Olumide Oworu: The blue jerrycan in my trunk (30 Days, 30 Voices)

by Olumide Oworu

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 ” I looked at my dashboard, the fuel light shot me a cheeky flash, almost like it was mocking me. ”

It was ‘Jibola’s birthday, and he was hosting a get-together at Aguda. I decided to ”show face” since Jibbs did same at my birthday party, besides that, we were good friends. I dressed up for the party and left my house, for what looked like a promising afternoon. As I pulled up to the petrol station to get fuel, I noticed a queue. What the heck?! The fuel in my car was less than quarter tank, and I was in no mood to join the queue; I figured I’d get fuel at Aguda, seeing that I was going to go past three petrol stations, before the party venue anyway. “On to Ags” I said to myself.

Windows down, radio on; just as I approached the first petrol station, the fuel light appeared on my dashboard. No worries, I thought; I was about to get fuel,little did I know what the day had in store for me. The first petrol station was closed, and so were the other two after it. “Ah, yawa don gas!” I exclaimed. I quickly called Jibbs on my phone, “Hello Jibbs, guy abeg fuel dey your house?”

Omo, no fuel o, me sef dey try organize fuel for my party, make we use am take on gen”, Jibbs replied, to my shock.

What was I to do? I didn’t know of any other filling stations in the area. I looked at my dashboard, the fuel light shot me a cheeky flash, almost like it was mocking me. I parked my car and stepped out. Confused and helpless, I decided to get on an okada (motorcycle) to search for fuel. What choice did I have?

The okada rider told me plainly, “Oga, fuel or no fuel, you go pay me my money complete oh, ehen” But that was the least of my worries. After riding around Aguda without any luck, we found ourselves in Lawanson (another area in Surulere). There was a long queue at the filling station, this time, I was so overjoyed to have found fuel and very willing to join the queue. One problem though, even if I queued up, where would I put the fuel? In a bid to get fuel instantly, I had forgotten the most important thing- a container. My car was way back in Aguda.

“(Sigh) Which kain day be this?”I said to myself. Drenched in sweat from the heat of the sun, I hopped back on the okada in search of a jerry can. After going down four streets, I finally bought one, and then headed back to the station. After waiting for a while, I finally got fuel, and then headed back to my car. I paid the okada rider off, glad to have finally gotten fuel in spite of so many hurdles. As I walked down to the car, with a great feeling of relief, it suddenly hit me; No funnel or hose to put the fuel into my car. “Damn, I should just have taken a taxi to Jibb’s place” I lamented, almost frustrated. Another search began. Luckily, only shorter this time.

I sat in my car, happy to have found fuel, but angry at myself for all the trouble I had to go through because of my initial impatience. Plus, all the struggles meant I had to attend the get-together wreaking of fuel. “Never again” I said to myself, driving slowly to Jibb‘s house, and hoping to make the best of what was left of the day. I looked at my dashboard again and calmly uttered “Fuel please”.

To this day, I still leave the blue jerry can in the trunk of my car to remind me of that day.

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Olumide Oworu is an actor, model and rap artiste. He featured in MTV’s Shuga season 3.

30 Days, 30 Voices series is an opportunity for young Nigerians from across the world to share their stories and experiences – creating a meeting point where our common humanity is explored.

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

 

 

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