Naira Mẹwa Mi/My Ten Naira

Ni ọpọlọpọ oṣu sẹyin, mo lọ bẹ ọrẹ mi kan wo. Mo wa ninu ọkọ akero to gbajumọ nii, ‘moluẹ’ nigbati ọkunrin kan ti o nlaagun bọyọbọyọ bii ẹniti o ṣẹṣẹ padanu iṣẹ rẹ tabi bii ẹniti iyawo rẹ ṣẹṣẹ bi ibẹjọ ba wọle. O ni, “Ẹ ma binu si mi wipe mo nyọ yin l’ẹnu l’ọsan yii. Mo duro n’iwaju yi lati beere fun iranlọwọ yin ni lati le wọ ọkọ pada si ile. Ibi ti mo ti wa jina si Eko. Mo wa lati wa ra awọn ọja kan ni, ṣugbọn o ṣe ni laanu wipe wọn ti yọ apo-owo mi lọ, mi o si mọ ibi ti nba dori kọ. Ẹ jọwọ, ẹran mi lọwọ. O jẹ ohun itiju fun mi wipe mo ni lati ṣe eleyi. Bi ẹnikeni lati ilu mi ba ti ẹ ri mi, ṣe wọn ko ni lero wipe iṣẹ ti mo nṣe niyi, ṣugbọn nko ni nkan miiran ti mo le ṣe” o bẹbẹ.

Ọrọ rẹ mu irunisoke wa bi awọn eniyan inu ọkọ pẹlu ikaanu ti bẹrẹ sii da owo fun. Ẹlomiran ti ẹ nso wipe, “wọn ti f’Eko han ẹ ni yẹn o.” Ti awon miiran nso wipe, “ha ara ilu wa ni, ila ilu wa lo wa lẹẹkẹ ẹ!” Ti wọn si nda owo fun. Emi naa da naira mẹwa fun. Nigbati o ya o bọ silẹ ninu ọkọ pẹlu ọrẹ rẹ ti o si ngbadura fun wa.
Lẹyin oṣu diẹ, mo nbọ lati yara ayelujara, ọkunrin ọjọsi yi ni mo ri n’iwaju awọn eniyan miiran pẹlu ẹbẹ rẹ ọjọsi wipe wọn ji apo-owo ohun ati bẹẹ bẹẹ lọ. Igba yẹn ni mo to mọ wipe ati fi jibiti gba naira mẹwa mi lọwọ mi.


English

Several months ago, I went to visit a friend and was on my way home in the popular commuter bus called "molue" when a man sweating profusely as if he has just lost his job or as if his wife has just given birth to a set of quadruplets came on board. He said, "I am very sorry to disturb your peace this afternoon. I stand here today to seek your assistance in transporting myself back to my home. I have come from a distant place to Lagos to buy some goods unfortunately my wallet has been stolen and I’m here stranded. Please, do help me." he pleaded. "I feel ashamed having to do this should in case anybody from my part of the world should see me but I have got no choice."

His words generate reactions as some of the passengers in pity contributed money for him. Some were even saying, ‘they have revealed Lagos to him. While some were saying, ah, he is someone from our town; it is the tribal marks of our town that are on his cheeks! I also donated ten naira. He later alighted with the contribution showering us all with prayers.

After some months, I was coming from the cybercafé and right there in front was the same man before some people making the same passionate plea that they have stolen his wallet and bla, bla, bla.

It then dawn on me, I have been duped of my precious ten naira.

Molue - is a rickety kind of bus use for transportation in Lagos.

Work, Antidote for Poverty

Work is the antidote for poverty;
Do work hard, my friend.
Elevation to great height is dependent on hard work.
We appear insolent, if we have no one to rely on,
If we have no one to depend on,
One (should) simply work harder.
Your mother may be wealthy,
Your father may have a ranch full of horses,
If you depend on them,
I tell you, you may be, disgraced.
Whatever one does not strife for,
Does not last.
Whatever one works hard for [to earn],
Is that which last in one’s possession.
The arm is a relative, the elbow is a sibling.
If the world loves you today,
Peradventure you have money.
They will love you tomorrow
Or you if you are highly placed [in the society],
The world will honor you with cheers and smiles.
Wait till you become poor or are struggling to get by
And you will see how all grimace at you.
Education also elevates and makes one a master,
Strife hard to acquire it [good education].
And if you see multitude
Making a mockery of education,
Please do not emulate them [or keep their company].
Suffering is lying in wait for an unwise child,
Weeping is in reserve for a truant child.
Toy not with your early years, my friend
Work harder, time and tide waits for no one.