Lagos Empty Crowd

Let me tell you a tale about Lagos. Lagos was once a beautiful place. Some might argue that it's still beautiful but it's beauty is faded now. Lagos takes care of only a few places. It retains the beauty in it's face, it's hands and it's legs. The other places are cracked under the strain of too many people, too many houses. Lagos has no space to breath, so it chokes and chokes, and people still flow in. Lagos is a place full of different types of people . The desperate, the lustful, the loveless, the weak and even the hopeful. But Lagos is not a place for weak people, it is only for the strong and desperate because it was built on strong and desperate shoulders. Every JJC (Johnny Just Come): sets foot in Lagos with hopes and dreams that there, they will make it. But Lagos feeds itself on their hopes and dreams. It gradually sips, then gorges till it's full. Then you see the light drain from the eyes of the JJCs, until they become desperate loveless people, empty crowds.

Let me tell you a story of a family who lived in Lagos. Sometimes, Lagos is good on a few people. It decides to shine it's light on them and so their hope keeps growing and growing, but Lagos is a trickster, a deceiver and it's true children are seed from it's loins, tricksters and deceivers. Never trust Lagos. So, it's a family of six. A mother, a father and four children (two boys and two girls). The family is well to do and they live in the hands of Lagos, the beautiful side. This family does not truly know how ugly Lagos is. For the purpose of this story, I will name this family the Lagbajas. Mrs Lagbaja works for the commissioner of health in Lagos. Mr Lagbaja works remotely or so he says. Their children are sent to one of the top schools in Lagos. Lagos is treating them well.

But one day, Lagos decides to withdraw it's favour. It's time for it to devour the joy and hope of this family. And it does so like a domino effect. Mrs Lagbaja loses her job, and everything starts going downhill. The commissioner Mrs Lagbaja works for has gone missing for a month now. So, the governor of Lagos reinstates a new commissioner. The new commissioner decides that he doesn't want to retain any of the old staff, so he dismisses them. Mrs Lagbaja is left without a job. She has some money saved, so she thinks the money will be enough for her family until she gets a job which she hopes will come soon. Months go by, and gradually the Lagbajas starts selling their properties little by little. The children don't understand why they can't have beef in their soup or why they can't eat sardines with their bread. Mr and Mrs Lagbaja call their two daughters and try to explain to them that things might not be the same again as their mother has lost her job. The two daughters try to understand, though they are aware it would be hard shifting from a life of buoyancy to a life where prudence is highly required.

For the first time, Mr and Mrs Lagbaja are heard quarrelling. Mrs Lagbaja shouts, “Go and work, lazy man. You keep lying that you are working remotely. Yet, we haven't seen any money.” Mr Lagbaja is heard saying, “I have been laid off too. What do you want me to do?”

“Go and hustle physically like your mates are doing. Money will not come and meet you in this house.” There is silence. Then, a door slams and the sound reverberates through the house. The children are seated in their room, holding their hands. When the door slams, they all flinch. The first daughter looks at her sister, a gradual knowing creeping into her eyes. Things will truly never be the same. She can see that same knowledge reflected back in her sister’s eyes.

The next two weeks, Mr Lagbaja is up and out of the house before the cock crows and he comes back late at night. His tie is always crumpled and his shirts wrinkled. His shoes are dusted a light brown from trekking the streets of Lagos. “Sorry, you are not eligible for this job.” “Sorry, we are not hiring.” “Sorry, sorry, sorry” That's what the streets of Lagos tell him and slowly, the hope drains from his eyes. His once high shoulders are now slumped. Then one day, a ray of light shines through the bleak cloud. There is new hope, it seems. Hope comes in the form of Mr Joe. Mr Lagbaja meets Mr Joe at a bukateria (street kitchen). They are seated across each other. Mr Lagbaja is served a small helping of rice and stew while Mr Joe’s plate is heaped with assorted meat and fried fish. It has been months since Mr Lagbaja has had such meal and so, he steals glances at Mr Joe’s food, salivating within.

All of a sudden, Mr Joe orders more food for Mr Lagbaja. This time, he is served with Amala (yam flour), and Egusi (melon soup). His soup is filled with meat and fish just like Mr Joe’s. And he cannot reject it. When next would he eat something like this?, he thinks to himself. So, he digs in and eats with relish. After the meal, Mr Lagbaja relaxes in his seat with a toothpick in his mouth and a bottle of beer in his hand. He feels guilt knowing his family might be hungry. Mr Joe introduces himself as a business man. He says he noticed that Mr Lagbaja looked like a job seeker. He proposes an offer to him. He tells him about an investment that needs people to pitch in. He says the investment would bring in profitable earnings. BpuMr Lagbaja doesn't believe him at first. Then he escorts Mr Joe out of the bukateria and sees him walking towards a sleek Jeep.

“This is one of my many cars. You might think i’m lying. But I'm telling you. This is legit. I'm a business man and I'm interested in helping you. I know someone who is helpless when I see them. Well, this is my business card. When you think my proposal over, let me know. Also, send your account number to the number you see on the card. I will send you a small token.”

Mr Lagbaja collects the card and thanks Mr Joe for the meal. He gets home, sends his account number to the Mr Joe and keeps the card under a vase of flowers sitting on the center table. He receives an credit alert of 50,000 naira the next day. He is ecstatic. That day, the Lagbajas eat a sumptuous meal for the first time in months. There is a fragile peace in his house and he wants it to hold. He wants his family to be happy. He wants his children to return to their prestigious school. He wants to stop arguing with his wife. So, he reaches out to Mr Joe. He is sure Mr Joe is legit now. They start discussing business and Mr Joe tells him the start up amount is five million naira. Mr Lagbaja doesn't have that kind of money. He knows if he tells his wife, she might try to dissuade him with womanly reasons. “Women don't know about risk.” One of his many thoughts. So, he goes to the bank and collects a loan. He puts up the house as collateral. The house he and his family live in. The house that belonged to his wife's father. He collects the loan and sends the money to Mr Joe. His joy is palpable and infectious and it catches on to his family. They are excited because Mr Lagbaja is excited even if they don't know the reason why. Mrs Lagbaja tries to find out but Mr Lagbaja only tells her joy is coming and it’s a surprise. So, she gets excited too.

One week passes, then two and Mr Lagbaja receives no word from Mr Joe. He texts him, but he has been blocked. He tries to call, but to no avail. He goes to the bukateria where they first met but there's no sign of Mr Joe or his sleek jeep. Mr Joe has disappeared into thin air. Mr Joe, a desperate person, a seed from Lagos’s loins has tricked and deceived Mr Lagbaja. Mr Lagbana doesn't know how to tell his wife what he has done. The bank official pastes an eviction notice on their house walls as Mr Lagbaja has been unable to pay up the loan in due time. Then, Mr Lagbaja tells his wife what he has done. He is xoexrs his wife to shout at him but she is silent, and her eyes are flat and devoid of light and hope. Mr Lagbaja doesn't know which to fear; her silence or her lightless eyes.

Things start packing up from there. Mrs Lagbaja leaves with her first daughter and last son to God knows where. She leaves no note as to her whereabout. She loves all her children but she can't take them with her. She hopes once she's better off again, she will come for the rest. Mr Lagbaja doesn't know what to do anymore. It seems all options are closed. He couldn't find Mr Joe, the bank is going to take his family house, and he has lost his wife and two kids. Lagos doesn't love him anymore. Lagos holds no favour for him and his family. If he doesn't leave, he knows he and his family would become part of the empty crowds of Lagos. He might even turn out to be like Mr Joe. So, he migrates with his children. Hopefully, where he goes, there he will be welcomed. He hopes the city would be full of love, unlike Lagos. The hope is creeping back into his eyes.

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