our Nigerian contact Mr. Kabiru.” I then brought out the carrot. “Mr. Franklin is our foreign expert.” I said smoothly. I saw his countenance bubbling with excitement. He turned to face Kabiru with a new light in his eyes as if he was just recognizing him “Oh Mr. Kabiru, it was really some time you been here, can you and your friends have seat please!” He said so nicely and friendly that i was tempted to doubt the earlier stories i heard about him. We followed the direction of his hand to a long metallic seat by the far corner. I mumbled on behalf of the rest some words of appreciation and we sat down. He then came to Kabiru. “I believe you are here in connection with your proposal?” He asked. Kabiru smiled. “Well, that is just a part of it now, as you can see my foreign experts have arrived and I am sure they will come up with some amendments in line with international standard.” He said with a new found vigour. I smiled. I could see Kabiru was falling in fast. The young man was literally jumping up. “well, i can see that, let me get to the commissioner and see if he is free and if he can entertain you soon enough.” He looked towards the long corridor not minding the long queue of visitors waiting. He soon disappeared in to the inner office. it didn’t take long and he was out. not to invite us in to see the commissioner of works. The commissioner of works was coming out right behind him! i could see he was a heavily built dark man with a strong frame that leaves no one in doubt that he was there for the works. He was beaming with hot smiles. “Oh my friends welcome, welcome!” He was hollowing with excitement as he came to meet us. i could see he took care to come in by the right which took him to where Franklin was seating. He wanted to start his greetings from where it mattered the most to him. we stood as we shook hands with the man. “ah!” He turned to me. “are you Kabiru? I think I saw your proposal on my table some weeks’ ago.” He was talking to me. I could see he doesn’t even know Kabiru in person. I shifted back quickly making room for Kabiru to come forward a little. “no I am Kabiru.” Kabiru said. “These are my foreign partners from the United States. Mr. SST,” he turned to me. “He is a quality supervisor based in the United States and Mr. Franklin,” he allowed a small pause when it came to introducing Franklin to show the importance of his person. I could see he didn’t need to. The commissioner was already impressed with Franklin’s posture. “Mr. Franklin is our foreign expert with one of the most reputable construction firms in the United States. He has a wide experience of working in sub-Saharan countries though he did most of his great works in the Middle East taking on major and challenging jobs.” The commissioner would have surprised me less if he had jumped and touch the ceiling. He rushed and hugged Franklin oblivious of our presence. “That’s what my state needs! We been looking forward for foreign input in the great works we are doing here. We need an international input!” He was shouting with exuberance. “Please come in my friends, come in!” We followed into a wide office created with great space. I thought we were in a basketball court. The man gave no consideration to the needs of his assistant when he was sharing the office space. He turned to Kabiru as soon as we were seated “Mr. Kabiru, I must apologize for the tardiness of my staff, they were supposed to bring me up on your proposal for the road construction.” I quickly cut in “Mr. Commissioner I don’t think that will be necessary really. My senior colleague the venerable engineer Franklin had gone through the plans and saw a need for a major overhaul in line with the great works he did at Saudi Arabia in expanding the road carriages to contain traffic during the Hajj.” The commissioner was beaming with ever widening smiles as he looked towards Franklin with reverence. Franklin who was not new to the game was shaking his head and making gestures of correction as i speak in line with what is expected of an expert. “a road in Saudi Arabia?” The commissioner asked in amazement. “not only in Saudi” I said. I then brought out an engineering works brochure that I came along with. and opened to a page and passed it over to him. “as you can see the various road projects in Kuwait, Australia, new Zealand and the rest, which were handled by major construction firms was done under the supervision of Engineer Franklin as the expert.” I said. The commissioner was flipping through the pages in amazement. “all these great works?’ He asked incredulously, looking at Franklin who was just saying nothing but shaking his head confidently. it was my plan that Franklin remembered to be as silent as possible. i don’t think he knows even the basic of road construction to pass as one that had work on a road construction and not to even pass as an expert. I threw the bait. “and mister Commissioner, when we finished a work like this in your state we assure you it will also get mention in such a world class magazine.” i could see the leap of joy in the man’s eyes. “and come to think of it, you will be the envy of even the federal government, and other states will rush to take a clue from you.” i said. The man reacted to that like one on ecstasy! “Oh Mine! Please we need to see his Excellency now!” He said jumping from his seat and going to open a door to an inner room. He came out after some few minutes. I have spoken to his Excellency, Mister Franklin.” He started solely addressing Franklin now; you would think it was him that did the short presentation. “His Excellency has expressed delight and eagerness to see you now sir.” He said. “He is waiting and I think we should leave right away.” He was on his feet already as he speaks. we stood and followed him out to a waiting car outside, making effort to catch with his pace. TO CONT T
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 14:04:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015