Funmi Falobi

I was at the fueling station earlier today. While on the queue, the NAPEP man beside me also on queue to the same pump was on call with his wife. His phone had rang twice before he eventually picked-up. His wife mentioned that he didn’t drop any money for the children to eat, and in response, he reminded her that he already told her he wanted to use the money left with him to buy fuel into his Keke so that he can work and send her some money. The call was audible as it was on speaker. The worried wife kept mentioning that the children were already crying of hunger. But he kept telling his wife that he would send money immediately he starts commuting. After the call, he was speaking to himself and talking about how people weren’t commuting as normal these days. With his eyes fixated on his keke. I was so bothered for him, his wife and the hungry children. When we got to the pump, the attendant could either sell to me or him as we were beside each other due to the position of our fuel tanks. And he told the pump attendant to sell for me. I immediately told the attendant to sell for him. “Oya, sell One thousand two hundred own”, he said. While he stretched his hand to give the attendant the money. Then I said to the young lady, Please fill the tank of his keke”. He looked at me like, "No, she shouldn’t" as he doesn’t have that amount of money to pay. I told him not to worry, and that I will pay. And he said, "since I started driving this keke, I have never bought a full tank". With tears on his eyes, he went down and I carried him up. After I bought mine and as I was driving out of the staton, I didn’t know he was waiting for me just outside the gate. When I saw him, I stopped and he couldn’t stop thanking me. I simply told him that I had overheard his call with his wife which got me very emotional. My parents taught me how to be kind to people. My Dad would say, "a help you render today is coming for you tomorrow". One thousand two hundred can not feed husband and wife, let alone with the children. I requested for his account details and sent him money. I equally asked him to call his wife and I spoke with her. When she sent her details, I sent her money to buy some foodstuff. He was literally in tears as I drove off, and I prayed for them that God eases their burden. And the one reason why I share this— If life is kind to you, Please extend it and be kind to other people. Oluwanishola Akeju