We are Good Together! 'Story of the 5 Maza's'

Isaiah O. Aladesanwa, President of Nigeria Phoenix Club

The word Maza is a Hausa word for men, been a while since I have taken my time to write, and I can't tell of the reasons behind this, I quite know time is a factor. After Nysc, a new chapter of life is opened, and I have to live by it, knowing I have to work to survive. It's sometimes funny to write one own story without cutting corners, as for me we owe it to life and Humanity to say the truth without siding each the divide between truth and lie come what may.

The Safe Meeting!

I was posted to Abuja the capital city of Nigeria for the mandatory one-year youth service, I gladly took the offer without knowing that this was a different environment from my over 2 decades stays in Ondo State, I remember one time I was made to laugh in church when I was reading a bible verse, the visiting Pastor asked where I hail from, I proudly answered 'Owo'- the land of Honour, he cut in, where did I attend my nursery, primary, secondary, without waiting for a response he answered the question put out to me. The church laughs! And funny enough my Tertiary education was from my town too. I became more popular, though I was touched by such an experience. But am proud of it.

Getting to Abuja, house rent was far more expensive compared to where I came from, lived with my Aunt for some period, and I was left with no choice but to get accommodation, where will I run to, I was praying for luck, called political associate, friends, and elders, help was not coming I had to live up to my name Isaiah- God has saved.

The Human Approach

I was in a taxi setting off for work, and a lady just hand over to me a leaflet reading 'Get a loan without paying interest', ehhn! I just get in touch with the company and billed for an interview. The company Reliance Cooperative Society has a branch at Mabushi after Banex junction, Abuja. I was welcomed warmly by their staff.

The meeting affords me to meet a young entrepreneur Mr/Mallam Abdullahi O. Paul when he introduce himself as Paul by way of religion I thought he was a Christian until he said I should permit him to go pray, ehhn then I know he was a Muslim. Lo and behold, he offered me a house to stay in with conditions of staying till a particular period,  I did work to respect the agreement.

The Big Brother Naija Experience

My aunt drove me down to the location, it's quite far, but as an Architect I am familiar with the location after a time visit, getting to the apartment, we saw the Quran, Islamic text, and materials, my Aunt is a member of the Deeper Life Bible Church, just said 'Sha ma Sora'- be careful, Motigbo Ma- have heard you ma. Heretofore the journey of a lone survivor. A bedroom apartment, well screed, painted with good facilities. 

At first, it was Home Alone, but in a few days come Abdulmalik, AbdulRahman, Abdullahi, and an incoming Nigerian Russian Engr. Abdullahi,  I am never comfortable staying with others but I lived by it based on the situation on the ground, we came from different backgrounds, and you know what that means. But we were cool together. We lived as if we knew each other beforehand. 

Also read: How Ojo O. Amos saved the National Assembly from fraudulent ICT contractors

During the Lockdown comes Ramadan

You will agree with me that during the Covid- 19 era, there happen to be a total economic downturn, in the Yoruba text; Ékù o ké bi éku, Éyé o ké bi éyé (things were not going the way they should go). In all this, the 5 Mazas were supporting each other to live, grow and sustain the times. 

I remember during Ramadan AbdulRahman cooked for suhool, and I do for iftar, being the only Christian, I sit to listen to Tasfir by Mallam Abdullahi and our visiting Engr. from Russia. So much was learned in this period from one another, and there is the section for political reasoning always anchored by Mallam Abdullahi everyone gets to say one or two things, and we will come to a conclusion hoping for a better Nigeria.

Today, we are glad we met and could chat about the course of life believing in the Nigeria dream, Africa dream! Indeed, 'We are good Together'!

Words from The Maza's:

Engr. Abdullahi: 'It was a great moment and unforgettable memory. Above all, meeting you was a major source of inspection, power, and foresight. You are one in a million Christians with 100% tolerance religiously I can say. I appreciate the Godly and friendly moments we shared and hope Nigeria as a country becomes a better place for livelihood. Amen

Abdulmalik: Fast one, Religion, tribe, and region are the seat of unionism...

During the lockdown, we all stayed together and lived with love and harmony... Apart from the fact that you're the only Christian among... You understood and respected our norms and beliefs. There were days we had enough to rely on there were also days we had nothing to eat, We understood one another and tolerated ourselves when it comes to disagreeable behavior.

Conclusion

Engr. Abdullahi hails from Niger state, return to Russia, and is married to a Russian.

Mallam Abdullahi Paul hails from Benue, and he is now happily married to a Yoruba woman, Nikkah held in Kaduna state.

Mr. AbdulRahman hails from Kaduna, he equally followed the step of his boss, and he got married to a Yoruba woman. The Nikkah was held in Ogun State.

Yours Truly (author), got a new accommodation living and believe that the Best is yet to come.

Abdulmalik hails from Lagos state and he returned to school. 

This story is put up to further assure the Nigerian state, that 'We are Good Together' irrespective of our religion, ethnicity, language, and tribe. Together we stand, Divided we fall!

God bless Nigeria!