09/06/2026
THE ELEVATOR OF WICKEDNESS
CHAPTER 1: Dry Land and Daily Bread
If you have never worked in a large corporate firm in Lagos, you may not understand the silent politics that happen behind closed doors. Inside Apex Global Logistics (AGL), a multinational company with branches spread across the country, the system was massive. And within that system, the drivers had drawn their own map of the organization.
In AGL, every driver knew that departments were not created equal.
If you were posted to the Sales Department or the Operations Department, your pocket was always heavy. In those sections, money moved daily. It wasn't that the drivers were stealing; rather, they regularly ran errands for top executives and international clients who constantly gave them generous tips and cash appreciation. A boss could easily hand a driver ten-thousand-naira just for picking up his lunch.
But if you were posted to the Administration Department, you had entered what the drivers jokingly called "Dry Land." This was exactly where Balogun found himself. Balogun was a deeply hardworking man and a dedicated father of two who loved his family with all his heart. Every morning, he would resume by 6:00 a.m., clean his assigned vehicle, check the engine, and sit quietly, waiting for his logistics instructions.
In the Admin Department, no manager looked your way. No client gave you a second glance. You could drive from morning till night, but your only hope remained that fixed monthly salary—which usually vanished into transport fares and family expenses before it even hit the bank account.
While drivers from the Sales department ate at nice restaurants and flaunted extra cash, Balogun would just watch them, smile, and drink his cold water. Deep down, he wished he could be transferred to those departments where tips were common, but he never allowed that envy to affect his work. He did his driving job diligently, with a clean heart and absolute professionalism.
But human beings can be unpredictable, and sometimes, people become envious of you even when you are struggling.
Inside that same Admin Department, a senior staff member named Mr. Kunle developed a deep, unprovoked hatred for Balogun. Balogun had never offended him or crossed his path, but Mr. Kunle simply could not stand Balogun’s calm and cheerful attitude despite his low income.
One afternoon, out of pure malice, Mr. Kunle sat in his office, pulled out an official corporate letterhead, and typed a heavy petition to the top management. He fabricated false allegations against Balogun, claiming he was insubordinate and frequently absent from his duty post.
Fortunately, AGL was a reputable and structured company. They did not just sack employees based on verbal complaints without heavy proof. However, to respect the rank of a senior manager like Mr. Kunle, the management decided to take action. They issued a transfer letter to Balogun. He was not fired, but he was completely removed from the Admin Department.
When Balogun opened the letter to see his new posting, his heart sank. They had transferred him to the Company Clinic Department.
Balogun looked at the paper and sighed. If the Admin Department was a "Dry Land," the Clinic Department was a total desert. No one tips a driver at a clinic. Salary was simply salary, and it was barely enough.
Mr. Kunle stood by his office window, watching Balogun pack his small bag from the drivers' pool. He smiled a wicked, satisfied smile, fully believing he had successfully buried the man’s progress.
But Mr. Kunle forgot one thing: when men try to bury a good man, they often forget that he is a seed.
[END OF CHAPTER 1]
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