Asoebi is a kind of uniforms worn by people in ceremonies like marriages, birthday parties, burial ceremonies etc. Friends and well-wishers buy these clothes and wear it as a means of showing support and solidarity to the celebrants or bereaved family.

The women forum in the church is the department in church that mostly patronize their members selling asoebi. But at a point, people started murmuring against this asoebi sellers. Mama Ephraim got wind of it and decided to address the issue in one of the women meetings.

“There is an important issue that I want us to discuss in this meeting today. That is the issue of Asoebi.

I have received lots of complain about it. If you want to sell Asoebi, please let the price be moderate. It is not fair for you to be selling twice or even triple of what you bought. I think adding little amount to the cost price is fair. We all know that we are one big family. It is not good for us to be doing things that encourage bitterness and murmuring. If you sell at exorbitant rate, people will buy, so as not to be seen as enemies of progress. But inwardly, they will not be happy. And then, please don’t buy asoebi, when you know that you don’t have money to pay. It is not a crime to tell the seller that it is not in your budget at that time. Don’t please someone and displease yourself. If you go ahead and buy but could not pay for it, the person might end up seeing you as an enemy. Good things never end, you can always support the person next time.
Another is the issue of gift. Don’t always expect gift when you buy Asoebi. It is not compulsory. The act of buying the asoebi is a form of support and solidarity to your sister.

It is not a trade by batter. If the person decides to give gifts in return, it’s fine. But if such does not happen, she is not owing anyone. I hope we all understand my point. God will help us in Jesus name.”

As Mama Ephraim was rounding off what she was saying, Mrs. Femi quickly sprang to her feet to counter what she said.

“Excuse me please. I don’t understand your point at all. When did asoebi became church issue. If I have any occasion that warrants selling of asoebi, that is sorely my business. I decide how much I buy and how much I sell. We have pressing issues in church that we should be discussing. Please let’s concentrate and not deviate. Asoebi is not Pastor or Pastor’s wife affair.”

As Mrs. Femi was talking, few of her cohorts were nodding their heads in agreement.

“Thank you so much for your response. However, you need to know that whatever happens in this church concerns Pastor and his wife. If you decide to go to peoples house and sell the clothes to them without bringing it into this church, no problem. But a situation where it will be brought to women forum, I will even announce it and encourage the members to buy, it becomes my business. So whatever that will protect both the interest of the seller and buyer is what we will uphold,” Mama Ephraim informed her.

If anyone thought that Mrs. Femi was done with her attack on the Pastor’s wife, the person was surely disappointed because she continued unwaveringly.

“I insist that this matter does not concern you or the church. We are adults not children. Besides, other churches does not involve themselves in this issue. Why will our own be different?” Mrs. Femi insisted.

The women president could not stand by and watch her pastor’s wife and role model being humiliated. She sprang to her feet and shouted at Mrs. Femi.

“Madam Femi locate your chair. I said sit down. Women ushers please do your work quickly, if she fails to sit, then force her to sit .What is the problem with you? What exactly is wrong with what mummy said? We all, have been complaining about this same issue. You, in particular almost fought me because of the last asoebi that was sold. You accused me of conniving with asoebi sellers to defraud members .Now the issue is raised for discussion and you are foiling it. What is your intention? To be called a two edged sword is not a good name.”

“Presido it’s okay,” the pastor’s wife pleaded calmly.

“I’m sorry mummy, if I over reacted. It’s just that some of these women can get on ones nerves,” the women president pleaded.

Mrs Femi did not answer the women president, rather she gave her an icy-cold stare and stormed out of the meeting. On her way home she branched to the house of madam Kemi whose daughter was about to wed.

“Iya Tobi what happened? Have women meeting closed. I just came back now. My daughter’s wedding preparation is really taking its toll on me?”

“Close ke. I left them there,” Mrs. Femi answered

“What happened?” Madam Kemi inquired.

“Look at me very well. I hate nonsense. If I see myself anywhere that things are not going the way it should go, I don’t keep quiet. That is why they see me as a bad person. You were the topic of today’s meeting. ”

“How would I be a topic when I am not a bible verse?”

“Thank you my sister. If you go to other churches, they preach undiluted word of God and point people to the way of salvation. But for ours, the reverse is the case. Pastor and his wife are after money. It is only give, give and give. The only thing that Pastor’s wife knows is how to wear expensive clothes. The hollandaise in her box is uncountable. Cord lace nko? I don’t know how we found ourselves in this situation. Is it punishment for the sins we committed or for the ones we are yet to commit? I can’t tell.”

“Iya Tobi, please can you stop beating about the bush. You said I was the topic of today’s meeting. I needed you to explain how,” Madam Kemi told her.

“Mama Ephraim said that members should not buy the asoebi you are selling, because it is expensive.”

“What did you just said? Tell me that you are joking.”

“Why will I joke with such matter? I got up and told him that how much you sell your asoebi is not supposed to be anyone’s business.”

“Other people have been selling their asoebi. Why would mine be different?” Madam Kemi asked in a sad tone.

“Yours will surely be different because you are not from her tribe. Our pastor and his wife are tribalistic. When it concerns people from her tribe, she will support them. Now listen, I am solidly behind you. Any amount you want to sell your cloth is what you will sell it. When I reach home now, I will tell my husband. You have our support hundred percent.”

“Why will mummy treat me like this? I was even planning to give her the asoebi free of charge.”

“What! Don’t try it. She doesn’t deserve it at all. If you try it, you will not receive any blessing because God knows that she does not love you. That could even be the reason God directed me to talk to you. If you have any asoebi to give out, let it go to people that love you and are wishing you well. I know that you understand what I mean.”

“I am really hurt. I don’t deserve this kind of treatment. I have been serving God faithfully in that church. I feel that mummy has betrayed me, just because I did not come to meeting today. Even the women executives could not intervene.”

“Are they not birds of the same feathers? That ignorant women president was talking rubbish. She was challenging me when I told them that what they were doing was wrong. Such rubbish never happened when I was the women president. But you all conspired and voted me out. You said I was not a good leader. Now, you have gotten a good leader.”

“I am really hurt. Mama has hurt me. I will confront her.”

“No! don’t confront anyone. It is a fight and we will fight it to finish. Just hand the asoebi over to me and tell me how much you want to sell it. Then leave the rest for me. I will handle it.”

“Thanks so much for being so nice to me. God bless you.”

“You don’t need to thank me, what are sisters for? I watch your back, you watch mine too. Anyway, I have to take my leave now. Try and be careful of our church members, they are betrayers. Don’t discuss with any of them. They will turn it around and say what you never said.”

“It’s alright. But before you go, let me give you asoebi.”

She went inside and brought lace and asoke.

“This is five yards of lace and the asoke to go with it. It is free.”

Mrs. Femi danced round the sitting room.

“I can’t believe it, all these for me. Thank you so much. Let me run along.”

On her way going home, she continued talking to herself.

“Anyone that tells me to stop gossiping, devil will punish that person. Imagine what I just gained now. I will continue jamming their heads together in that church.”