03/08/2026
*This is how kindness had a ripple effect from one generation to the next generation*
There was this _agbero_ at the junction of our area those childhood days. He was always there — proactive, controlling the little gridlocks motorists cause at the junction as well as collecting their imposed tax from the commercial motorists.
Whenever he saw my dad, he would greet. And continue his work.
My dad drove by, he'd hand him ₦50, ₦100 — you know, back then that was a good amount of money. He didn’t do it frequently, but once in a while he’d just tip the guy, shouting "de yellow!" (Cos he was bleaching which looked funny.. that's how the name came about...) and we move on.
Several years later — even after those little tippings had stopped... something happened.
We went for weekend fellowship as usual and at the end of the meeting, we wanted to pluck some almond fruits (dad took permission before doing that anyway).
My younger sister, being the light weight one, climbed up the tree. While trying to shake the branches for more fruits, she moved from one branch to another to also create space for another boy that was eager to climb too, little did she know she stepped on a light branch... and that was how she fell off the tree.
We had to rush, pick her up into the car in her unconscious and w0unded state, driving so fast on a very bad road straight down to the junction, which was the only known proper hospital described to dad — it was an emergency.
On getting to the junction where we were supposed to branch into the street of the hospital, the front left tyre got off the small bridge/pavement that was made to climb into that street. We could not go forward nor go back. We had an emergency in the car.
My parents started calling for help from some people, I was behind, holding my almost breathless sister in a pool of her own bl00d from her nose and mouth and also screaming help from the back seat, but they were just looking at us — nobody was really willing to help.
This agbero sighted my dad’s car immediately and he screamed, "Ah! Eyan mi re! (This is person! It’s his person!" )
Immediately, he beckoned on all the other agberos around, in no time, they raised the car from the edge of the small bridge and even helped to ensure that he drove smoothly out of that corner to the hospital.
The agbero kept on asking and checking up on the welfare of my sister from dad as we were doing the back and forth in the hospital till she was discharged.
I could not imagine what more delay would have caused. But those acts of kindness that he always did to this agbero came back to him and the ripple effect saved my baby sister.
The agbero knew those tips meant a lot from a total stranger and that alone made him beckon on others for help way beyond where and how it came to him.
People often think influence is built only with money or power. Sometimes, it's built with a single moment of kindness, little gestures. The favour you do today might become the invisible security guarding you tomorrow.
