One of the most beautiful things about Nigerians is our hospitality towards one another, despite Daddy Bubu and his team, I always feel warm each time I see people lending a helping hand.
So I read a story in Punch the other day about an okada rider that tried to run off with a woman’s three-year-old twin boys. What happened? The woman flagged down the okada, put one of the boys in front, the other behind, but before she could climb on, the okada man sped off with the boys. People saw what happened and other okada riders went after the kidnapper. They caught up with him, at this point you know what will happen. Yup, they beat him blue-black before handing him over to the police.
Another time a woman with a little baby strapped to her back was walking home when one okada man brushed her off her feet. She was fast enough to move the baby to her bosom (because superwoman) before falling on her back. While she was trying to get up, other pedestrians, okada men, agberos, the ones collecting ticket descended on the okada man. Instead of the unfortunate man to say sorry, he kept saying she was walking on the road, and didn’t she hear his horn? Yes, the slaps they gave him quickly re-booted his brain.
In markets, women who need to breastfeed their infants are given chairs to sit, older women will scold younger mothers about not tying their babies properly on their backs. If you are not well dressed according to our mothers’ standards, someone will remove her upper wrapper or scarf to cover your body on the road- this can be really annoying but remember it is coming from a good place.
Back when I was serving the nation, each time I wore my NYSC uniform, whether walking alone or with a group of friends, people assuming we are strangers in Lagos – they always waved at us, ask if we are enjoying Lagos, pay bus fares for us, policemen even stop traffic for us to cross the roads. One time an okada rider didn’t collect money from me because I am serving Nigeria. It was the most beautiful thing.
Although there is no denying that we have a handful of bad eggs, the average Nigerian is a very – to use that Nigerian word – homely person. No matter how poor a man is he always has something to offer a stranger/traveller, even if it’s a cup of water.
We have all heard stories of Hausa who hid Igbo during the war in the north, and of Igbo helping Hausa, of Muslims and Christians watching each other’s backs in war torn cities.
I suffer from motion sickness. Once, I can’t even remember where I was going when my head went haywire and I began to throw up. Although the women kept asking if I was pregnant (thanks Nollywood) they stopped the bus, bought water to wash my face and one allowed me rest my head on her thighs till I got to my bus stop. A man in the bus, seeing I was still dizzy, put me in a cab and followed me until I got home, before going his way.
And I know we all have similar stories of being shown extreme kindness from people we do not know.
Times are hard, but do not look away when you see a brother/sister in need. Recession should not make us monsters!
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