Free bus rides before elections: Will passengers remember this politician on election day? By Dayo Emmanuel

One good turn, they say, deserves another. I don’t know if this would come true when politicians only know how to do good just before elections.This evening, I saw a bus lifting passengers for free from Iyana Ipaja to Iyana Iba, a distance of about 34km, according to Google.While yellow buses were charging ₦800 and ₦1,000, depending on the size of the bus, this American school bus, branded in a politician’s campaign colours, was absolutely free.I decided to join the ride and benefit from the dividends of democracy I hadn’t enjoyed for three years, from this ‘good man politician’. I wasn’t going to Iyana Iba, but Egbeda would just be fine since it’s somewhere along the way. The bus conductor, who dressed like a young politician, was kind enough to ask me to sit closer to the door so I could easily alight at Egbeda. And I did.I tried to observe the faces of the passengers. They all looked straight ahead. They didn’t look happy. Perhaps they didn’t even like the politician or his party, but saving ₦800 should be something to make them happy. Somehow, I don’t think it did.On the other hand, the driver looked so haggard. You could tell something was obviously wrong with him, and that made me wonder if the scheme was sustainable. He wasn’t looking happy, nor did he look like someone who enjoyed his job.The bus was almost full, with only a few passengers standing. Unlike other buses, nobody talked. There was no conversation going on, and the lady beside me was even stylishly hostile, seemingly trying to push me aside. But I don’t engage such people. She might have been angry with the candidates displayed on the bus, but do I really care?I only suspect this adage may not work with these angry and hungry-looking passengers, who are bent on eating from their national cake. As we say in Lagos, they may not send this candidate on election day, when the bus may have stopped this kind gesture.Nigerians deserve more than what they get from their leaders, who also expect the masses to reciprocate the ‘little mercies’ shown shortly before election day.

One good turn, they say, deserves another. I don’t know if this would come true when politicians only know how to do good just before elections.

This evening, I saw a bus lifting passengers for free from Iyana Ipaja to Iyana Iba, a distance of about 34km, according to Google.

While yellow buses were charging ₦800 and ₦1,000, depending on the size of the bus, this American school bus, branded in a politician’s campaign colours, was absolutely free.

I decided to join the ride and benefit from the dividends of democracy I hadn’t enjoyed for three years, from this ‘good man politician’.

I wasn’t going to Iyana Iba, but Egbeda would just be fine since it’s somewhere along the way. The bus conductor, who dressed like a young politician, was kind enough to ask me to sit closer to the door so I could easily alight at Egbeda. And I did.

I tried to observe the faces of the passengers. They all looked straight ahead. They didn’t look happy. Perhaps they didn’t even like the politician or his party, but saving ₦800 should be something to make them happy. Somehow, I don’t think it did.

On the other hand, the driver looked so haggard. You could tell something was obviously wrong with him, and that made me wonder if the scheme was sustainable. He wasn’t looking happy, nor did he look like someone who enjoyed his job.

The bus was almost full, with only a few passengers standing. Unlike other buses, nobody talked. There was no conversation going on, and the lady beside me was even stylishly hostile, seemingly trying to push me aside. But I don’t engage such people. She might have been angry with the candidates displayed on the bus, but do I really care?

I only suspect this adage may not work with these angry and hungry-looking passengers, who are bent on eating from their national cake. As we say in Lagos, they may not send this candidate on election day, when the bus may have stopped this kind gesture.

Nigerians deserve more than what they get from their leaders, who also expect the masses to reciprocate the ‘little mercies’ shown shortly before election day.