SELFLESS LEADER PART 2






Lowland Youth: But I like yours better - that
combat dance. It is a show of manliness. a show ofbraver.
Upland Youth: Ours is too rowdy and violent; a
mere belief of long fought battles.
Festivals should be a thing of pleasure... with fanfares and dances. Do you know that the Ebony girls dance almost nude during their festivals?
Lowland Youth: That's rather primitive.
Upland Youth: Well... it's been nice seeing you again after such a long time.
Lowland Youth: It's been really nice ... I hope to
see. you soon.
Upland Youth: Take care
Lowland Youth: You too ..
Lights fade out

ACT TWO
A few years later, rich mineral resources are discovered in the land; it appears that God has blessed the land with treasures that lie buried in the earth. And then overnight, things change and corruption becomes the order of the day. Palms becomes itchy;
minds become greedy
as
everyone wants to lay their hands on the treasures. The selected few, however, succeed in laying their hands on these treasures. They become selfish. The infrastructures of the land get decayed. The masses are neglected and deprived of means of their livelihood.
The
people suffer.
ACT I SCENE I
(It is Hon. Felix's palace, he sits on his throne and before him are the minister, Chief Chris and Ist Expatriate.)

Hon. Felix:
So it is true that you have discovered large quantity of mineral in our land?
1st Expatriate: Yes, Your Lordship the land is
blessed to have this type of rare mineral, and when dug and refined, much wealth will come to the land, riches beyond our imagination and the land will be elevated to those of Europe, America and other developed countries of the world.
Hon. Felix:
(Laughing and very happy.) Ha ha ha (and turning to Chief Chris, he asks.) Did you hear that? Did you hear the good news?
Chief Chris: It is indeed good news, Your
Lordship.
Hon. Felix:
(Turning again to Ist Expatriate.)
How soon can we ... em ... dig out this mineral?
1st Expatriate: Your Lordship, Sir, I should say
within the year. We will first get equipment to enable us excavate to the dept where the mineral is, and then we will bring it to the surface.

Hon. Felix: Yes-yes?
1st Expatriate: Yes, Your Lordship, we bring the
mineral to the surface, we refine and then we sell
Hon. Felix: I am very happy for this piece of
good news yes, very happy. I'll give approval for the exca-a-a, for the digging. But first see the minister, Chief Chris, tomorrow morning for proper briefing.
Ist Expatriate: Yes, Your Lordship. (1st
Expatriate takes his leave.)
Hon. Felix:
(Turning to face Chief Chris.) You heard what he said?
ChiefChris: Yes, Your Lordship.
Hon. Felix: The land will soon be transformed
into great wealth beyond our imagination. Those were his very words: our land; my land and your land like ancient Egypt, Rome.
(He looks at Chief Chris and smiles.) We will be great and powerful...
(He stands, facing
Chief Chris, looking at him eyeball

to eyehall. In all seriousness he savs) We shall take advantage of the situation to enrich ourselves:
Chief Chris: Yes, Your Lordship.
Hon. Felix: You're going to establish
contracting firm known as Chop Contracting Company or CCC.
You will be CEO as my
• subordinate, of course, and in any government contract, the CCC shall be given top priority to handle it. The proceeds will be shared among us, the CCC executives.
Chief Chris: Nodding his head in agreement.)
Yes, Your Lordship, Sir.
Lights slowly fade our

ACT II, SCENE II
(It is the following morning: Ist and 2nd Expatriates are in Chief Chris' office for briefing, and collection of letter of approval for the excavation of the ground and the extraction of the mineral. It is a big office. Chief Chris sits behind a big table, facing the two expatriates.)
Chief Chris: (He clears his throat and begins.)
You're very much welcome. (He pauses and continues after some seconds). His Lordship, Hon.
Felix, has asked me to give you the go-ahead for the excavation of the ground for this rich mineral as soon as possible. But you must understand that we'll undertake the contract. You'll contact the manager of Chop Contracting Company for further details.
1st Expatriate: Honourable minister, Sir. I mean
no disrespect, but for this work of excavation, we need technicians, experts and not just anybody.
Chief Chris: Is it not digging? What's so special about digging the ground?

2nd Expatriate: Chief, what we are saying is that, it is not just digging ..
.. I mean
the ordinary digging with spade and shovels. We need special machines for this job; these machines will create in-roads into the ground to enable men go in to sift this mineral out. In doing this we will need a body of experts. And we con't know, Chief, if the CCC is capable of producing such experts.
Chief Chris: (Frowning.) I don't know what you're talking about . experts .. technicians ... I say the contract has been awarded to the CCC.
1 st Expatriate: I beg your pardon Sir. But, Sir,
can we employ our own body of experts, to work with us? I am sorry to say, Sir, that without their technical know-how, it would be impossible to undertake this work.
2nd Expatriate: Honourable Minister, Sir.
What my colleague is saying is that the CCC can provide the labourers, while we employ our own staff...
ChiefChris: (Holding up his hand as a signal for
2nd Expatriate to stop.) That is

exactly what I'm saying. You bring
your own body of experts and technicians and CCC provides the manpower. But there are rules.
1st Expatriate: Rules?
Chief Chris: Not rules anyway, but conditions
that are attached to the contract.
Besides, it is an affordable task.
(He pause and continues again).
Well, the condition is that you are to give me thirty percent of whatever money paid to you.
1st Expatriate: (Shows amazement) Sir
ChiefChris: (Holding up his hand) That's how
we operate here. I'm the middleman and without me the contract will not be given to you. I persuaded His Lordship, Hon. Felix, to award you this contract. Yes, I convinced him that you people are capable of doing the job. As the middleman or agent: call it whatever name you choose, my fee is thirty percent.
(The two expatriates exchange bewildered glances.)

ChiefChris: (Opens his drawer and brings out a
sheet of paper.) Here is the agreement. If you agree to my condition you just sign and the contract is yours.
Ist Expatriate: (Clears throat.) Honourable
Minister, Sir. When we start excavating. there will be some sort of pollution to the immediate environment; the rivers, the surrounding forest and these
• people; the host communities have to be compensated adequately.
Chief Chris: I've told you the terms; we shall
settle the host communities. If you want the contract, just sign.
2nd Expatriate: Honourable Minister, Sir. can
we get to you first thing tomorrow morning?
Chief Chris: I'll give you twenty-four hours and
ifI don't hear from you, the contract goes to another firm. I believe you heard me clearly?
Two expatriates: Yes. Sir. (They hastily pack
their documents into their

briefcases. They walk towards the
door as Chief Chris signals them to leave)
Light fade out.
ACT II, SCENE III
(Light opens in Hon. Felix's palace. The palace is expensively furnished. Present are Hon. Felix, Chief Ben and Chief Chris. Hon. Felix sits comfortably on his throne with his two subordinates in a meeting.)
Hon. Felix: Thank you gentlemen for
responding to my summons at such short notice. I'lI not waste your time but will go straight to the matter.
(He paused for a while before he continued). It is this year's budget.
The money we're going to approve for this year's budget is going to be much more than last year's, because this year's expenditure is going to be big, I mean very big.