Saturday Digest: Life of an Abeokuta Corper

I am a corp member currently serving in Abeokuta city of Ogun State. 

Today I am giving you some major things I have observed since I was posted to the city to obey the clarion call. Well it’s more like things you need to know about the city and its people. Other corp members I have spoken to about these have also confirmed it. Yes, they’ve noticed these things too. 

Topography This is not strange. The name Abeokuta literally means under the rock or beneath/below the stone, so one wouldn’t be surprised if the whole city is rocky. There are lots of rocks everywhere that I kept thinking Olumo is scattered everywhere not untilI visited the ancient Olumo rock museum some weeks back. On top of that rock gives a beautiful view of the city. But the sad thing is that everything that has a good part also has its shortcoming. 

Water has become a major problem in this place. I keep seeing people digging up wells to supplement the already available ones but digging them up doesn't guaranty regular supply of water as these wells dry up easily. I remember my first weeks at the Corpers’ Lodge and I had to follow people to the stream to be able to get water to take my bath and wash my clothes. It was terrible, I only saw that in movies. And I kept asking if we were really at a stream. 

Another shortcoming are the roads. I am still trying to unravel the mystery. Though the Governor is trying his best about it by making different constructions in addition to the already constructed ones, there is still a feel to riding on these roads especially on bike. It has become so annoying that every time I hiss or sigh and hold onto the bike iron for support so that I don’t fall off. The forth and back movement any time we hit the road is so annoying because I have to keep adjusting on the bike. I’m still puzzled about it as I don’t know if it’s a topography issue, the bike or the fault of the bike men. 

Be smart

If you have been to Lagos, or watch some Nollywood movies, music videos or even documentaries on the megacity you surely would have noticed those three statues, though I have forgotten their names but I remember they represent being smart and sharp. Well, if you’re neither of the two, then you would surely learn to be through the hard way. Abeokuta is no different from Lagos, though it’s a milder version. You know a city without too much of horns and blast, but impatience level is almost the same. And the curse and abuses motorists, bike men hurl at one another. Well, I think it’s a major thing in the south western part of the country. 

And about serenity, I find it funny when some of my Lagosians (some find here boring and run off to Lagos every weekend) tell me they come over to Ogun to relax because of the tranquil and serene atmosphere. Serene ke! Lol 

The unavailable 

Funny enough, the things we see as little over there in the North are a big deal here. At first I was thinking it’s due to the recession in the country but later realise it might have been a normal thing here after all. Change, the people here hardly ever have lower denominations of the Naira notes. If you want to take bike or cab, one of the first things the drivers ask you is if you have change, if you don’t then you may have to to forfeit your space for someone who has and you not telling them that you only have a larger denomination of the currency may lead to trouble when they get you to your destination. 

Reminds me of an incident that happened some time back here.  I enter a cab that would take me to my house, unknown to me (more like I heard but chose to ignore) the man had already told the others that he doesn’t have change. Meaning if you don’t have change then you may have to step out for someone who has. On getting to where I was going, I brought out my five hundred naira note and asked him for change and all hell was let loose. I immediately regretted doing that, It wasn’t like I didn’t have any change to give the man but I needed to save it for other situations where it would come handy. And behold after reigning insults on me, the man brought out three hundred naira notes from his pocket and pushed them at me. Gba jare ( Take jor). I looked at the notes and said “But Baba my change is not complete.” The man frowned his face and told me he was not giving me the remaining hundred naira. My heart pounded at the hearing of that. “But I don’t want trouble.” I said inwardly. Unknown to me my face was revealing a totally different thing. My face was saying “Baba don’t try nonsense with me o”. Baba brought out the remaining note and handed it to me. “O ti binu (You don vex abi)” I took it, got out of the car and banged the door.  That was rude but I was wronged, so my gentle self reacted. 

Buying little things when you don’t have change is a problem here. Once you tell them you don’t have change, the fair ones would at least shake their head but the mean ones would leave you there standing while they go about their normal business. 

Plastic bags (nylon) are another type of gemstone here. Some of the traders here would hardly give you one to put the stuff you bought from them especially if they think what you bought from them is not worth being awarded one. You would hear statements like "we don’t sell things with plastic bag here. It is very expensive.” 

Zero chill

I don’t know why I keep placing these two cities side by side in comparison but I think it’s because of the proximity of the two states. I have often heard a typical Lagosian has zero chill when it comes to some things. Well I think it’s applicable to Nigerians in general, though some are on the higher side of it. 

In Abeokuta it’s no different too, from the rush hour on the roads where everyone is rushing to Only God knows where and reigning abuses on one another, to the roadsides where people curse and threaten each other. The way you have to run after cars at times and the way some tell you to get off it. 

A cabman once shouted at me, after stopping at my destination, to get off his car and almost threw my change at me that I wondered if I had offended him. It’s a normal thing for them here. 

You trying to bargain things and the trader tell you to either buy or leave it, I must say I had experienced this later part in Daura, Katsina state some times ago. Over all, I think this city is overhyped. 

Life is on the high side here and things are a bit pricey. The country and her people are in trying times no doubt but the situation here is over exaggerated. I must commend, the Governor is trying with the constructions and beautification of the city. Hopefully he also does more to improve the citizens’ standard of living. 

Thank you for reading. I hope to bring you better and lovely write-ups about this ancient city and interesting topics on issues generally, available on my 

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Enjoy your weekend.