The boy had gotten paled by the scorching sun that hit Nigeria recently, especially Lagos Nigeria. I saw sweat rolling down his cheeks to the tattoo on his arm. His lips looked like a skin painted with charcoal gloss and then the restlessness could make a new born baby cry with the loud noise that he echoed 'Obalende, CMS!' repeatedly. I know you have guessed before reading the next line and your thought is right, our bus conductor in Lagos state here I meant to address.
Have you ever wondered on a day as a motorist or a passenger in one of these buses that how can a man wake up one day and decide to make life uneasy for himself? Every man wants that cold thing blowing him steadily and riding in one of the best cars in the world, and this takes us to the concept behind poverty. That boy you refer to as a crook because he collects fare from you without respect did not intentionally choose the life he lives, life chose for him and he has to survive through such means. It takes the bold to inconvenience himself just because of the tip he will get after the day rolls over to face some calm, frustrated, or stressed Nigerians that patronize public transport on a daily basis.
The managing director of that firm is confident, cute and courageous, but do not forget that a less confident person wouldn't turn a bus conductor in the first place because it involves dealing with people, but he is not so opportuned to be in the position of that managing director. He collects fare from passengers, do the mathematics, sometimes fight over balance, deals with controversial people, echoes the bus stops, and get to stand hanging over the bus or squeezing his body because often times his seat is not reserved.
I was coming from one of my masters classes, it was quite late in the night, but I kept enjoying the ride because I could have a view of everywhere from the window side I seated and some cool breeze was blowing on me for comfort. Suddenly, something just struck my mind saying; you see that bus overtaking you has a conductor as well as the one you are seated inside, I said yes. I started feeling moody and the thought of 'why them' came to my mind.
A bus conductor is from a home as the son or a daughter of a rich man is from one too, they need to be treated well. I know you are saying those rude and reckless people? They are rude and reckless because they are not in one of the positions that they would have loved to be, life sharpened most of their images and thoughts. You will see some with torn or faded clothes, they are not feeling fulfilled because they are humans that want designers too, the louboutin, dolce and gabbana, Acube, and the likes. Some passengers abuse some of not taking their bath instead for them to thank God they are alive to coordinate the affairs in the bus, because some of them barely get conducive places to lay their heads. Most of these people are orphans, from a poor background, maltreated by step mothers and fleeing the house. A rich man's son cannot pick up a bus conducting job just for the fun of it because it is not fun at all.
In the end, all these people are vulnerable to drugs and some social vices because nothing is motivating them to think of building a good life. The stress and abuses they condone are like burden which they feel should be lifted through cigarettes, alcohol and the likes. I am not in support of the act, but it is the reality.
He sounds rude, but yet he deserves some respect. He never prayed to be in that condition, but he is helpless. Conductors deal with controversial people daily, and some attitude of some passengers have built up their minds which make them to act in certain manner. I wanted to weep on this day, because I thought to myself, even if I write, 98% of them can't read me, and if I have, how would it go round to make a better living for them all through their lives. Have you ever thought that if you talk respectfully to that bus conductor he might reciprocate?Nigerians should cultivate a habit of equal respect accordance. Respect is reciprocal, not just to people you are answerable to, but to everyone you deal with in the society.
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