by Pabaraebiowei yeilagha
culled from Springpoint magazine January Edition, 2009
Hello out there,
You are welcome aboard this column of the magazine. I bid you welcome. Welcome back from all the eating, drinking and travelling.
Do you realize that this season comes whether you are rich or poor; tall or short, ill or healthy, man or woman and at war or peace. It comes and makes us strive for our very best. Like a flash it bids us farewell. And now it’s gone, it’s time to move on.
Our society is fraught with challenges like any other civilized society and it is our intention in this column to discuss vital societal issues relevant to us as people in a bid to try to proffer a panacea.
While in school (University), I encountered an experience (which is an everyday occurrence though) that got me thinking and asking some fundamental questions. Even though it seems like the norm in our society today, we need to reappraise our values.
This is my story……
The line before it got to our turn was a long while away. The scrutiny had to be slow to get the most impact irrespective of where one was going.
After about ten minutes we got to the soldier scrutinizing. “Well done o! officer;” our driver said. Yea! The soldier replied, “I don pass before,” I bin don give you dat time wey I pass… ” At this point, the soldier points the gun at the driver (Hitherto, it was pointed to the ground). “I be the person wey give you dat two hundred naira (N200) note. Wey you reject and you tell me say wen I come back make I bring four hundered naira (N400).
When I pass again, you bin no dey for dat place, so I give dat oga wey dey there” (Our driver points at another soldier). The soldier replies, “you must be very stupid. ” I tell you say make you give me the money. You carry am go give anoda person”, his facial expression beaming of steel, his gun moved around precariously, “you must give me dat four hundred naira (N400) now. I tell you to bring am to me, you carry go give anoda person” he replied.
The driver for fear of getting an “accidentally discharged” bullet stuck in his body, dips his hand into the side of his left door and pulled out two hundred naira (N200) notes, folds them and stretches out his hand. The soldier snatches it from him and indicates for him to move on, so he could attend to the next car on the queue that had at this time huddled behind.
During our short interrogation and “collection,” I observed that cars were being told to park at the side of the road for scrutiny. One of the drivers was pleading, “officer I beg na! I no hear say na pack you tell me to pack”.
As our cab got past the soldier, the person sitting to my left hissed and said, “na wah o! so if to say you no give am the four hundred naira (N400), we for no pass”. The question to no particular person. All I could think about at that time was my class I was already late for. With all my anxiety, I got to the lecture hall and unfortunately, the lecture did not hold.
I got to my room, took a bath and ah! My bed…. my body arched for it.” Laying down and closing my eyes hoping to catch some sleep. Drifting, Drifting…… Drifting to dreamland.
Boom! My unconscious self recalls our encounter with the soldier. At this point, some pertinent questions got a peek space in my mind. What would have happened if that driver refused to pay the money?
Do the law enforcement officers have children?
If yes, what would their children think when they see them punish someone because of their refusal to pay the “road fee”?
What would the soldier or policeman do when their children see them at the road displaying bravado attitudes of “I DON’T CARE, give me dat four hundred naira (N400) before you pass”?
Are there “Christians” (born again) and Moslems amongst them?
Do their tenets allow for these extortions?
Is there any truth that “officers make returns to superior officers”?
Is there reward for the officer who rakes in the highest?
Maybe they are just trying to actualize the prosperity gospel preacher’s emphasis these days. Do we as road user oblige them too much in our “am in a hurry” or “driver give am na! ‘You no wetin to do, you just wan delay us’ attitude? or
Is it the fear of death in the occasion of a refusal to give, uppermost in our hearts?
Why would we keep our law enforcement officers in their present penury state? Would the soldiers really shoot people who refuse to comply?
Are their minds/conscious snared as the bible would say?
Well, all these and more are questions we need to ask ourselves.
My comrade in uniform, I want to say we are all in this boat of penury and leadership neglect. Your grievance is directed at an already “impoverished” mass. The source of your long hours of standing in the sun or rain, delayed salaries or misappropriated benefits can not be found amongst us.
Look up, where you will find in contrast to your condition, well terraced avenues, luxurious houses, opulent lifestyles and well starched uniforms. There my comrades, there your grievances should be directed.
Cheers!!!!!
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