The UK Ultimatums

The setting shifts from the public sphere of the school to the private, tense atmosphere of Bepo’s home. Through a grainy WhatsApp video call, we meet Seri, Bepo’s wife, who has 'Japa-ed' to the UK. The contrast is stark: Bepo lives in a humid, power-starved Lagos apartment while Seri works double shifts in a cold, lonely London. Seri represents the 'Japa Syndrome'—the belief that Nigeria is a 'sinking ship' and that staying is a sign of failure. She presents Bepo with an ultimatum: apply for the dependent visa or risk the collapse of their marriage. This chapter humanizes Bepo; he is not just a stern headmaster but a lonely husband struggling to keep his family together without losing his national identity. The chapter explores the psychological toll of migration on families left behind.