I stand Rejected ( the plan)

The Plan. Safinatu was back at the centre three days later after she had registered and submitted the awareness jingle to the relevant department. When the advert manager gave her the receipt and told her the time the jingle would be aired on Radio Zaria, she was excited and wanted to listen to the jingle with her fellow plotters. The Nun brought out a small transistor radio and tuned to the station and they crowded around it. The jingle seemed like it would take forever to come on; the news being broadcasted was longer than usual; the advert announcing a new brand of Omo detergent suddenly didn’t sound appealing to Aisha, Safinatu kept looking at her wristwatch while Irene held tightly to her chaplet, muttering the Rosary. Suddenly, the voice of the presenter of the programme Safinatu informed had the insert came on air announcing the program. Safinatu had told them the jingle will come on I Salute Una, a popular phone in programme presenter in Pidgin English. She informed that the programme had the highest rating in the station. “My people I salute una today, I hope say una dey do well...,” the voice of the female presenter greeted, she then went on telling listeners what she had in stuck for them. “But before una go hear this better better things wey I don tell una say we get today, make we hear message from the people wey dey sponsor us ..” she announced. “My name is Amina ...” came the voice on the radio and the three of them jumped up in excitement, giggling like little children before settling down to listen to the remaining part of the advert. It was Aisha’s voice and was recognisable. She smiled and at the same time became afraid. What if her parents heard the jingle and recognized her voice? She asked herself. It never occurred to her that the voice would be so real and detectable. “Thousands of girls have had their future destroyed in the name of marriage. Many children have become cursed and abandoned because they could not give birth to children. Help stop early marriages in order to stop VVF taking over the future of our daughters and sisters ,” a matured male voice finished the jingle. “This message is from the St. Theresa VVF Centre,” Safinatu’s voice ended the advert. The three ladies had tears in their eyes. The plot had been successful and none of them knew what the outcome of the 45 seconds advert would be but they sure knew there was bound to be a reaction and they were involved. When the programme resumed, the phones started ringing before the presenter could call for phone-ins; the subject was centred on the advert. Many cursed the presenter while some reasonable few condemned the practice of early marriage. It was evident the callers were divided; Moslems condemned the advert while the Christians condemned the practice. Safinatu’s eyes were bulging while the calls came in; the reactions were becoming alarming and had become a religious affair. She knew the likely outcome. “Sister, I think you better start packing,” she advised. The jingle was repeated but nobody was listening to it, the distant voices of the youths could be heard chanting songs that were familiar; the Almajiris were coming to attack the centre.