Basketmouth’s PAPA BENJI SPECIALS presents the dramatic tale of Clifford "Visa on Arrival", a man whose latest bid for a U.S. visa is derailed—not by immigration officers, but by a fiery dispute over a "seed" offering, highlighting the sometimes-absurd intersection of faith and desperation. Sabinus offers a stark glimpse into the lengths individuals go to overcome perceived spiritual and bureaucratic obstacles. Clifford's life, as described by his sister-in-law, has been perpetually "going backward" and is riddled with "problems". His fervent desire for an American visa was tied to ambitious plans to "invest in business" and "take a business higher" once in the United States, alongside "looking for work". This was not his first foray into the arduous visa process; he had previously engaged a "shop block" operator and an individual known as "General Croft," a "Polish man" supposedly operating from "office booth NIV6" who claimed to facilitate visas. These prior, costly attempts had also failed.
With another American visa appointment approaching, Clifford's sister-in-law, a staunch believer in spiritual remedies, stepped in. She attributed Clifford's misfortunes, including his inability to secure a visa, to "evil spirits hiding in his hair" that tormented his brain, causing him to "attack that solution" whenever it manifested. She introduced him to her pastor, an "anointing man, a holy ghost-filled" individual she revered as "Man of God" and "Doctor of Zion". The pastor, after offering fervent prayers, declared, "doors are open for you, that land is yours," and stated that "God has done it". He then introduced the critical concept of "sowing a seed" to "activate" these divine declarations, asserting that the delay in Clifford's visa was "tied to when you sow your seed". He fortified this principle with biblical references, citing 2 Kings 3:27, where the King of Moab sacrificed his son as a seed to turn the tide of a battle, and Genesis 26:12, illustrating Isaac's hundredfold harvest from a seed sown. The pastor further invoked Galatians 6:7, explaining that "whatever a man sows, he will reap," implying that "if you sow for America, he will reap America".
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Initially suggesting that a "seed" wasn't exclusively monetary, the pastor quickly clarified that a journey to America demanded a "big" seed, stating, "you need to know that you are going to America, so you have to sow something big". When Clifford revealed he possessed $100 in U.S. currency, the pastor interpreted this as a divine sign, exclaiming, "you even have the money of the country you are going to, that is a sign that God has orchestrated everything for you". He pointedly asked if Clifford intended to "use naira to get to America". Following this transaction, the pastor symbolically rechristened Clifford, proclaiming him "New York Clifford," "Los Angeles Clifford," "Washington Clifford," and "Miami Clifford," amongst other American city names, to manifest his destiny. He confidently predicted that Clifford would not only receive his visa but would eventually "give other people" visas.
However, the promised divine intervention did not translate into bureaucratic success. During his visa interview, when questioned about his travel purpose, Clifford was observed "cleaning his face with a substance". This peculiar, seemingly superstitious act, which he believed would secure him the visa, led to him being asked to "step aside" by security, and ultimately, his visa was denied.
Upon his disheartening return, a furious Clifford confronted the pastor, demanding the return of his $100 seed. He lamented that his visa was denied. A tense confrontation ensued, with both the pastor and Clifford's sister-in-law vehemently defending the spiritual practice. The pastor asserted that the seed was given "to God through me" and was "not refundable," comparing it to a planted seed that requires time to germinate and cannot be dug up if it doesn't immediately grow. He further accused Clifford of being "unfertile soil," implying that "everything from your hand" was barren. Clifford’s sister-in-law echoed this sentiment, sensing a "brotherly conspiracy" and adamantly stating that "there's nothing on earth that you will do this money is not refundable" as it was given willingly. She admonished Clifford for complaining about his $100, contrasting it with members of her church who "sowed $10,000" and "don't make noise," implying his grievance was trivial. Through Basketmouth’s lens, the heated confrontation unfolds as a striking commentary on the tensions between belief, financial pressure, and systemic disappointment.
