MY TRAVEL ORDEAL

After 'too long' the Bus to Abeokuta left Benue Links Park. It seemed that all kinds of delays had conspired to keep us on the road for very long. Frankly, i wasn't expecting any different given my previous experiences.

The road, it seemed, had taken a vow to remain in the same decay for as long as I care to remember. Who wants to argue that potholes, bumps and cracks cannot continue to adorn most Nigerian roads, when huge signs with FERMA ROAD PROJECT and MEN AT WORK have adapted new meanings? There is probably a potent attraction to the 'Bad Roads Syndrome' where Naija is concerned, I dare say.

From 8:15am, the driver of the vehicle, a white branded Hummer 1 Bus; sped, slowed, moved to the left and right almost in the same instant, and we danced from side to side as if obeying a sacred call, and sometimes nearly flying off our seats. There were a few curses issued as some heads made involuntary contact with the roof of the bus. Never mind that, at some point, I was remotely concerned that our bus may develop a sudden problem, as is the fashion with most Benue Links Buses. Still we travelled on.

Before long, Army, Police, Road Safety, VIO and all kinds of security Check Points, began their onslaught after every 5-Minutes, from Otukpo, through Kogi. There was no escaping these guys, not with Tree branches and logs, Iron drums and Sand Packs, Men, Uniforms, Guns and Patrol Vehicles clustering the middle of the road. It is wonderful to know that we have redefined and taken the security of lives and property’ to a whole new level.

I have never before, heard the word ‘Park!’ used in such frequency in my life. And then there was ‘Benue’ used side by side with ‘Bring am’ or ‘Where our own’ without any morsel of shame and remorse whatsoever. It took 50 to 100 Naira to move on to the next, and then the next Check Point. Our Driver became, notorious for ‘Good Morning and Afternoon Sir.’ He could quite notably, pass for the most polite human being on the planet.

Meanwhile, time sped on, raising unease and fear for when we will get to Abeokuta. It didn’t take forever for afternoon to replace the morning, and for night to cast a thick blanket over all else. Somewhere between Akure and Ibadan, a heavy rain fell in feats of sudden rage. Still, we traveled.

I won’t get into what Lorry drivers, Trucks, Trailers, and other small cars do with their headlights while driving at night. I will however tell you this much. They have no idea when to switch from full to normal.

Ibadan was the first stop, but for the mix of passengers. The time said, 8:46 pm. There was a 20 minutes delay, before we eventually began the final leg to Abeokuta. 20 fat Yams I was responsible for were offloaded at Lafewa, a small town in Abeokuta which is usually alive with night life, well after 11pm.