I got the shocking news of the demise of the most loyal of farm staff this morning.
John joined my team in August 2016, after I returned from a 6-month USAID sponsored training in Ghana. Since John arrived, I have had a number of staff that joined us and left, John never left me for once or contemplated it.
Of all my staff that ever worked with me on the farm, John was one person I could trust with my life and personal belongings. John knew things about my farm, more than I knew myself. He knew my farm boundaries and that of my neighbors. I could easily call him to get things done and conclude he would do it.
Each time I needed to sleep on the farm, John would prepare my bath water, warm my food from home and wash my dishes. He cared for me, just like I cared for him. My family had confidence in him. They knew he's got my back, anyday anytime.
With John, my security and safety was never in doubt, as I was a priority for him. Some of his fellow staff stole my things, called him my slave but he never bothered. He was simply displaying his loyalty to a man that chose to cloth him, feed him, respect him, pay him regularly and appreciate his shortcomings.
Most of my other staff members were simply interested in their salaries than they cared about the growth of my business. John wasn't just interested in the salary I paid him, he was interested in the business growth and my welfare.
John was the kindest staff I have ever had. He never made meals for himself alone. He would cook and even give out his own portion to strangers. Always willing to share the little he had. John brought so many guys to work with us from his village, only for most of them to stab him in the back.
I know a case of one Godwin that joined us, this boy took our bike same day he arrived and had an accident with it. It took weeks for his injury to heal. After a few months, Godwin and another staff left us to work in a nearby farm. Those two idiots, were lured by some friends they met while gallivanting/idling around. I knew where they were, but I moved on.
Several months later, unknown to me, those stupid guys had returned to my farm. They left their new job because they were being owed. I got furious when I got to the farm and saw them working. John had told me his brothers were with him, assisting with the job on the farm. I didn't know they were those foolish boys. When I eventually found out, I was begged to accept them. I reluctantly did, with several conditions attached. Infact, I took one and rejected the other.
In less than a month, Godwin left again. This time, he left with John's cloths and bag. Everything that was valuable to John was taken away. Godwin left us unceremoniously again. This was someone he brought to come and eat. He had brought many of them so they could avoid herdsmen orchestrated deaths in their state, Benue. He brought them to advance their economic livelihoods and be able to support their families back home.
John never told me big lies, though he faulted in some little areas. Though he wasn't entrepreneural and couldn't take some initiatives that could leapfrog our business unless he's told, he remained my most loyal staff till date. He remained steadfast despite our challenges. He reassured me all was going to be well, when things went sour.
Last year December, 2019; few days to Christmas, John was informed by his relatives that his mum had died. When he called me, he was in tears. I could feel the sobs right from where I was. John loved his mum. He loved her so much. He had bought new cloths and food stuff to be taken to his mum by a relative he brought to work with us. That lady had not arrived home for Christmas when John got the shocking news of the passing of his mum.
I knew it was a painful loss for my loyal staff. I quickly arranged some cash for John to travel back home to pay his mum the last respect. The mum had been buried before he got home. He wished he saw her.
Few weeks before John left for his mum's burial, I gave him my last used personal phone, since I got a new phone. I still had all my details (pictures, messages, etc) in it. I didn't delete anything. That's how much I trusted John with my life and personal belongings. He left the following day with my phone and promised to return in a week or two.
Two weeks after, John told me he was ready to return with his relative that left earlier. For some reasons, he could not. His relative returned and it became difficult to reach John. His phone was always switched off. Months after months, I finally lost contact with John.
I tried every means to get across to him, including through the man that brought him for me. They live in the same state but different local government area. I later concluded he wasn't coming so I stopped calling. I only asked for him to return my phone as I couldn't afford to leave those personal information on the phone with him, any longer.
My family members tried to reach him severally, including my mum, dad, brother and my wife. My mum was even more persistent. I told them not to bother again, that no man is indispensable. I was told his Aunty ordered him not to travel far again. I was told he needed to manage or care his mum's farm as a form of last respect to her. That is not hard to say na.. oga, abeg I no fit come again o, blablablabla... I would have understood. Abi I carry fire 🔥 🔥 for head ni? I gave up on seeing him again after 6-months.
Mid-june, John's call came through. He called me. He called me severally. I refused to pick his call. I was angry. Why is he calling me? He called my wife, my brother, his relatives and co workers at the farm to beg me, that I wasn't picking his calls. After a few days, I was prevailed to answer his call. I did. He begged to return. I accepted with more conditions attached. This is a company and not a charity organization, I told him. Where does it happen? You think you can leave and return anytime? No way! Let it never happen again.
John returned on June 22, 2020. He looked worse than he left. I picked him up at the bus park, my wife in her usual way, arranged some food stuffs and off he left for the farm. When next I visited, things were improving. He had mobilised other direct and indirect staff to set things in place. I was happy I took him back.
Suddenly, two weeks ago, I was told he was sick and needed to see a doctor. As usual, I referred him to a health centre close to our farm, in a nearby village where they administered several drips and drugs on him. I spoke with him and eventually paid his treatment bill. He left for the farm, only to be told he didn't get any better. I asked that he be taken to a bigger hospital in the town. They did.
After they returned from the hospital, I was called to arrange for him to return home. I was wondered why. They said he could not be treated here. What will they do in Benue, that we can't do here? His relatives with us begged me to let him go. I asked why? Apparently, they knew what was going on and didn't want me to bare the cost and pains. They advised I should let him go.
They said he didn't offer certain sacrifices to appease his mom after the burial. His mum hadn't forgiven him. They said he was seriously sick. John had told me he was seriously sick and home, that as a matter of fact, he ran away from home to return to the farm. Who would he want to return home again, and so soon! Since they said it wasn't medically related, I sent money to him to travel home immediately. They arranged to take John to his sister who lives some 60kilometres away.
Later, one of his relatives confided him that John may never return that the sickness was serious. He didn't tell me what, until John embarked on the journey to his village. After much pestering, he told John tested positive for HIV/AIDS. What, how and when?!
John loved alcohol, but women never! People could tell me about his liquor drinking prowess, but never about stealing or adultery. I could vouch that John never stole or fornicated with any lady while he was with me. But John was very popular for drinking and falling on my bike. He had many nicknames. He was very popular. More known than me. John was very respectful, loved by young and old. His only bad part was the alcohol he learned how to drink with the idle village men. John was not a perfect gentleman, but I knew I could count on him on so many fronts.
When John returned last two months, I reminded him about the distance between Benue and Ogun state and why he needed to be more serious with his life and not give-in to drinking alcohol. He told me he had changed and won't even roll with the villagers who usually lured him to their liquor base.
John got home (his village) two weeks ago. I tried to reach him again but I could not. But one of his relatives confirmed he got home safely. I was waiting to hear from my most loyal staff when I received the news of his demise.
I can't come to terms with the fact that John Echeija is now late (dead). I have lost a friend, a gist partner and team member. John was my confidant. He knew my plans and dreams.
John could be likened to a pigeon (eiyele). He stayed with me during the thick and thin. It is painful he died from a manageable disease like AIDS. If I knew earlier, I would have encouraged him to disclose it, so he could get the necessary treatments free of charge. I would have advocated for him. He who have lived longer. He would have lived to take care of his only son and aged father.
Adieu my most loyal staff, team mate, gist partner and friend.
You will be greatly missed.
God be with you, till we meet again.
© Adeniyi Philip Ayoola
