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*A DAY IN THE BARRACK: THE SON WHO BURNED THE THRONE*
*CHAPTER 15 — THE UNIFORM DOES NOT RAISE RUBBISH*
Chief Solomon did not speak on the ride to the station.
The convoy moved in silence. Aides looked straight ahead. No one dared to breathe too loud.
In politics, bad news travels faster than press releases. And this one was already everywhere.
By 6:25 a.m., the police station was surrounded. Phones were out. People were recording.
"That's Chief Solomon's son."
"Adekunle."
"The one for that viral video."
"Ah, election is near o."
Inside the charge room, Adekunle sat on the bench like a king waiting for his car. Shirt torn. But his head was still high.
Beside him were three of his friends. Sons of commissioners. Sons of generals. The "Cabinet Boys".
They were not scared.
They were angry.
The video was playing on repeat on the officer's phone. Adekunle slapping a police officer. Then pushing an old woman who tried to intervene. His friends shouting in the background: "You know who him papa be? Touch am make I see!"
The video had 2 million views before 6 a.m.
When the door opened and Chief Solomon walked in, the room went silent.
Adekunle looked up and smirked.
"Dad. You don come?"
Chief Solomon stopped two steps away. He looked at his son. Then at the other boys. Then at the officer in charge.
The officer stood up fast and saluted.
"Sir. Good morning, sir."
Chief Solomon nodded once. His voice was calm. Too calm.
"What happened?"
The officer cleared his throat.
"Sir... with due respect. The video don go viral. People dey protest outside. They are saying 'son of powerful man dey beat police and citizens'."
Chief Solomon closed his eyes for one second.
Twenty years of service.
From barracks to boardroom.
From nothing to Chief.
And one video could burn it all.
He opened his eyes and looked at Adekunle.
"Stand up."
Adekunle frowned. "Dad, wetin dey happen? Just make one call. Senator Uncle go settle am. Na small matter."
One of the boys laughed. "Yes na. IG go delete the video. Nobody go talk again."
Chief Solomon turned to the officer.
"Who posted it?"
The officer swallowed. "Sir... one of them recorded it. It's on Twitter, TikTok, WhatsApp. #CabinetBoys and #AdekunleIsMad is trending."
One of Adekunle's friends scoffed. "Make dem trend. My papa get influence."
Chief Solomon didn't answer.
His phone vibrated again in his pocket.
Unknown number.
Then another.
Then another.
Election was in 3 weeks.
Chief Solomon took one step forward.
"Stand. Up."
This time, his voice did not shake.
Adekunle stood slowly. The smirk was gone.
Chief Solomon looked at him. Really looked at him.
Not as a father.
As a soldier.
"Before I am your father," he said quietly, "I am a man in uniform. And the uniform does not raise rubbish."
The room froze.