At the close of work on Friday, I had looked forward to going home early in preparation for what I knew was bound to be a busy weekend on the Abuja social circuit.
Going through the City Gateway, via the airport road has always been an attractive option not only for many people heading out of the Federal Capital City, or residents of Lugbe, Kuje and other outlying surbubs that adorn the vicinity, but also for those who make their homes in the Galadimawa and Lokogoma areas.
The reason is simple. It is a highway and because it’s unimpeded by traffic light and stoppages, the road makes for reasonable speeding.
That was the consideration that turned out to be my miscalculation.
As I drove past the Stadium and City Gate – savouring the cool evening breeze – I thought less about the challenges of the day, but more about the hot shower and a restful evening that lie ahead. But if I had an idea that the harmless traffic holdup that I encountered soon after the landmarks, was going to be an interminable snarl, perhaps I could have turned and explored alternative routes of getting home. By the time I discovered that ENDSARS protesters were on the road, however, it was too late to back off.
So began the long wait and a peep at my wrist watch showed 6 pm. Then I learnt that some motorists had been there since 2 pm while the angry youths sang, danced, ate, drank and spoke – all properly choreographed and peacefully executed.
Initially, I was enraged but when I looked around, I saw reasons to smile:
Trust Nigerians to live up to their billing as the “happiest People on Earth * despite unnerving situations.
While some people had spilled out of their vehicles and were singing and shuffling to the beat of one of Fela’s evergreen ZOMBIE, oozing from a vehicle nearby, others sat on praying mats or formed clusters to discuss the problems with Nigeria.
I joined a group and participated in the animated conversations.
Of course, the responses to the issues I raised showed simply that everyone had customized answers to Nigeria’s problems and were supportive of the street protests by the young ones, despite the pains they inflicted.
While no one could explain the source of funding for the street action, they were in agreement that the Endsars movement is a metaphor for leadership failure in Nigeria; a positive indication that the youths had run out of patience with the political class and were determined to be heard.
It is the making of a new Nigeria, they say.
By the time the road opened for movement it was 1:30 am.
Instead of hurrying to drive off, having waited long hours for it, people took time to exchange numbers and say good night to strangers who had become friends.
As we drove through, some of the protesters could be seen picking their used water bottles and plates off the highway, while others prepared the ambulance in readiness for movement.