As a journalist convicted of libel and treason by this despotic government, my cell stood apart, apparently small and windowless, it's gate carved from strong iron bars, looking firm like a mountain. It would take any officious device two thousand seasons to defeat it's strength. I had never been allowed the freedom to step out of my cell since my incarceration on December 1st, 1991. It seemed the powers that be had signed a pact with loneliness to edge me out.
My arrest came hot on the heels of a write-up in one of the leading newspapers in the country Tiwa n Tiwa which I worked for. The write up watching indeed an indictment of the military government and a knock against it's insincerities towards the conduct of the June 12, 1993 general election. It was this insightful piece that invited the attention of many Nigerians, leading to a mad rush to the newsstand for that day's edition of the newspaper. Those who could not afford copies from the smiling vendors owing to the paucity of their purses managed to square with those who could. Some even offered to go with other citizens who got copies to their different destinations, hoping to catch a glimpse of the piece homewards.
On the noon of that day which was Tuesday, I sauntered to a newsstand. I espied a crowd of people taking incongruent postures and positions at the stand, jostling to outsmart one another in the struggle to peruse the write-up. Inwardly, I never had to forethought to walk up to the newsstand. I did, by stroke of disappointment and after casting heavy aspersions on a driver who brought me in contact with the crowded stand.
Continuation from the Part 1 of the letter, Taiwo Thompson wrote to her wife while in prison recounting the hardship he was going through.
Please stay in touch for the concluding part of his experience. I hope you learn from this true life story.
Thanks!
Please.....
