Yesteryears

 



"Lying down on a mat, by the roadside.

"Jesu Kristi! 

"Roadside kรจ! How do you mean? Doing what, Mma?" I asked, confused. Perplexed...

"Well, our car developed a fault on the way. We had it fixed and continued the journey. On getting to this village, it stopped and refused to start. The villagers advised us to wait till morning since we won't  be getting a mechanic at this time."

"Really? I see."

"They were kind enough to offer us water and mats, and a room if we want, but we are many. Twelve or so. It's a starry night, the air is very fresh, why would we want to sleep indoors?" She added.

I had called her at about 10pm to find out how their trip went, expecting to hear they were already in Lagos and are settled in, accommodation sorted out, only to hear they were somewhere in Ekiti. Abi was it Osun state?

Hmmm!

"Toh, ba dai tsoro ya hana ku kwana a cikin daki ba ko?" (Hope it's not fear that stopped you from using the accommodation), I teased.

"Nooo. ๐Ÿ˜๐Ÿ˜€We are many mana. They can't harm us," she assured me. 

"On the contrary, they are very friendly. The younger ones decided to stay outside with us to keep watch till morning. Some of them were born in Kaduna and Zaria because their parents once lived there. They are very happy meeting people from the North. They have fond memories of the North."

She sounded very confident and relaxed so I relaxed too, uttering a word of prayer for their safety as I went to bed.

This woman sha!!!

If na me tellam say our car spoil for road and us dey one village, she for no sleep and she for no gree me sleep. (If the roles were reversed and I were the one in a strange land, sleeping outside by the roadside, she won't sleep and she won't let me sleep either. She'd keep calling till we take off).

Well, I had committed them to God, so I slept, rest assured that He would take care of them. 

By the time I called at about 6:00am, they were already on their way to Lagos. Some time around 10am, they arrived Lagos. They had settled in, had eaten and were having the time of their lives.

The reception they got from the village took them back to a time when Nigeria was one, or so it seemed...

She made the best out of that situation. She and all her sisters. They could have grumbled and murmured and complained, but they had fun.

What do you do in a difficult situation? 

How do you respond?

Learn to shake off negative feelings and live. 

Be receptive of strangers!

Kaduna people, for example, are known for their hospitality. They welcome and accommodate people regardless of their tribe and religion. If you doubt me, visit Kaduna. You will find people of all races and religions. There was a time when everyone lived together. Today, Kaduna is divided.

I'm sick and tired of the divide.

I'm sick and tired of the lack of trust and disharmony. 

I miss Sallah of those days, when we won't have to cook because, by the time Hajiya and Iya and all the other neighbours around bombard our house with coolers of food, there'd be no need to light gas that day. Enough food, meat and drinks!

Now nko? Nobody around to give us Sallah food๐Ÿ˜•๐Ÿ˜‘๐Ÿ˜ and we can't even give Christmas food since all the neighbours will be cooking.

We now live so far apart, because of the divide. We only communicate via phone and occasional visits.

Years ago, when one of their sisters was getting married, she and the husband to be both worked in Lagos and they decided to have their wedding in Lagos. To attend the wedding, they made that long trip.

They had taken off for Lagos that fateful day, at about 6:00am, so they'd make it in good time. My Mum, along with some of her cousins. See, Whenever they had such events, they would usually charter a vehicle and travel together. The roads were good back then and they could be in Lagos between 4 and 5pm.

This was one of such times.

They were treated well because there was no suspicion in the hearts of the villagers. They saw a group of women travelling and in distress and decided to assist them. 

Talk about Humanity!

I'm wondering if such hospitality would be extended today since there is too much happening in "the" Nigeria we find ourselves.

What can we do about this?

Can it get better?

Will Nigeria get better or are we divided forever?

Is there still hope for "Peace and Unity?"

She had a swell time in Lagos! The wedding went well. They were expected, so adequate preparation was made for them. She came back home with pleasant stories and memories of that adventure...

Comments

  1. Honestly,things are not the same anymore, everyone moving around with eyes wide shut

    ReplyDelete
  2. It's so sad that Kaduna is not as hospitable as it once was. My family lived there for a few years when I was a toddler. We will keep praying for the peace of Nigeria.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh dear! You also lived there? Phew! May Peace and Unity reign in our nation!

      Delete

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