Isn't it so annoying that Nigerians flout simple rules of orderliness all the time? Yet we complain that our society is not in order. My 'brethren' it is the little things that matter. Little things like being able to maintain a simple queue!
What is this writer on about, you might be wondering. Well I am on about the annoying fact that some Nigerians do not like queuing up for anything. We seem to like the easy way out. At the mall,Banks,Brt parks,Normal Danfo parks,Fast food joints, ATMs just name it, there will be one unruly person or persons trying to play smart and get ahead of everybody. The numbers of fights I have witnessed at ATMs are so laughable just because adults cannot maintain a single file.
Sometime around November on my way to the University of Lagos to write an Exam, a scene played out . For those conversant with the Unilag Terrain you would know that there are Campus shuttles and during exams the queues are always very long. So came along this 'Tush' gal,who just ignored the queue and went straight to the front to sit in the next available bus. Like she was blind or something and could not see other people waiting in line. Trust Nigerians,the way people descended on her ,I actually felt pity and embarrassment for her at the same time. But our fine girl wouldn't relent, she said rudely that she was late for her papers, people answered, so? Summary of the story is that at least till I got into a bus, she was not allowed in and was told to join the queue like others. Serves her right!
Another scenario which is common by the way, played out at the ATM,the other day. This middle aged man just came out of nowhere and said to us all that we should allow him use the machine, as he is not withdrawing cash but just changing his pin number. Of course no one wanted to hear none of that. There we were under the scorching sun, trying to do one transaction or the other and you come around trying to play smart. Really?
What about the BRT queue, some will tell you they are keeping 'space' for their relative who is probably still sleeping on his/her bed at home. How ridiculous is that? When are we going to put an end to all these negative attitudes in our country. Why must we behave in these manners in a civilized society that we claim to be in.
The madness during the PVC collection is a story for another day. No patience at all, everyone wants to be attended to at the same time. We really need a change of orientation. For the well travelled ones, once they leave these shores, they conform to the rules of the developed world, but once back in Naija,they return back to the status quo.Please we can do better than that.
Please think twice before you jump that queue, lets take it from there, little acts like that can be a step in bringing sanity back to our society.
1 comment:
It is just a norm for Nigerian to jump queue, not only in banks and motor parks,even in our churches, yes,in church.
That ruggedity lifestyle is so Im bedded into our day to day activities. No one wants to be patient, everyone think they are smarter, yet we Complain of bad leadership, are we also a good follower?
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