… And normalcy returns to Lagos

AFTER days of anxiety and trepidation in Lagos over the outcome of last Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, the typical hustling and bustling that characterize the state gradually returned yesterday with heavy gridlocks noticed on Lagos roads.

In the past two days, many Lagosians have kept indoors and civil servants and banks even closed early as the entire nation waited in anxiety anticipation the result of the presidential election, which was hotly contested by President Goodluck Jonathan and the eventual winner, General Muhammadu Buhari.

The anxiety became more glaring on Monday, when the normal early morning heavy traffic on Lagos roads was curiously absent as many roads in the metropolis witnessed light traffic.

With delayed announcement of the results by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) accompanied by heightened emotions and tempers that the nation might be thrown into crisis no matter where the pendulum swings, Lagosians thought it wise to stay indoors to avoid any unforeseen happenstances.

The resultant effect was an absence of the boisterous Lagos life on many streets and bus stops.

The tension was also reinforced on Tuesday shortly after a mild-drama ensued at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s presidential election collation in Abuja, when a former minister of Ministry of Niger Delta, Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe disrupted proceedings at the centre accusing INEC chairman Prof Attahiru Jega of being biased and tribalistic.

But the reassuring words and statesmanlike display of President Jonathan, who conceded defeat and called General Buhari to congratulate him on his victory at the polls even before his official announcement as winner became a saving grace that calmed frayed nerves.

Suddenly, the boisterous nature of the mega city came alive agaiin with heavy gridlocks returning to roads like -Berger – Iyana- Oworo- Obalende, Oworosoki- Oshodi, Ojota- Anthony – Yaba and Ojuelegba- Costain.

There was also heavy traffic along Abeokuta Expressway later in the day, while Mile 2 – Apapa Road suddenly came alive.

Many bus stops, like Oshodi Oke noted for its heavy presence of Agberos busted to live with its heavy vehicular movements and usual hustling and bustling.

The situation was the same on roads like Ladipo Spare Parts Market in Mushin, Agege, Egbeda, Akowonjo and other surrounding roads along Lagos – Abeokuta Expressway, which had suddenly given way to light traffic since Monday.

A trader at Chinese, a popular trading centre in Ojota, Nnamdi Okolo, said the heavy presence of street traders along Berger – Iyana- Oworo road en-route Obalende was also instructive that normalcy has returned to Lagos.

Okolo, who has remained indoors for the past two days, said he was relieved when he got the news that President Goodluck Jonathan has already called the President-elect to congratulate him.

He said: “ I am happy that God has heard our prayers and that we are now back in business. It was not easy living with what you had in the last two days, even those who dared to come out complained that there was no business.”

“ For banks in the country to be closing by 2.00pm in the past two days was indicative of the fear in the land and nobody want to be caught up in the melee”, he added.

For Olalekan Aina, a commercial driver who plies the Toll gate to Mile 2 route, the last two days has been hellish because there were little passengers on the road.

According to him, many of the drivers resorted to picking passengers on the roads than waiting at the park because everywhere was dry.

“We even took N50 from Oshodi to Cele and N100 to Mile 2 because of lack of passengers before it used to be N100 for Cele and N150 for Mile 2.

“I am happy that normalcy is returning now, though it is not yet what it used to be but business is now improving as there are more passengers on the road than in the last two days,” he added.

Iyana Ipaja also came back to life as the ghost markets of Monday and Tuesday resumed fullscale activities yesterday. Traders could not even wait till the evening before displaying their wares on the road, an act that used to invite the wrath of KAI officials.