“There is every reason to believe you. You know how big, strong and fit the people from the opposing party are to the ruling party. They are the offshoot of the ruling party. I should not be part of any party because of the role I am playing in this sacred assignment. But I have secretly followed the ruling party and bid everything to keep them at good footing. But it is beyond my power to grant this. I am like one sitting on hot rock. FEC is an umpire that would have the last lap of the job when it comes to election. How do I make a rule and be the first person to break it?” he said out of his reservation.
“But he said what should be done. Don’t come here to teach us your learning from Cambridge and Harvard. We have studied long before you, in more advanced and older countries, don’t try to make everything worsen. I should warn you.”
The next plan was not fast in coming. Uka was only intimating them on the inherent danger in the gambit. Young men and fear goes.
          “Do your job and leave the rest for us. Tomorrow the fate of some of us here would come to the public view and I don’t really mind the ocean that would eat deep the rocks on display. Ben had been kept in focus and shall be replaced if the need be. The ruling party would finally display the party’s manifesto at the National Theater tomorrow. We shall try as much as possible to convince the teeming crowd of what we shall give them, with or without their vote.
          “I only want to be up right Sir. That’s all”
          “Don’t be stubborn about this Uka. If you think that you will be upright apart from us, that is to say you are joking. You are as young as the emerging parties flapping wings to reach us. You cannot project the outcome when you have not embarked on it. As for being upright you will some day leave this office, but for now you need a thick skin to be a politician or meddle in politics. Do not listen to rumors. Be ready to see that you are gossiped about. “
“If what His Excellency ask sails through, the Republic might frown, but few would only gain from the continuation of the policy, but my own image will be dented beyond this country as one who wants to cling to power permanently, and your own image would also cut up to shame”.
“Let’s live this for now. Just be mindful of yourself. You should be ready for side talks. Don’t worry about your fears, they must come. You don’t have to be clairvoyance to predict the outcome of the election. Play your role safe in the game and forget what comes next. That is politics. A game of side talks, bickering and exchange of dirty words. We have a big shell that covers us from mere speculations”
Uka sat tired and kept twirling his young moustache and looking at different intimidating faces like one who had lost his memory.
Mr. President was silent. He never wanted to say anything to discredit what Ribadau had just said. They were matching in a common plan. They had been long into politics, just like friends or a son, the beloved that should be listened to when he speak.
It was only few intelligent ones among them that knew that the president could not be trusted in anyway. He could disappoint them in any moment. After all, it was Ribadau who recommended him for the appointment. They should sort themselves out from home before the break of the next day. 
The night was deep. The president who used Mr. Ribadau as his spokesman did not sound childish. He sounded as one who made up his mind to face whatsoever that comes out of the decision as just part of like and politics. He wouldn’t like anyone he did not like to come to the party to give him hard times if elected. In a way, he was still concerned.
These were just the beginning of the final deal.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
Another meeting came up after this at the Gent Hall of Fame in the upper house. It was the meeting that saw other faces who had been in hiding for long. It was some minutes past the hour of two in the morning. They could intimidate Uka to accept any option from them or loose his neck.  That last meeting of the members of the inner caucus of the ruling party brought the whole plans to a perfect order. It was the longest and most quarrelsome night in the Gent Hall of Fame in the upper room in the tower the secret place of His Excellency. It was a night of the series of meetings at various layers and tiers of hierarchy of the ruling party.