I was on my way to Ojota from
Oshodi in a yellow bus a.k.a
Danfo bus. There were so many
things so different about this bus.
While the conductor was
beckoning on me to join their
bus, I noticed he didn’t look like
the other conductors hanging at
their doors croaking Ooo…joooo…
ta aaa (Ojota). He wore a pair of
canvass, his t-shirt had a drawing
of Obama with a bold inscription
across it “yes we can.” When I
boarded the bus, I noticed the
interior was so clean. The seats
were also clean and padded
unlike most Danfo buses I have
boarded in Lagos.
I sat directly behind the driver.
The front seats were already
occupied. At Oshodi Bridge the
two occupants of the front seats
alighted; I quickly alighted and
jumped into the front seat.
I was shocked, though pleasantly,
when I heard what the driver was
playing. He was playing one of my
favourite motivational speakers,
Earl Nightingale. I couldn’t believe
I was listening to Earl
Nightingale’s Direct line in a
Danfo bus. “This is going to be a
good day” I told myself.
I glanced at the driver, he looked
like he was lost in thoughts as
Earl continued to marshal out
some vital life’s points.
I got the driver’s attention and
the following conversation
ensued…
Me: Oga, you are listening to Earl
Nightingale
Driver: Yes please
Yes please from a Danfo driver? I
must be in a deep slumber.
Me: you like Earl?
Driver: Yes. He is one of my
favourites. I listen to Earl up till
10am every day before I change
the cd.
I was so impressed. I was so
happy to listen to this young man
talk.
I decided to push more.
Me: So why Danfo bus?
The young man laughed so
heartily, cleared his voice and
began his story.
Driver: There is nothing much to
say. It is the state of the nation.
Me: Are you enjoying it.
Driver: Yes. I am having fun.
Me: Really?
Driver: You look shocked. Why?
Me: I am just wondering what is
there to be enjoyed
Driver: Well, it is not easy on the
roads; however, I am enjoying
this experience.
Me: Wow.
Driver: Anyway, it is a long story.
But to cut the long story short,
this is not what I originally set
out to do. However, when the
job was not forth coming, I
decided to take the bull by the
horn. So this is the bull and I will
say I am comfortably manning
the horns.
Me: What course did you read?
Driver: I read Education.
Me: You didn’t want to teach?
Driver: I did. I taught for two
years in a private primary school.
Me: So why did you quit?
Driver: The take home pay wasn’t
really taking me home.
I chuckled at the way he said “the
take home pay wasn’t really taking
me home.”
Me: So why did you say you are
enjoying this job? The mad traffic,
crazy drivers, annoying passengers
and all?
Driver: Every business has it
downside. Those are ours. The
challenge is in finding satisfaction
and profitability in whatever you
set out to do.
Meanwhile our conversation was
constantly disrupted by the
conductor who kept reminding
him of the bus stops passengers
intended to alight and the request
for ‘change’. The driver also told
me he has two more buses and a
football viewing centre in his
area. The conductor that was
working with him that day is his
brother. He joins him whenever
he is free. “When he is not
around, I go with other boys, but
I insist my conductors dress
neatly and on no occasion abuse
my passengers. Although most of
the boys that work with me stay
in my neighbourhood.”