Posted by Adenrele Niyi in … thanks to my ‘helpful’ yet Mad Urban Bus Driver
Eka’abo, Nno, Sanu da zuwa, Akwaaba. It’s finally here! My blog and online diary… of sorts.
In this cyberspace, I’m not restrained by the ethics of professionalism (my day job is journalism; my passion is written words) nor am I curtailed by the boundaries of page space. It is a world I have created to unfetter my writing while I also moderate my thoughts and opinions in ways that edify.
Keep your chin up
Many friends and associates query my continued absence from the Lagos Arts and Entertainment circuit. I’ll put it down to two reasons predominantly.
First, my organisation is undergoing some restructuring and rebranding process which has taken us off the news stands for nearly 9 months. Consequently, I’m not under official obligation to attend events, shows or exhibitions. Yet, I had been doing so purely for my delight until I recently survived a road rage experience with a ‘Mad Urban Bus Driver’. Barring that he was recklessly ‘doing one-way’ and almost ran me off the narrow bridge I was navigating, he also ran into my boot and damaged my rear lights. Naturally, getting into a you-go-repair-my-car squabble with the already fleeing driver was out of the question at 11:45 p.m.
Which brings me to the second reason why Im presently social-life shy. Some of the hazards I face doing the arts and entertainment circuit in Lagos are those associated with late night driving. Many nights, I had left my office or events as late as 11.30 p.m ⎯ yes oh! ⎯ heading home. I once drove home from African Shrine, Ikeja (where Id gone to cover the 2008 Felabration) at 4.30 a.m! and alone too!! In retrospect, these travel hours send shivers down my spine. Then, imagine how foolhardy it becomes when done ‘under the influence’ (word to every driver who gets a kick from DUI, it could get a kick out of you in a split second oh).
Nagged by pangs of conscience that my family stayed awake and worried until I arrived home safely, I learnt to drive like a speedster. Woe unto the stray cat or suya seller that dared cross the road with my foot down hard on the accelerator. But in a sober moment, what if I did have to stop for a good reason..? Like for a huge crater masking as a pot hole which litter Nigerian roads? Woe is me, if my car had hit one of those when I was doing 140kph on the speedometer! Seat belt, airbag, ABS and shock absorbers in my Toyota Corolla could very well fail nor would those devices eliminate structural/mechanical damage to the vehicle.
That is how I’m reminded of God’s mercies; I have done things and taken risks (shocking ones for a girl) and I came out of them relatively unscathed.
But the bus driver sha!! If no be say I dey spiritually tuned to forgive, my thoughts to him would have read something like this ???!!!%xxx✂☒☠!!??!!xxx!!!☢☠! In humility though, the real me would say this ♡☺♡ ♡☺♡ ♡☺♡ ♡☺♡ ♡☺♡. Why? because I’m real enough to know I may have hurt people in ways that made them want to say ???!!!%xxx✂☒☠!!??!!xxx!!!☢☠! ✕ infinty to me!.
Therefore ‘Mad Urban Bus Driver’, even though my experience with you inconvenienced and traumatised me for weeks, I have overcome my resentment and fear of heavy or articulated vehicles and their drivers. It is indeed easier to forgive and move on with living beautifully.
Every so often, certain things occur which may be divinely orchestrated to make us stop, take stock and re-strategise. I embrace the ‘forced’ hiatus positively. In this time, I opt to renew my party energy, enjoy true friendships and get spiritually grounded so I can keep my heart and soul while I partake in this world.
Now, I am free and rearing to go again… at least until I employ a rational driver or move to the island which is location for my regular haunts!
Glossary
- Eka’abo, Nno, Sanu da Zuwa, Akwaaba: These words each mean WELCOME in Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and Fante languages respectively
- Doing One-Way: A phrase commonly used in Nigerian lingo which means to drive in the wrong direction on a one-way road.
- Suya: A shish kebab-like West African food, originally from the Hausa people of northern Nigeria. A part of Nigerian cuisine, Suya is generally made with skewered beef, fish, chicken or pigeon often served with ground pepper and onions. Suya has proven to be an extremely popular evening snack sold by many roadside vendors.
