By Oluwole Leigh
There is a tradition in my area of Lagos. Every December, the streets are decorated with ribbons and balloons. The long decorative tapes are strung from one electricity pole to another. Colored light bulbs are linked together and hung on these poles. The light bulbs get their power from cables hanging overhead. A visitor to the area would certainly remark at the crudeness and ingenuity of the street decorations. The work is entirely done by a team of what we call ‘Area Boys’. These boys are the ones that you see when driving off to work and when coming back from work. The decorations are a forerunner to the End of Year Party which takes place on December 31. The party is largely a gathering of young and old folks dancing to loud music dished out by a DeeJay.
A little while ago, I started a study of the Social Configurations in my neighborhood. I started this study when I realized that lasting change in Nigeria can only be experienced when the educated elite handshake with those of lower economic status. We have to interact with the market women, taxi drivers, barbers, tailors, painters, mechanics and street sellers around us. We have to understand their thoughts, fears, nuances and traditions. These are the ones that constantly vote in elections. They often bear the consequences of poor Governance which is rife in our society. Our duty is to help them connect the dots that link poor electoral choices to poor Governance.
I will describe three of these Individuals that reside in my area.
The first Individual is the one we call ‘Big Daddy’. Big Daddy is a taxi driver who uses his private car as a taxi. He is well known in the area on account of his protruding belly and huge body. He is probably aged between 50 and 60 years. He drives the remains of a Toyota Corolla that was manufactured in 1998. He’s one of the chieftains of the Local Cab Unit in spite of the fact that he uses his personal car as a Taxi. Big Daddy is as amiable as they come.
The second individual is called Emmanuel. At first sight, I assumed he was a Bayo/Taofeek. He’s one of the boys who stand guard at the Gate leading to the area. He can be descried as a volunteer vigilante. They claim to keep guard on the area by harassing cabs and commercial bikes coming into the area after 10PM. I had to pay a visit to the police station sometime last year because Emmanuel was hauled into the Police station for beating a man to stupor. I had witnessed the scene in which the man collapsed in front of the gate after he was denied entry. I watched as the Police men threw Emmanuel and his fellow guard into a cell. After a while, they brought them out and told them to write a statement. I saw how Emmanuel explained himself and wrote his statement in perfect English. I called the cops and put in a good word for them based on my eye-witness account.
The third Individual is called Alabama. Alabama is the funky version of the name, Alaba. Alaba is the owner of the Neighborhood Football Viewing Centre. The viewing Centre is located within his father’s compound. He currently possesses 3 television sets and a double view decoder. He has perfect eye sight with which he spots customers who have sneaked into the viewing centre with a plan of watching without paying. I often wonder how he is able to know that you have just come in when he probably did not see you walk in. The viewing centre has become a watering–hole for residents in the area. Some of its regular patrons claim they can watch the matches at home but choose to come to the viewing centre to enjoy the atmosphere. Alaba works to ensure that the viewing centre is as comfortable as possible with an extensive canopy and wooden benches.
The likes of Alaba, Emmanuel and Big Daddy are heavily involved in the organization of the End Of Year parties. They make sure the parties happen every year. They don’t travel to the village for Christmas or New Year. Big Daddy is probably not on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn. However Big Daddy and his colleagues would decide the party they want to vote for and deliver a bloc of votes during elections. In my opinion, this is how elections in Nigeria are won. Blocs of votes are delivered in various polling booths. It’s a lot easier talking about getting involved with the community than actually doing it. Most educated folks do not want to risk being identifiable in their areas. We want to go home and leave home as quietly as possible. The belief is that our chances of personal safety are increased if we are not known in our areas of domicile. The level of protection offered by anonymity is debatable. How do we effect change if the folks who form the largest voting blocs are not aware we live around them?
After doing a lot of analysis, I decided to see what role I could play during the End of Year Gig. I put a cost on how much this involvement would cost me. I came to a cost of N15, 000. The money would be spent on canned drinks for all the attendees at the New Year Eve gig. As they danced into the New Year, they would share drinks and have a great time. I realised that N15,000 was all I needed to get some form of Influence and or recognition in the area. I travelled out of Lagos during the Christmas period but I came back before the New Year. However, I did not engage in actions that would lead to the accomplishment of my idea. Some sort of Inertia came over me and I did not act. I was busy doing mental calculations and analysis as the days rolled by. As I came into the area in the early hours of January 1, I saw them singing and dancing. I shook my head. I had blown a major opportunity to connect with them. They don’t know what they missed, but I do. All I was left with were the thoughts of what could have been if I had carried out my ideas.
Until I am able to do so, I will continue to discuss the state of our society with my educated peers and blame everyone else for the situation around us.
1 comment
Honestly – that you recognise these patterns and groups and how we need to connect with them is plus one.
That you thought of how to celebrate with them? Tick two.
That you realise the missed opportunity? Tick three.
And this is the grand opportunity that 'failure' (not that this is exactly that….) presents – the chance to say I could have done it differently BUT/AND also the opportunity to do better next time.
And there will be for sure. Probably sooner than you think.
If I were you? I'd forgive myself…and prepare for the next opportunity.
Thank you for sharing these things that show who we are in all our vulnerabilities – it is THE way forward!