I headed to London on flight 80. After a difficult journey to gather the funds to bring you this story, I arrived at a magnificent mansion that truly lives up to its name. Inside, I saw a handsome man relaxing on a three-seater sofa, working on a large iPad with a new-model laptop next to him. From his fingers alone, you can tell he is a man of immense wealth and luxury.
This is Omar Mohd Omar about 35 years old. He is the grandson and namesake of his grandfather. His father, **Mohd Omar Ibrahim**, is a famous intellectual, businessman, and politician. Originally Fulani from Gombe State, his father rose through many government positions: State Representative, three-term member of the House of Reps in Abuja, Senator, two-time Minister, and currently the Nigerian Ambassador to Russia. He has amassed vast wealth and numerous companies.
**Family Dynamics:**
The father has two wives.
1.Hajia Amina (The Senior Wife):A kind, religious woman from a village in Gombe. She has three children: omar the eldest), Abdullah (18), and Suleim (9). She isn't highly educated and focuses on her home and children.
2. Hajia Rahina (The Second Wife):She has five daughters—Sadiya (27), Aisha (25), Zainab(23), Naja(21), and Sajida (15). Rahina is bitter because she has no sons and fears Amina's sons will inherit the bulk of the estate. Her daughters are all university graduates working in government jobs, but they are arrogant, lack character, and refuse to get married, choosing instead to compete with one another and mock Amina’s family.
Omar’s Appearance and Character:
Omar is exceptionally handsome—fair-skinned, tall, with silky hair like an Indian’s, and a perfect physique. He has deep-set white eyes and a captivating smile with dimples.
Character-wise, he is 95% perfect: he doesn’t smoke, drink, or womanize. In fact, he dislikes young women because they constantly swarm him. However, his flaws are his pride, hot temper, and a lack of friendliness (he rarely smiles). He is highly educated with a Master’s in Economics from London and is also very religious, having memorized 40 *Izus* of the Quran.
The Marriage Problem:
Five years ago, his father forced him to marry **Sahar**, the daughter of a Governor. Sahar is a doctor with her own private clinics. She is arrogant, materialistic, and lacks discipline. She treats her staff poorly and behaves inappropriately with male colleagues. She has no interest in religion or being a "wife." Omar married her only out of duty to his father. They have no children because she refuses to "ruin her body." Their marriage is cold; Omar feels no desire for her and eventually fled to London just to get away from her.
Meet Iklas (The Street Vendor with a Dream)
The scene shifts back to Nigeria, specifically the outskirts of Abuja. In a low-income area, I see a girl selling apples and boiled eggs in traffic.
This is Iklas a 15-year-old girl of stunning beauty. She looks like she has Arab heritage—fair skin, perfect features, and a graceful figure. Despite her worn-out red dress, she is clean and carries herself with dignity.
**The Family Background:**
Her father, Abdurrahman Saddiq was a Libyan Arab who migrated to Nigeria years ago after a flood destroyed his village. He eventually settled in Jigawa, became a successful farmer, and married **Abu**, a Fulani woman. They moved to Abuja with Abu’s mother, **Hajia Asmau (Ummi)**.
Tragically, Iklas’s parents died in a car accident when her younger sister, **Suhaila**, was seven. After their death, their wealth dwindled. Relatives from Libya visited but didn't take the girls back. Eventually, Ummi was forced to sell their big house to swindlers for a low price, and they moved into a dilapidated two-room shack.
**Their Current Life:**
Despite their poverty, their small home is spotlessly clean and smells of incense. They kept a few high-quality items from their old life (a nice bed, a sofa, and a plasma TV) which look out of place in the shack.
Iklas sells eggs and apples to pay for her sister’s schooling. Her one big dream is to get a university education and become a **"Ma’aikaciyar Gomnati" (Government Worker/Civil Servant)** to support her family. People in the neighborhood even nickname her "The Manager" or "Gomnati" because of her ambition.
Section 3: The Collision Course
Omar’s father calls him from Russia, ordering him to return to Nigeria to manage the family business, as his younger brothers aren't ready. Omar reluctantly agrees. Sahar calls him shortly after—not to welcome him, but to demand money for a party. When Omar tries to advise her to change her ways, she insults him and hangs up.
Omar arrives at the Abuja airport and is met by his mother and siblings. Meanwhile, back at the family mansion, Hajia Rahina and her daughters are already gossiping and expressing their hatred for him, plotting how to "deal" with him and his mother.
Here is the English translation of the narrative provided. This story follows the development of the relationship between **Omar**, a wealthy young man hiding from personal troubles, and **Iklas**, a spirited girl who aspires to be a “Government Official.”
Ma’aikaciyar Gommati (The Government Official)**
Gratitude from the Author
*I am so grateful to my dear readers. I don’t even know how to express the joy I feel at how you encourage me. Between you and me, there is nothing but prayers.*
The Arrival of Omar
Since Omar sat down next to Kaka Ummi (Grandmother Ummi) to greet her, he hadn’t said another word. He was completely at a loss for what to say to her. Ummi, however, realized that Umaru (Omar) was facing a major problem. Just by looking at him, she could see he had lost weight and grown paler; he even had his trolley with him like a refugee.
Ummi looked at him calmly and asked, “Umaru, is everything okay? I see you are troubled.”
Omar looked like he was about to cry, but he couldn't bring himself to explain his mess. “Uhm... Ummi, I’m just in trouble regarding my health and well-being. This is the only place I feel at peace since I arrived. I don’t know what’s happening to me; just help me with your prayers, Ummi.”
Ummi looked at him and knew he was telling the truth. She was certain there was a problem, and although everyone knew his father was a prominent man in the country, it seemed even they didn't know their son's predicament.
“So, Umaru, what do you want to do? Where have you been?”
“Ummi, I couldn't stay anywhere else. I only felt peace in this house.”
Ummi pondered the situation. She decided not to pressure him with questions until he felt more settled. “Umaru, will you stay with us until everything is sorted out?”
Omar nodded with great joy. Ummi smiled, thinking that having a strong young man around would liven up the house.
Calculations
Unknown to them, Iklas was eavesdropping behind a curtain. When she heard everything, she thought, *“What’s wrong with him?”* Then she remembered: the room she usually slept in would now be given to this "Boss." Her plans were ruined; now she’d have to squeeze into one room with Ummi and Suhaila. "How annoying," Iklas muttered to herself.
Ummi called for Iklas. “Go and pack your things from your room; Umaru will be staying there for a while.”
Iklas came out and her eyes met Omar’s. She felt a strange coolness in her soul. She looked away, greeted him, and he surprisingly gave her a slight smile today. She cleared her things out and tidied the room until it smelled wonderful. She brought his small suitcase inside. Omar performed his ablutions and prayed his afternoon prayers with a sense of peace he hadn't felt in a long time.
Suhaila, the younger girl, was thrilled that a "fancy guy" was staying with them, hoping they’d get treats and sweets. She stuck close to Omar's side.
### **The "Government Official" at Work**
Since there was no Islamic school today, Iklas prepared the meal: pounded rice (*Tuwon shinkafa*) with egusi soup and a bit of "poor man’s meat." Omar hadn't eaten a meal with such appetite in ages. Iklas pulled up a table and chair—she fancied herself a high-ranking government official and enjoyed doing her "calculations" as if she were in a big office.
As Omar ate, he stole glances at Iklas’s antics. She was acting very posh while writing in her ledger. When she finished her schoolwork, she brought out her personal jotter, tapping her pen like a busy executive.
Readers, all those calculations Iklas was doing were centered on the "increase" Omar’s arrival brought to the house! She was calculating the cost of feeding him and how it affected their budget. Ummi smiled at her youthful silliness. “When you're done, go and set the bathwater for Umaru.”
### **The Night and the Secret Jotter**
That night, Omar felt cramped. The room felt like a prison compared to his usual luxury, but he slept deeply until 9:00 AM. When he finally came out to wash, Iklas was already dressed and acting "big," lounging on a chair with her phone.
While Omar was in the shower, Iklas slipped into his room, tidied it perfectly, and filled it with incense and room freshener. Later, as they sat for breakfast, Omar praised the food (maize porridge and chips). "This tastes like it was made by an old, experienced hand," he teased, knowing full well Iklas had cooked it.
Iklas, annoyed, announced she was going to Wuse Market. Omar teased her about wearing a small veil, and after a silent battle of glares and gestures, she finally put on a large yellow hijab. Once she left, Omar—curious about her constant writing—snuck into her room to find her jotter.
He laughed as he read it. She had everything recorded:
* *Locust beans (Daddawa): 200 Naira for one month (with a little drawing of the beans).*
* *A list of people who owed them money.*
* *A 1-to-2-year life budget.*
* *Even the "meat snack" she had given him a few days ago was recorded as an expense!*
### **The Nightmare and the Moment**
Later that night, Iklas heard Omar groaning in his sleep. She went to his room and found him shivering and sweating from a nightmare. Heartbroken for him, she sat on the edge of the bed and touched his shoulder. Omar immediately grabbed her hand and pressed it to his chest, finding comfort in her touch. He stopped shivering.
When he woke up and realized he was holding her hand, he quickly regained his arrogant exterior. "Mind your business," he snapped. “I'm a Muslim, get that through your skull. Stop trying to touch my 'precious skin.'”
Iklas scoffed. “You’re the one who grabbed me!”
She went to get him water, but in her rush to leave, she slammed into the door and her nose started bleeding. Omar immediately dropped his guard, took some tissue, and gently cleaned her face. The physical closeness made both of their hearts race. He told her to go wash up and go to bed.
### **The Mission**
The next morning, Omar decided to use Iklas’s "acting skills" to help him. He wanted to check on his mother and father without revealing his location. He dressed her up in a nice gown he had bought her and coached her on how to act like a sophisticated lady.
"Action!" she joked, showing off her acting skills. Omar was captivated by her beauty and her laugh.
Iklas took a taxi to the address—a massive mansion. She was stunned by the wealth. The guards, thinking she was a friend of the family because of her beauty and expensive clothes, let her right in. As she walked through the gates, she whispered to herself, *"If I died and woke up here, I'd think I was in Heaven."*
She entered the house, found Omar’s brother Abdallah, and asked for their mother. As she sat in the luxurious parlor, she prepared herself to start the "performance" Omar had taught her.
I headed to London on flight 80. After a difficult journey to gather the funds to bring you this story, I arrived at a magnificent mansion that truly lives up to its name. Inside, I saw a handsome man relaxing on a three-seater sofa, working on a large iPad with a new-model laptop next to him. From his fingers alone, you can tell he is a man of immense wealth and luxury.
This is Omar Mohd Omar about 35 years old. He is the grandson and namesake of his grandfather. His father, **Mohd Omar Ibrahim**, is a famous intellectual, businessman, and politician. Originally Fulani from Gombe State, his father rose through many government positions: State Representative, three-term member of the House of Reps in Abuja, Senator, two-time Minister, and currently the Nigerian Ambassador to Russia. He has amassed vast wealth and numerous companies.
**Family Dynamics:**
The father has two wives.
1.Hajia Amina (The Senior Wife):A kind, religious woman from a village in Gombe. She has three children: omar the eldest), Abdullah (18), and Suleim (9). She isn't highly educated and focuses on her home and children.
2. Hajia Rahina (The Second Wife):She has five daughters—Sadiya (27), Aisha (25), Zainab(23), Naja(21), and Sajida (15). Rahina is bitter because she has no sons and fears Amina's sons will inherit the bulk of the estate. Her daughters are all university graduates working in government jobs, but they are arrogant, lack character, and refuse to get married, choosing instead to compete with one another and mock Amina’s family.
Omar’s Appearance and Character:
Omar is exceptionally handsome—fair-skinned, tall, with silky hair like an Indian’s, and a perfect physique. He has deep-set white eyes and a captivating smile with dimples.
Character-wise, he is 95% perfect: he doesn’t smoke, drink, or womanize. In fact, he dislikes young women because they constantly swarm him. However, his flaws are his pride, hot temper, and a lack of friendliness (he rarely smiles). He is highly educated with a Master’s in Economics from London and is also very religious, having memorized 40 *Izus* of the Quran.
The Marriage Problem:
Five years ago, his father forced him to marry **Sahar**, the daughter of a Governor. Sahar is a doctor with her own private clinics. She is arrogant, materialistic, and lacks discipline. She treats her staff poorly and behaves inappropriately with male colleagues. She has no interest in religion or being a "wife." Omar married her only out of duty to his father. They have no children because she refuses to "ruin her body." Their marriage is cold; Omar feels no desire for her and eventually fled to London just to get away from her.
Meet Iklas (The Street Vendor with a Dream)
The scene shifts back to Nigeria, specifically the outskirts of Abuja. In a low-income area, I see a girl selling apples and boiled eggs in traffic.
This is Iklas a 15-year-old girl of stunning beauty. She looks like she has Arab heritage—fair skin, perfect features, and a graceful figure. Despite her worn-out red dress, she is clean and carries herself with dignity.
**The Family Background:**
Her father, Abdurrahman Saddiq was a Libyan Arab who migrated to Nigeria years ago after a flood destroyed his village. He eventually settled in Jigawa, became a successful farmer, and married **Abu**, a Fulani woman. They moved to Abuja with Abu’s mother, **Hajia Asmau (Ummi)**.
Tragically, Iklas’s parents died in a car accident when her younger sister, **Suhaila**, was seven. After their death, their wealth dwindled. Relatives from Libya visited but didn't take the girls back. Eventually, Ummi was forced to sell their big house to swindlers for a low price, and they moved into a dilapidated two-room shack.
**Their Current Life:**
Despite their poverty, their small home is spotlessly clean and smells of incense. They kept a few high-quality items from their old life (a nice bed, a sofa, and a plasma TV) which look out of place in the shack.
Iklas sells eggs and apples to pay for her sister’s schooling. Her one big dream is to get a university education and become a **"Ma’aikaciyar Gomnati" (Government Worker/Civil Servant)** to support her family. People in the neighborhood even nickname her "The Manager" or "Gomnati" because of her ambition.
Section 3: The Collision Course
Omar’s father calls him from Russia, ordering him to return to Nigeria to manage the family business, as his younger brothers aren't ready. Omar reluctantly agrees. Sahar calls him shortly after—not to welcome him, but to demand money for a party. When Omar tries to advise her to change her ways, she insults him and hangs up.
Omar arrives at the Abuja airport and is met by his mother and siblings. Meanwhile, back at the family mansion, Hajia Rahina and her daughters are already gossiping and expressing their hatred for him, plotting how to "deal" with him and his mother.
Here is the English translation of the narrative provided. This story follows the development of the relationship between **Omar**, a wealthy young man hiding from personal troubles, and **Iklas**, a spirited girl who aspires to be a “Government Official.”
Ma’aikaciyar Gommati (The Government Official)**
Gratitude from the Author
*I am so grateful to my dear readers. I don’t even know how to express the joy I feel at how you encourage me. Between you and me, there is nothing but prayers.*
The Arrival of Omar
Since Omar sat down next to Kaka Ummi (Grandmother Ummi) to greet her, he hadn’t said another word. He was completely at a loss for what to say to her. Ummi, however, realized that Umaru (Omar) was facing a major problem. Just by looking at him, she could see he had lost weight and grown paler; he even had his trolley with him like a refugee.
Ummi looked at him calmly and asked, “Umaru, is everything okay? I see you are troubled.”
Omar looked like he was about to cry, but he couldn't bring himself to explain his mess. “Uhm... Ummi, I’m just in trouble regarding my health and well-being. This is the only place I feel at peace since I arrived. I don’t know what’s happening to me; just help me with your prayers, Ummi.”
Ummi looked at him and knew he was telling the truth. She was certain there was a problem, and although everyone knew his father was a prominent man in the country, it seemed even they didn't know their son's predicament.
“So, Umaru, what do you want to do? Where have you been?”
“Ummi, I couldn't stay anywhere else. I only felt peace in this house.”
Ummi pondered the situation. She decided not to pressure him with questions until he felt more settled. “Umaru, will you stay with us until everything is sorted out?”
Omar nodded with great joy. Ummi smiled, thinking that having a strong young man around would liven up the house.
Calculations
Unknown to them, Iklas was eavesdropping behind a curtain. When she heard everything, she thought, *“What’s wrong with him?”* Then she remembered: the room she usually slept in would now be given to this "Boss." Her plans were ruined; now she’d have to squeeze into one room with Ummi and Suhaila. "How annoying," Iklas muttered to herself.
Ummi called for Iklas. “Go and pack your things from your room; Umaru will be staying there for a while.”
Iklas came out and her eyes met Omar’s. She felt a strange coolness in her soul. She looked away, greeted him, and he surprisingly gave her a slight smile today. She cleared her things out and tidied the room until it smelled wonderful. She brought his small suitcase inside. Omar performed his ablutions and prayed his afternoon prayers with a sense of peace he hadn't felt in a long time.
Suhaila, the younger girl, was thrilled that a "fancy guy" was staying with them, hoping they’d get treats and sweets. She stuck close to Omar's side.
### **The "Government Official" at Work**
Since there was no Islamic school today, Iklas prepared the meal: pounded rice (*Tuwon shinkafa*) with egusi soup and a bit of "poor man’s meat." Omar hadn't eaten a meal with such appetite in ages. Iklas pulled up a table and chair—she fancied herself a high-ranking government official and enjoyed doing her "calculations" as if she were in a big office.
As Omar ate, he stole glances at Iklas’s antics. She was acting very posh while writing in her ledger. When she finished her schoolwork, she brought out her personal jotter, tapping her pen like a busy executive.
Readers, all those calculations Iklas was doing were centered on the "increase" Omar’s arrival brought to the house! She was calculating the cost of feeding him and how it affected their budget. Ummi smiled at her youthful silliness. “When you're done, go and set the bathwater for Umaru.”
### **The Night and the Secret Jotter**
That night, Omar felt cramped. The room felt like a prison compared to his usual luxury, but he slept deeply until 9:00 AM. When he finally came out to wash, Iklas was already dressed and acting "big," lounging on a chair with her phone.
While Omar was in the shower, Iklas slipped into his room, tidied it perfectly, and filled it with incense and room freshener. Later, as they sat for breakfast, Omar praised the food (maize porridge and chips). "This tastes like it was made by an old, experienced hand," he teased, knowing full well Iklas had cooked it.
Iklas, annoyed, announced she was going to Wuse Market. Omar teased her about wearing a small veil, and after a silent battle of glares and gestures, she finally put on a large yellow hijab. Once she left, Omar—curious about her constant writing—snuck into her room to find her jotter.
He laughed as he read it. She had everything recorded:
* *Locust beans (Daddawa): 200 Naira for one month (with a little drawing of the beans).*
* *A list of people who owed them money.*
* *A 1-to-2-year life budget.*
* *Even the "meat snack" she had given him a few days ago was recorded as an expense!*
### **The Nightmare and the Moment**
Later that night, Iklas heard Omar groaning in his sleep. She went to his room and found him shivering and sweating from a nightmare. Heartbroken for him, she sat on the edge of the bed and touched his shoulder. Omar immediately grabbed her hand and pressed it to his chest, finding comfort in her touch. He stopped shivering.
When he woke up and realized he was holding her hand, he quickly regained his arrogant exterior. "Mind your business," he snapped. “I'm a Muslim, get that through your skull. Stop trying to touch my 'precious skin.'”
Iklas scoffed. “You’re the one who grabbed me!”
She went to get him water, but in her rush to leave, she slammed into the door and her nose started bleeding. Omar immediately dropped his guard, took some tissue, and gently cleaned her face. The physical closeness made both of their hearts race. He told her to go wash up and go to bed.
### **The Mission**
The next morning, Omar decided to use Iklas’s "acting skills" to help him. He wanted to check on his mother and father without revealing his location. He dressed her up in a nice gown he had bought her and coached her on how to act like a sophisticated lady.
"Action!" she joked, showing off her acting skills. Omar was captivated by her beauty and her laugh.
Iklas took a taxi to the address—a massive mansion. She was stunned by the wealth. The guards, thinking she was a friend of the family because of her beauty and expensive clothes, let her right in. As she walked through the gates, she whispered to herself, *"If I died and woke up here, I'd think I was in Heaven."*
She entered the house, found Omar’s brother Abdallah, and asked for their mother. As she sat in the luxurious parlor, she prepared herself to start the "performance" Omar had taught her.