human
This lying letter. This shameless attack upon the Galadima Dawakin!
gpt
If the charges contained there are incorrect, then why did you come?
human
What is your purpose? I am not a patient man. There has never been need for my patience.
gpt
We have come to demand your resignation and self-exile.
human
Fantastic! Ridiculous! The Galadima Dawakin is lawful ruler and religious potentate of three million devoted followers. You are lying strangers come to cause dissention among the people of Kano and--
gpt
The reason you came here at our request is because the charges made in that letter you bear are valid ones. For a quarter century, you, Alhaji Mohammadu, have milked your people to your own profit. You have lived like a god on the wealth you have extracted from them. You have gone far, far beyond the legal and even traditional demands you have on the local population. Funds supposedly to be devoted to education, sanitation, roads, hospitals and a multitude of other developments that would improve this whole benighted area, have gone into your private pocket. In short, you have been a cancer on your people for the better part of your life.
human
All lies!
gpt
No. We have carefully gathered proof. We can submit evidence to back every charge we have made. Above all, we can prove the existence of large sums of money you have smuggled out of the country to Switzerland, London and New York to create a reserve for yourself in case of emergency. Needless to say, these funds, too, were originally meant for the betterment of the area.
human
Who are you? Whom do you represent?
gpt
What difference does it make? This is of no importance.
human
You represent my son, Alhaji Fodio! This is what comes of his studies in England and America. This is what comes of his leaving Kano and spending long years in Lagos among those unbeliever communists in the south!
gpt
That is about the last tag I would hang on your son's associates,
human
It is true that we hope your son will take over the Emirate. He represents progress. Frankly, his plans are to end the office as soon as the people are educated to the point where they can accept such change.
gpt
End the office! the Emir snarled.
human
For a thousand years my ancestors--
gpt
Your ancestors conquered this area less than two centuries ago in a jehad led by Othman Dan. Since then, you Fulani have feudalistically dominated the Hausa, but that is coming to an end.
human
You speak as fools,
gpt
Are you so stupid as to believe that these matters you have brought up are understandable to my people? Have you ever seen my people? He sneered in a caricature of humor.
human
My people in their grass and bush huts? With not one man in a whole village who can add sums higher than those he can work out on his fingers? With not one man who can read the English tongue, nor any other? Would you explain to these the matters of transferring gold to the Zürich banks? Would you explain to these what is involved in accepting dash from road contractors and from politicians in Lagos?
gpt
And do you realize that I am church as well as state? That I represent their God to my people? Do you think they would take your word against _mine_, their Kudo?
human
You are fools to believe my people could understand such matters.
gpt
Then actually, you don't deny them?
human
Why should I bother?
gpt
That you have taken for personal use the large sums granted this area from a score of sources for roads, hospitals, schools, sanitation, agricultural modernization?
human
Of course I don't deny it. This is my land. I am the Kudo, the Emir, the Galadima Dawakin. Whatever I choose to do in Kano and to all my people is right because I wish it. Schools? I don't want them corrupting my people. Hospitals for these Hausa serfs? Nonsense! Roads? They are bad for they allow the people to get about too easily and that leads to their exchanging ideas and schemes and leads to their corruption. Have I appropriated all such sums for my own use? Yes! I admit it. Yes! But you cannot prove it to such as my people, you who represent my son. So be-gone from Kano. If you are here tomorrow, you will be arrested by the same men of my bodyguard who even now seek my son, Alhaji Fodio. When he is captured, it will be of interest to revive some of the methods of execution of my ancestors.
gpt
One moment, please.
human
It is true that your people, and particularly your Hausa serfs, have no understanding of international finance nor of national corruption methods such as the taking of _dash_. However, they are susceptible to other proof. The other man raised his voice.
gpt
John!
human
Got it perfectly,
gpt
How long before you can project?
human
Almost immediately.