Then, the Head of Programs, who pretended as though he wanted to walk away, chipped in.
“I just feel like pointing it out to you.”
“Wait. Don't go yet. Do you know anyone who can help out now? I know the time is short. Or can you do it?”
Now, Edwin was visibly fidgeting, and the Head of Programs capitalized on that.
“Yes. I can do that. But the process is quite long. You're supposed to write to my office, and get an approval before I can be authorized to do that.”
“That is true, but is there anything we can do now? I mean very fast.”
“I will take the risk. I will tell the management that you gave me your application on Saturday when you came for the live appearance and I held it because of the public holiday. But we have our charges,” the Head of Program pointed out with aplomb. Then, the anxious Edwin accepted at once, “Don't worry about that. You just give me your details quickly, so I can introduce you as my co-host.”
“It is okay.”
Meanwhile, the General Manager of the Federal Television Authority was watching them with rapt attention from his seat on the stand. He could imagine what was happening between the two. The Head of Programs was pleading with Edwin, and he was making things difficult for him. Edwin was telling him that he came too late, his services were not needed. He breathed down when he saw the Head of Program writing his name on the brochure which Edwin was holding.
'Great. It's done.' The General Manager thought. Soon, the choreographers were about rounding up and Edwin had regained his composure.
“Thank you, to the choreographers. The choir of the Demonstration School of the Cherry Fields Oil and Gas Group. That was a beautiful performance. Can we applaud them, please?”
The spectators clapped heartily for the choir, including the General Manager of the television station, who was relieved. At that juncture, the performers began to file out while Edwin continued, “Next on the program is the welcome address by the Chairman of the Planning Committee of this event. Before I invite him to the platform, I would like to introduce my co-MC.”
Now, the television station General Manager was smiling happily because his plans had worked. Richard and Robinson were waiting eagerly to find out who the Planning Committee Chairman was. They had turned off their phones due to the incessant calls from the contractors, and it was only the Chairman of the Planning Committee who would assist them to get out of their predicament. They had planned to offer him a mouthwatering condition so that he would enshrine their bogus budget into his bills and everyone would be happy when the Chief Accountant approved the fund. So, they waited anxiously to see the Committee Chairman. Then, Edwin continued.
“My co-Master of Ceremony for today's event is a seasoned media practitioner, a perfect presenter, the man who has served his nation with his skills and talent. He is a man who loves to serve, and he is a staff of an award-winning Television Station.”
At this point, the Head of Programs, who had gone down from the stage to join the Head of News who was seated at the Media Stand, was happy with the accolades from Edwin. At the same time, he was worried that he may sing his praise beyond his position and attract envy for him from his superiors.
'I hope he won't put me into trouble? Even the General Manager had never received this kind of accolade.'
“Ladies and gentlemen, join me to welcome to the podium my co-MC for today's event. He is Mr. Tom Adams, the Head of Programs of the Federal Television Authority, the award-winning station. Mr. Tom Adams, you are welcome to the podium.”
Presently, Tom stood from the Media Stand, and walked to the podium with his head up and maintaining his focus and standing tall. As he walked, the audience recognized him as the presenter last Saturday. They clapped for him to appreciate his presentation.
Now, his General Manager was elated when Edwin mentioned him as the staff of an award-winning television station, his joy escalated as though he got news from the doctor that his wife had given birth to a set of twins. Thereupon, Edwin continued, “Continue to clap until he gets to the podium.”
Now, Tom was already at the podium, and Edwin handed the microphone to him. He collected it with the aura of the staff and the Head of Programs of an award-winning television station. All the same, he knew why he was there – to redeem the dented image of the station.
“Thank you very much, Edwin. I'm delighted to be a co-MC at this epoch making event in our great country. There is no better time to have such an occasion than now. I must commend the management and staff of the Cherry Fields Oil and Gas Group for intervening in the affairs of our youths. Thank you very. I must appreciate my General Manager, Dr. Yahaya Musa, for approving that I should be here. Thank you all.”
The audience clapped again, and he handed the microphone back to Edwin. He was at ease when he recognized that he had a professional at his side. The General Manager of the Federal Television Authority was happy too. Even if Tom was thrown out of the podium at that time, he would not be bothered because he had achieved his goal.
“Thank you very much, Tom. I appreciate your General Manager too. Thank you, Dr. Yahaya Musa,” Edwin thanked him, and he waved his hand happily in recognition of the appreciation. Afterward, Edwin collected the microphone from Tom, and continued, “Ladies and gentlemen, without taking time, let us welcome the Chairman of the Planning Committee. He is the General Manager of the Cherry Fields Oil and Gas Group, Mr. Gabriel Johnson.”
Now, the audience clapped cheerfully. Nevertheless, Gabriel could appreciate the love the audience had for him through the clapping. Meanwhile, not everyone in the audience was happy, and they could not conceal it.
“Do we have two Gabriel Johnson in the organization?”
“I also wonder. Let's wait and see?” The two villainous staff asked, looking at each other, as soon as Edwin mentioned the name of the Chairman of the Planning Committee as Mr. Gabriel Johnson. As he walked to the podium, they looked at him with their partially swollen eyes. They looked uneasy as they squirmed in their seats. Before that time, they thought that Gabriel was no longer in the Services of the company, and he was not even looking like one who was under any form of punishment.
“Has he sold and returned the money of the Lamborghini Veneno?” The defeated Richard asked.
“I don't think so. How can he sell it within such a short time? Besides, who would buy such a car in this country?”
“Or has he bought it over by himself?”
“Does he have that kind of money? I don't think so.”
Meanwhile, in the past, if Gabriel was the Chairman of the Planning Committee, then they should not have bothered about anything. One of them would have been the host, while the other should have been responsible for the matters concerning the President and his entourage. Currently, they were no more significant, and kept in the dark.
“Then, we are finished. How can we handle these contractors?”
“Is there no way we can meet him?”
“How can that be possible? We are his enemies, and terrible ones.”
Meanwhile, their gossip was cut short when Edwin announced, “Put your hands together as he comes to the stage.”
Nevertheless, the General Manager was a handsome and an outstanding man. He had the demeanor that attract respect. While he walked on with his speech in his hand, the audience clapped while Edwin continued to cheer him up.
“He is the best boss one can ever have. A leader per excellence, He is the husband of a female wife. The boss who always reminds me that I'm still a bachelor.”
At that point, everyone laughed, including the General Manager, who was not expecting such a joke. Soon, he mounted the podium and collected the microphone from Edwin.
“Thank you, Edwin,” he recognized, and looked at the audience, who was still clapping, and waited for them to stop before he began his speech.
“Mr. President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Festus Ancient and his Vice. The members of the Senate, ..... The Chairman of the Cherry Fields Oil and Gas Group and the Vice Chairman of the Cherry Fields Oil and Gas Group..... I welcome you all to this event. I want to thank the members of this Committee for working round the clock. We put up this event within ten days. Kindly clap for all the members of the team.”
(Clap) (Clap)
“I must appreciate my Vice Chairman, Mr. Ken Israel, a brother from another mother. A friend who is better than a bother.”
His two relations and other staff members were surprise to hear him address him as ‘a brother from another mother’. Then, Richard asked, “Are they still friends?”
“Are you not surprised? How can they ever relate after blowing them asunder?”
“If they're still friends, then all our efforts were in vain.”
“Truly in vain.”
"We are his relations, but he did not address us as such."
"I'm so ashamed of myself."