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Africans and Aggressiveness


A question caused me great distress this morning while picking a cab to commute to work. Here it is: why are Africans so unnecessarily aggressive?

It all  started from an experience I had while coming to work this morning.The day started well for me with the hamarttan wind whistling behind my house, no doubt I sighed, my favorite weather is here. There is this way it does make me feel. Perhaps, it reminds me of Christmas.Woke up as early as I could, ran around the neighbourhood for some petty things I needed, all done and dusted, I set to sail.  Greetings to the left and right, waving here and there, hopped on a bike and off I got to the main junction to connect with a cab going my route, with no
t much time left, I knew was going to clock in late, the thought of deduction from my wages for this offense made me feel quite uneasy knowing the budget at hand and the debts to pay. The least thing I needed that morning was any untoward thing that could lead to a transfer of aggression.
How wrong I was!

As usual the agbero (tout), one thing I can tell you about them is that they don't own a vehicle but collects at least N50 naira from every car owner that picks up passengers at the park. What they do with the money I don't know but for sure they can be annoying sometimes when it comes to collecting it. Multiply that by every number of cars that loads at the park and you'll realize they make so much to the coffers of the National Union of  Road Transport Workers Association in Nigeria. Perhaps EFCC should put their search light on them. (lols). Rather than what we read daily in the newspaper. I am quite interested in that association and what they do with their funds because I really don't think I see any improvements at our various local transport parks than the fat bellies of the supervisors of the agberos. (lols)

Finally, the agbero got us a vehicle, an empty one at that, while the car was pulling to a stop, people were already jostling for the passenger seat at the front. I observed the driver as he pulled over to a stop passing by all those who had struggled for the front seat and placed me in the pole position for it. Somehow, I sensed some sort of desperation from the man at my back to occupy the front seat, he slightly stepped on me as he struggled to make it, yet he saw no need to apologize even after occupying it, he must have felt he muscled me out of the way in his mind. He sat mightily as a king would upon his throne. I am so sure the thought of seating at the back seat must have terribly scared him, perhaps he spent a fortune on the dress he wore to avoid a squeezing in the midst of four people. I didn't take my eyes off him till he dropped not for anything but examining his mindset.

This mindset is a subtle thing edging the fabrics of our society away. It looks to be of no harm but its a time bomb waiting to explode. It is clear in the Nigeria of today what a lot of us do for our own comfort, we go to any length not caring what happens to our fellowmen in the pursuit of happiness. We cheat, strive and fight with one another just for own comfort. Quite sad how we got here as a people but then all hope is not lost. This mentality has to go, its not safe for us continuing this way.

 Unfortunately, he was a young man, the touted future leader of our nation. If such a youth was to hold a position of authority in this nation, one can imagine the kind of leader he would be.

Can you? Please leave your comment below




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