MAGA

Everybody in the neighborhood knew Okechukwu was greedy. Everybody except Okechukwu himself. He never considered himself as greedy. He saw himself as a business man. A shrewd business man.

He knew people called him greedy. He knew they whispered and laughed when he opened his shop even on Easter Sunday. He knew his friends had called him aka gum when he had left the Catholic Church because the priest had made him a member of the launching committee for the new church building.  And he did not mind that the pastor of his new church scowled at him whenever he put his well squeezed 20 naira into the offeeing basket (which happened to be all the time).Let him vex.
His friends laughed whenever he told them that none of the money they gave in church ever got to God's hands; all they had to do was look at the pastor's new car.
Let them laugh. They had also laughed when he had used the small money he had to buy the 8 by 6 foot container. Six months later, they were borrowing money from him.

He was not greedy. He was just a businessman with foresight. It was not his fault that other people did not have the kind of instincts he did. He always knew what was going to happen before it happened. Like when the bakeries had gone on strike. He had arranged to go to Minna and buy bread. That week, he had made a killing off bread alone.

Two days ago, He got wind that the pure water manufacturers were going on strike.  He had quickly taken all the money he could lay his hands on and bought 500 bags of pure water. He had bought 200 cans for dispensers. So, when yesterday every other shop in the neighborhood had run out of water, he had hiked up his own prices.  It was not greed, it was just good business acumen and foresight.

When the customer parked in front of the shop, Okey knew he was about to make a killing.  He could always smell opportunity from a mile away. It had nothing to do with his big nose.

"Welcome Sir '

"Thank you. I want to buy water. These dispenser cans. How much?"

"It's 1000 sir"

"1000? haba na"

"Its what it is o. You know they're not producing again."

"OK.  Gimme 5."

Okey smiled to himself.  He hadn't expected that the man would agree to 1000. This one was an easy money. He quickly helped the man load the cans into the boot.

The man counted out ten 500 naira notes and handed them over.  Okey kept smiling. Every money was ok to him, but mint was the best of all. He would keep it special and not spend it.

He pocketed the money. Another Maga just paid.

Outside,the customer got into his car and smiled. He dipped his hand into the glove box and counted the money there. At least he had managed to spend 5k of the counterfeit money he had bought from the mallams in Wuse last night.