Tayo and Kola joined a company together a few months after their graduation from university.

  

After a few years of work, their Manager promoted Tayo to a position of Senior Sales Manager, but Kola remained in his entry level Junior Sales Officer position. 

Kola developed a sense of jealousy and disgruntlement, but continued working anyway.

One day Kola felt that he could not work with Tayo anymore. He wrote his resignation letter, but before he submitted it to the Manager, he complained that Management did not value hard working staff, but promoted only the favoured!

The Manager knew that Tayo worked very hard for the years he had spent at the company; even harder than Kola and therefore he deserved the promotion. So in order to help Kola to realize this, the Manager gave him a task.

“Go and find out if anyone is selling water melons in town?”

Kola returned and said, "yes there is someone!"

The Manager asked, "how much per kg?" Kola drove back to town to ask and then returned to inform the Manager; "they are N100.00 per kg!"

The Manager told Kola, "I will give Tayo the same task that I gave you. Please pay close attention to his response!"

So the Manager said to Tayo, in the presence of Kola; “Go and find out if anyone is selling water melons in town?”

Tayo went to find out and on his return he said:

"Manager, there is only one person selling water melons in the whole town. 

The cost is N500.00 each water melon and N300,00 for a half melon. He sells them at N100.00 per kg when sliced. He has in his stock 93 melons, each one weighing about 7kg. 

He has a farm and can supply us with melons for the next 4 months at a rate of 102 melons per day at N350.00 per melon; this includes delivery. 

The melons appear fresh and red with good quality, and they taste better than the ones we sold last year. 

He has his own slicing machine and is willing to slice for us free of charge.

We need to strike a deal with him before 10am tomorrow and we will be sure of beating last year's profits in melons by over N2,300,000.00. 

This will contribute positively to our overall performance as it will add a minimum of 8.78% to our current overall sales target. 

I have put this information down in writing and is available on spreadsheet. Please let me know if you need it as I can send it to you in fifteen minutes."

Kola was very impressed and realized the difference between himself and Tayo. He decided not to resign but to learn from Tayo. 

As we move in this second half of the year, let this story help us keep in mind the importance of going an Extra Mile in all our endeavors.

You won't be rewarded for doing what you're meant to do, you only get a salary for that! YOU'RE ONLY ​REWARDED​ FOR GOING AN EXTRA MILE; Performing Beyond Expectations.  

To be Successful in Life, you must be Observant, Proactive and Willing to Do More, Think More, Have a More Holistic Perspective and Go Beyond The Call Of Duty. 

May you be Blessed with a Better Perspective to do Your Best.

The Life ahead Needs This Mentality Of going An Extra mile. #echeekingsimpact

CHAPTER 2

After the prophet had finished sucking the pad, he applied some of the blood on Lum’s face and then had sex with her. He brought Manka out of her hiding place, laid her beside them and had sex with them simultaneously. It was not just an ordinary lovemaking. It was ritualistic and was done in order to increase his powers and fortify himself for the day two of the crusade that evening. 

It was around 7:00 PM when Lum and Manka left Ayaba Hotel and headed for their different homes. Under the effects of some strange power, the prophet had had his fill of both of them. They were too hypnotized to resist or complain as he satisfied his wildest fantasies with the two young adults. He only had to let them go because it was nearing time for him to go back to the arena for the day two of the crusade. 

When Lum got home, his parents asked her where she had been all evening, but she couldn’t give any answer. She was sad and exhausted and just wanted to be by herself. Her parents realized that she was in no mood for discussion. So, they allowed her have her rest and went to the crusade arena, hoping that she would join them later. 

Back at the crusade grounds, the prophet was at the pulpit, preaching, singing and every now and then, stopping to prophesy. When it was time for prayers, hundreds of people collapsed and fell to the ground under his anointing. It was an awesome crusade. A lot more people got healed that day than they did the previous day. Everyone went back that day happier than they had been the previous day.

When Lum’s parents got home from the crusade, they were shocked and annoyed that Lum had not followed them to the arena. In fact, she was fast asleep when they got back home. She had even forgotten to lock the main door. 

“Lum!!” Her mother called.

No answer.

“Luuuummmm!!

Still no answer. 

In anger, her mother stomped to her bedroom ready to give her a dirty slap. However, when she got there, her anger immediately changed to deep concern. She met her daughter sobbing quietly. 

“What is the matter, Lum?” She asked, sitting on the bed beside her.

“Nothing, mum.”

“Nothing? How can you say nothing but you are crying?”

“It’s nothing, mum. It’s just a personal issue. I will be fine.”

“You are not serious, are you?” Her mum asked. “Listen, Lum. I am your mother. You can trust me with anything. You can talk to me. Tell me what is troubling you.”

“Mum, I said I will be fine.”

“Okay, I know what you want. You want me to call your dad, right?”

“No, mum. Please, don’t call him. It can lead to a very big problem.” Lum begged her mum.

“What? Big problem? What is the matter? What is wrong, Lum. I am asking you again.”

“Mum, Please, you have to promise me that you won’t tell dad.”

Lum’s mother knew that if it was something serious, there was no way she was going to hide it from her husband, Lum’s father. However, Lum had been hesitating to speak. So, in order to assure her, she promised that she wasn’t going to say anything to her husband. Haven said that Lum agreed to talk.

“Mum, it’s about the pastor.”

“Which pastor?”

“The prophet, mum. The one we invited for the crusade.”

“The famous and powerful man of God from Nigeria?”

“Yes, mum.”

“So, what about him?”

“Mum, he raped me.”

“What? He raped you. How? When? Where?”

“Mum, he invited me and Manka to his suite at Ayaba Hotel and he raped us.”

“Jesus Christ!!” Mama Lum exclaimed and clapped her hands three times. “Lum, this is a serious allegation, a very serious one. Are you sure of what you are talking about?”

“It is not an allegation, mum. It did happen. You can ask Manka.”

“If I find out about this and realize it’s true, the pastor, prophet or whoever he calls himself will be in serious trouble. Now, relax and sleep, my daughter. Tomorrow, I will call Manka and hear her side of the story.”

“Okay, mum. Please, remember not to tell daddy.”

“I won’t.”

That night, Mama Lum couldn’t sleep. She rolled from one end of the bed to the other end occupied by her husband. She was deep in thoughts. She was wondering if what Manka had said was true. She was still finding it difficult to believe that such a powerful man of God could ever rape someone. However, her daughter had a good upbringing. She was not known for lies telling, especially about a topic as serious as the one in question. 

She was so restless that her husband realized that his wife hadn’t been sleeping, and decided to find out what was the cause of her restlessness. Mama Lum’s first inclination was to honour the promise she had made with her daughter against telling her husband anything. However, that changed quickly when she realized that she herself would be in double trouble if her husband found out later that she had known all along. So, she decided to narrate everything to her husband. 

“Mama Lum, this is a very serious situation. We have to handle it delicately. If it turned out to be a lie, we would all be in serious trouble for accusing that man of God wrongly. However, if it’s true, I swear that I will castrate him myself.”

“My husband, there is only one way by which we can verify the veracity of this allegation. We have to invite Manka and let us tell us what really happened.”

“That’s true, my wife. Let us wait for tomorrow and send for Manka. How’s Lum by the way?”

“She has managed to calm. I am sure she will be okay. Let us allow her to rest.”

Meanwhile, in Manka’s house, the latter had narrated everything to her parents. The reaction of her parents was slightly different from that of Lum’s parents. Her parents believed her alright. However, they were afraid of the church and the prophet. So, they decided that they would all keep it a secret. 

Manka’s father was selfish. He was afraid that if he went to church and sparked a rumpus, he was going to lose his position in church as a deacon. That was the main reason why he ordered his family to maintain sealed lips. In fact, he ordered them to consider the matter dead and buried. He warned them never to mention it ever again. Since Deacon Ajeck ruled his family with an iron fist, his wife and children obeyed every word he said, and the matter was considered dead.

The next day, Mr. Che, Lum’s father was too impatient to address the matter so much so that, he didn’t even invite Manka like he and his family had agreed. Instead, he went straight to the church compound and reported the matter to the pastor. The pastor was shocked and refused to believe it. Pa Che instead and it was finally decided that Lum’s friend, Manka, should be called.

About half an hour later, The Ajecks and the Ches were seated at the pastor’s office. The pastor, Rev. Tabe, welcomed everyone and then went straight to the matter. 

“Deacon Ajeck, welcome to my office. We invited you and your family to this meeting because Mr. Che here has made a serious allegation against Prophet Mckenzie, the man of God from Nigeria.”

“What allegation?” Deacon Ajeck feigned ignorance.

“He said your daughter and his daughter were both raped by the man of God. Do you have any idea about such a thing?”

“No, Rev., I am hearing this for the first time. Why should my good friend, Mr. Che make such an unfounded and ridiculous accusation against an anointed man of God.”

“It’s not an allegation, Deacon Ajeck.” Mr. Che spoke angrily. 

“But it is an allegation, a wrong one at that. What evidence do you have. Do you know the consequences of lying against a man of God of such magnitude?”

“Ajeck, I am shocked by your response and your shortsightedness. In fact, you are too myopic and negligent. Something serious like this has happened to your daughter and instead of you to get to the bottom of it, you are here speaking nonsense.”

“Nothing has happened to my daughter, Mr. Che, or she would have told me already.”

“You think so? Alright, Manka. Tell your father what happened to you and Lum at the hotel. Tell your parents what Prophet McKenzie did to you and your friend, Lum.”

“Sir, I don’t know what you are talking about?” Manka responded. 

“Manka!!” Lum shouted.

“What is it?” Manka asked harshly.

“Please, say the truth, tell them the truth.”

“Which truth? Nothing happened to me. I don’t even know what you are talking about.”

“Manka, you are a disgrace. I thought you were my friend. You are a bad friend, Manka.”

“Don’t you dare call my daughter names.” That was Mami Manka speaking.

“Your daughter is a liar.” Mama Lum retorted.

It was getting very heated at the pastor’s office. So, he decided to calm everyone down, and then he spoke.

“Mr. and Mrs. Che. You have heard for yourself. You heard what Deacon Ajeck’s daughter said. So, it is now clear that you people have wrongfully accused an anointed man of God. I am very disappointed at you both, especially you Deaconess. I was hoping you guys had given your daughter a good upbringing. However, what has happened today has proven to me and to everyone present here that you are both failures as regard to parenthood. 

“Prophet McKenzie is our guest. We invited him all the way from Nigeria so that he could come and be a blessing to our crusade with his grace and anointing. Now, look at what you people are doing to him. Is this how you treat a guest? You better make sure he doesn’t hear about these accusations. You people are inviting curses upon yourselves. Remember the good book says, you shouldn’t do anything harmful to a man of God. 

"Anyway, we will decide what punishment to mete out to you and your husband for this crime. We will make sure your punishment is proportionate to your transgression and that does not exclude excommunication. However, you can go now. After the crusade has wrapped up and the prophet has gone back, I will call a meeting to discuss about your punishment.”

Thus was Pa Che, his wife and daughter, robbed of justice because of Elder Ajeck’s evil. That day, Pa Che and his family went home in shame. They were very, very confused. On the one hand, they believed their daughter. However, after Manka’s outright denial of the allegation, they were beginning to have doubts in their minds about their daughter’s story. 

The next day, the crusade came to an end and Prophet McKenzie went back to Nigeria with a huge amount of money paid to him by the church. Except for the Ches and Ajecks, no one knew about the lives he had ruined forever. 

When Rev. Tabe was sure that Prophet Mckenzie had touched down in Nigeria, he convened a session of the top members of the church. During the meeting, he openly accused Mr. Che and his family for attempting to bring disgrace and disrepute to the church by making a ridiculous and false accusation against a man of God. Mr. Che wasn’t even given the chance to defend himself. He was brutally hushed down when he tried to speak for himself. 

Poor Mr. Che. He had been seating at the front row, half-asleep, waiting to be given an opportunity to present his case. Instead, suddenly he came under attack from all corners. The members of the session unanimously agreed that beginning that day, all members of the Che family were excommunicated from church until further notice. Ma Che’s position as a deaconess was also indefinitely withdrawn. 

Pa Che took his family home and decided that they would never return to that church. He told his wife that they should depend on God to fight for them. They trusted God to take vengeance on the prophet for the harm he had caused to their daughter. They also decided that they were going to cut all links with the Ajecks. The Ajecks were bad friends and had to be kept at an arm’s length. 

Thus, the road to recovery for Lum began. However, what she and her parents didn’t know was that what Prophet McKenzie did to their daughter wasn’t normal. It had something to do with his workings in the underworld, and before long the effects will start manifesting in Lum’s life.

TO BE CONTINUED…