The story of a 32-year-old Pius Abayomi Abiodun is one which causes
remorse, pity and at the same time could go for one of the ‘Wonders of
Lagos’. The handsome well built light complexioned gentle man is one of
the thousands of Commercial Bus Drivers, popularly called Danfo Drivers,
in Lagos.
For
a passenger boarding his bus for the first time, nothing suggests Pius
has no legs. When a reporter boarded his bus 2 weeks ago at Town
Planning junction towards Western Avenue in Lagos, he didn’t notice Pius
had no legs to drive the Danfo. After about 10 minutes journey, a
driver who rode a mini truck pulled up on the lane Pius drove and before
the passengers could blink their eyes Pius increased his speed and got
at par with the truck, looked towards the driver and said, “Iwo, ma deal pelu e (You, I will deal with you). You dey try me?” Despite words of caution from his conductor, who said “Leave am” severally
Pius did the unimaginable as if he was instructed by the Road Safety
men, he applied his breaks and forced the mini truck to a slower speed,
one of the Road Safety men gesticulated to the truck driver to pull over
for retinue check. Pius didn’t say a word but this reporter could read
something like, “You drivers with legs, I will make you all to respect me by force!”.
For
a passenger boarding his bus for the first time, nothing suggests Pius
has no legs. When a reporter boarded his bus 2 weeks ago at Town
Planning junction towards Western Avenue in Lagos, he didn’t notice Pius
had no legs to drive the Danfo. After about 10 minutes journey, a
driver who rode a mini truck pulled up on the lane Pius drove and before
the passengers could blink their eyes Pius increased his speed and got
at par with the truck, looked towards the driver and said, “Iwo, ma deal pelu e (You, I will deal with you). You dey try me?” Despite words of caution from his conductor, who said “Leave am” severally
Pius did the unimaginable as if he was instructed by the Road Safety
men, he applied his breaks and forced the mini truck to a slower speed,
one of the Road Safety men gesticulated to the truck driver to pull over
for retinue check. Pius didn’t say a word but this reporter could read
something like, “You drivers with legs, I will make you all to respect me by force!”.