Shanty Town | Part Two

Victor Ajiss

The Mayor,
Eastern Region,
KM 65, Uhumode District,
Lepia,
Nigeria.

Sir,
LETTER OF COMPLAINT
This is to bring to your notice that your government, through its agencies, have neglected the people of Shanty town from the development that ought to be made here. Over the years, our older generation, who mostly have not seen the outside world and do not know what right is accrued to them have swallowed the irresponsibility of government, hook, line, and sinker.

The people here still fetch water from the local stream when we are in the age where people have access to good pipe-borne water. It is pitiable to see our people get infected with various kinds of waterborne diseases because of the negligence of our supposed representatives in the public offices.

During the rainy season, the uncontrollable flood and erosion that passes each home and farmlands have impoverished the people the most. We hear through the news broadcast on our radio sets the volume of money that the central government voted to solve the problem of erosion. One would begin to wonder if Shanty Town is not a part of this country.

There is also the dilapidated hospital facility in this town that houses over half a million people. We would have to travel several kilometres to get access to medical care. It is that bad. The only hospital we have in Shanty Town was built by missionaries during the colonial era, yet the government cannot run it. What a shame, dear Mayor.

These and many more are the chaotic experiences of the people of Shanty Town. Hence, I write to your good office to attend to these problems . Our next move shall be to protest in the capital city to draw more attention.

Yours faithfully,
Maya Majekodunmi

After Maya had secretly written this letter, she sneaked out of town and posted it via the post office to the office of the Mayor. It would take about one week for the mayor to receive the letter. Maya was so confident that the story of Shanty Town was about to be changed. No one knew about this move, not even Ameria, Maya's best friend.

On her way from the post office, Maya met the local clerk of Shanty Town carrying a keg of water. She couldn't help seeing such a weak old man carrying that heavy content with a walking stick.

"Good day Chief." Maya greeted as the old man struggled to turn his neck to see whom it was that greeted. Oh! Daughter, how are you? Where are you coming from in this hot sun?" Chief Boyo asked? "I'm headed home, chief." Maya replied, trying to cover up her track from the old man. She advanced and helped the chief with his keg of water to his house.

This sight further angered Maya. How could an old man who had served the community all his life not be able to enjoy old age. Perhaps, the poor old man should be able to get water running in his home stead if the people in government are responsible.

After dropping the keg in his house, Maya went home having stayed out for too long. She doesn't want to raise any suspicion. All the chores she needed to attend to have been sorted before she embarked on the journey.

The postmaster delivered the letter to the Mayor's office. Usually, the letters are handled by his secretary, then any relevant information from the letter will be summarised to the Mayor. There were also many letters that got to the Mayor's on a weekly basis. As the secretary unveils the letter, she would read some half way because they were either begging for financial support or invitation to one fund raising programme or the other. But when she got to Maya's letter, she read it from the beginning to the end, then all over again.

Without much ado, she took the complete letter to the Mayor even though he had some guests in his office. She couldn't just wait.

………part 3 is coming ❗