I went from Ikeja GRA to go check out of my hotel in VI this morning and noticed how coordinated the street guys are with their new toll gates and regulation of Lagos' roads.

It sprung a thought in my head.

No matter how we think we have good intentions/ideas for the nation/state, we cannot do it without involving the street. The ones we call "Thugs".

I will tell you a story about my mother.

Those of you who know me from childhood, know where our house is in Allen Avenue. My mother (being the happy go lucky nice person she is) never treated rich/poor/middle class any different.

In fact despite my father's complaints, You would come to our house and find her cooking for the gateman or some street boy who says he's hungry or talking to some sex worker like they know each other from Adam. Something she instilled in me.

She never treated anyone differently

My father used to hate it. But she never stopped. One day he learnt....

Our house caught fire. Our neighbor left her gas on and went out with her kids while everyone else was asleep.

In the midst of this, fire service was rung up.

Those ones came without water. Our house got caught too. We lost hope. Standing outside watching my parents life work go up in flames.

Next thing, the streets came out saying "Mummy Teka's house cannot go o. It cannot!"

They all sacrificed their bodies, their health to save us.

I remember Churchill, climbing the roof barefoot to pour soap and water. Although it was too late.
We did lose it all. My father learnt a valuable lesson that day.

I have told this story before to my close one's.

The point is this. We cannot continue to ignore the streets.

We have to involve them. The wanton destruction is because their loyalty is currently bought by people with ulterior motives. Imagine what will happen if we have the loyalty of the streets whilst we hold good intentions for our city/country.

Imagine what you can do.

Think!