That they are both Lagos residents is not the only bond of similarity between Gladys Chidi and Ibrahim Salisu. They have both seen the better side of life but now on the streets. Having been failed by men, the duo now only looks up only to God for rehabilitation.
The roof of her abode is the open sky. Her beddings are nylons and tattered rubber carpets. Foxes have holes and the birds, nests, but Gladys Chidi, for that is her name, has no place to lay her head. For more than two weeks, Saturday Mirror observed her lying at the Ojuelegba end of Lawanson Road, Lagos, from dusk to dawn, wrapped in her dusty wrapper.
Throughout the observation, the reporter did not see her yelling or stretching her arms for alms. Her sight evokes forlorn despair existential condition, especially to whoever had paid closer attention to her. Many think she is mentally challenged.
Many others, too, believe she is one of the victims of the poor socio- economic conditions in the country. Others think she is depressed. But this fateful day, at about 7.40 p.m., the reporter reached out to her to know about her true living conditions and how she got to the Ojuelegba/Yaba/Funsho Williams intersection where she "lives" under the sun and in the rain, with the menace of articulated and other vehicles releasing dangerous fume into the air she breathes daily. "I am Gladys Chidi. I am from Delta State," she volunteered her names and place of extraction while beaming with a beautiful smile.
"I had accident sometimes ago which affected my legs. Since then, I cannot walk. I have been at this Ojuelegba junction for over three months because I have no place to go. This is where I sleep day and night. I am stranded here," Gladis said. Wondering how an accident could confine her to such a dangerous spot when she could have sought solace from her family, Saturday Mirror enquired about her family. "I have families but I have been the sole bread winner of my family. After the accident, I was stranded.
I came to Lagos and went to Obalende to see one of my family members, Mama Anthony, but I discovered that she is late. So, I became stranded in Lagos. The accident took place at Delta State while I was standing on the road; a vehicle knocked me down and did not care to stop. Having tried to treat myself and run out of finance, I decided to come to Lagos to see Mama Anthony.
Unfortunately, my trouble doubled when I discovered that she is dead. I am now living on the streets as a destitute," she groaned. "After I heard of the death of Mama Anthony, I thought of where I could go to and decided to search for my former church, Morning Star at Rufai Street, Surulere.
When I got there, I got information that the church had been closed. I was perplexed when I heard it. As I was thinking what I could do, I saw one police officer passing, I told him of my plight and he said that he can only help me to the police check point at Ojuelegba here.
That was how I got to this place," she claimed. Has Gladys been to Lagos prior to her last adventure that took her to the street? She said that she had lived and worked in Lagos before relocating to Delta State. "I was living here in Lagos. I was working with ACB at Martin Street, on the Island before the bank closed shop and I was sent into the job market. By the time the bank closed shop, I went to a Bible School, at Ogbor Hill in Delta State," she claimed.
Gladys spoke with the reporter in good and faultless English language, dispelling, to a very great extent, the thought of her being mentally challenged. The reporter became curious to know her level of educational attainment and how life has treated her so far.
She said: "I told you earlier that I was a bank official, working with African Continental Bank (ACB). I graduated from Mary Mount College, Agbor, Delta State. You know in the banks then, when you are employed with A/Levels certificate, you would be trained to handle some aspects of the banking job.
"When rain is failing, when the sun is harsh, I look unto God for help. I was lying on the bare ground. A Good Samaritan just gave me this mat and carpet I am lying on now. I have been praying for God to send me a helper that could take me out of this place. But it is not by my power.
I am looking unto God for this help but I know God will send somebody or group of people who would help me out of the situation I am now. I need treatment for my legs. I need to put my life back on the track. But who would help me out? I am stranded and looking unto God for an angel," she said.
Asked of the church she worships currently, she said that as a result of her incapacitation, she has been unable to go to church but has been "tapping into the worship of churches around Ojuelegba" from where she lies hapless. "Whenever they are praying, singing, I just follow them in the whole worship, especially the Redeemed Christian Church of God that is closed by at the upstairs."
At the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), where the first independence parade took place 53 years ago, 68 years old Ibrahim Salisu lay in anguish. He lost his right leg to elephantiasis about 15 years ago. Since then, Salisu who came to Lagos about 44 years ago, said that he has been living by the grace of Allah. At the time Saturday Mirror encountered him, it was getting dark.
Yet, he lay calmly with clutches by his side, even though anguish and gloom decorated his face. Salisu was at home with no sign of leaving to his place of abode. His beddings were cartoons and nylons with a combination of wide metal tray and cartons as pillow. "I hope there is no problem," he enquired when the reporter got close to him and asked about his wellbeing.
Obviously scared, he said that "I am only an old man who is struggling daily, looking up to Allah for survival". Telling Saturday Mirror why he resorted sleeping at the square, he lamented that "I have nowhere to lay my head so I have been sleeping here. If I have a choice, I would not be sleeping here at this age. I survive by the mercy of people who pass through this area at day. I don't go begging but people who pass through this place do help me financially and otherwise.
That is how I am surviving. Before I was amputated, I was selling provisions at the Nigerian Airways compound. Now, I am selling sweets. Most people buy from me and leave big changes for me. Some who know me walk in and drop some money for me to take care of myself. I have been in the Island for a very long while so I know many people around this area but not enough to be accommodated." Asked his age and his perception of life immediately after independence and now, he bust out in laughter, paused, looked down, shook his head in obvious disappointment then decried the post First Republic socio-economic developments and how it had impacted on the common man on the streets. "I am about 68 years.
I witnessed the independence and how things fared very well from the administrations of Tafawa Balewa to Gowon. Things have changed very drastically. Things are no more in favour of the common man on the street. There were jobs everywhere then.
At this age, I am still struggling to eat, nobody, not even government, to take care of the aged. This is definitely not a sign of good things in this country. In the days of the Zik, Sarduana, Awolowo, things were good. Life was easy going and we thought that things would be getting better for everybody in the country but little did we know that life would turn out this way. Nigeria has not changed. Nigeria is still good but it is the leaders that have changed from being good to the people," he lamented. Narrating how he lost his right leg to elephantiasis, anguish enveloped his countenance.
"I took ill sometimes ago and discovered that my leg was always itching. With time, the leg grew very big and I could not use it to do anything. I came to Lagos from Kano sometimes ago to hustle and make a living out of the city. But this leg would not let me do what my heart urged me to do. As time goes by, the pain from the leg was unbearable and I travelled back to Kano where the leg was amputated in the hospital.
After I recovered, I returned to Lagos. I was already used to Lagos life and despite what happened to me, I thought that this is where I belong. Before now, I was squatting at Nigeria Airways building where I was selling sweets. I need a house, a place where I can sleep like a human being. I still believe that one day, God will send somebody or government that would help out of my present condition," he enthused.
Source: At the mercy of the elements but 'looking unto God' for help (http://nationalmirroronline.net/new/at-the-mercy-of-the-elements-but-looking-unto-god-for-help/)