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Dear Jobseeker: May Your Hustle Be Blessed | By Bayo Adeyinka
I had just finished my NYSC in 2000 and I was seeking employment. Those were the days when Guardian on Tuesdays and Thursdays were filled with adverts. I recall making friends with quite a few newspaper vendors so I can go through those newspapers for free since I couldn’t afford to buy a copy.
I can’t recall who saw that advert first but my friend, Deji and I decided to apply. The problem was we didn’t have transport fare to get to Lagos and back. The job was in Lagos and we had to apply in person though we were resident in Ibadan. We decided to look for money. Both of us ended up raising one-way fare. We had just enough to take us from Ibadan to Lagos. We couldn’t even raise funds to move within Lagos.
We decided to go. A man must be courageous. We packed our credentials in two envelopes and boarded a bus headed for Lagos at Iwo Road in Ibadan. When we got off, we took another bus headed for where we would attend the job interview. Deji and I looked at ourselves and laughed. We didn’t have a dime in our pockets. We had no idea how our adventure of faith would turn out. Or was it foolishness? A short while later, the bus conductor in his guttural voice shouted, ‘Owo e da?’ (Where is your money?).
I was closest to him. I raised my brown envelope and explained to him that I was a job seeker and I had used my last dime to get me to Lagos. I braced myself for the worst. I had heard so many tales about Lagos conductors. Those guys have no joy at all.
As the conductor looked at me in utter shock or was it amazement, my friend told him we are together. The conductor hissed and clapped his hands. His eyes were bloodshot. He started raining expletives on both of us and we really expected some rough handling.
I was just praying he won’t tear my clothes or make it dirty. I can cope with a slap or two. Suddenly, a man spoke from the rear of the bus and told the conductor he would pay for both of us. As is expected, the conductor kept on abusing us even as he asked whether he was the one who sent us to school. The man reprimanded him and reminded him he would pay for us. We thanked the man profusely and got down when we got to our stop.
After we were done at the job venue (story for another day), it was time to go back to Ibadan as we didn’t have anywhere to sleep. Both of us decided on a strategy. Deji had an uncle working at a government parastatal at Marina while I had a friend at Marina also. He would approach his uncle and try to get money for two while I tried the same with my friend. We had a place to meet up because that was pre-mobile phone days. Deji wasn’t quite lucky as his uncle was not in the office. My friend was able to give us enough money for our fare back to Ibadan.
So I understand what an average jobseeker has to go through-the rigour of funding his transport while looking for a job or attending an interview. It is with this background in mind that I want to pay for the fare of anyone who has an interview in Lagos and Ibadan this week and cannot afford same.
Please take note of the following:
1. You will show me proof of the interview. Send it inbox. Prompt me if you need my DM to be available.
2. I must be reasonably convinced you can’t afford the fare. I may conduct a background check on you.
3. The transport must be reasonable. No Uber or Bolt. Nothing else apart from the fare.
4. I have the right to disqualify anyone. The right to select ultimately belongs to me.
5. Please do not send anything beyond a request for fare. I will block you if you do so.
6. Do not attempt to scam me. I will know and you will not only be blocked, I will shame you publicly.
7. Lagos and Ibadan only this week. Resources are limited and once exhausted, it will come to an end.
8. If you’re interested in also paying for a few people, you can contact me.
While I sincerely appreciate accolades, I think the best thing anyone who is inspired by this can do is to do likewise. Pay for the transport of others too. I was inspired by the action of that man on the bus who paid our fare without knowing us 20 years ago and that friend of mine who paid our fare back to Ibadan. And I was also inspired by the action of someone on LinkedIn who did something similar. Go and do likewise.
Addendum: Earlier offer expanded to include online interviews in view of the changing times. So, if you have an online interview and need money for data, send a DM. Terms and conditions remain the same.
For transport, it is now open to anywhere in Nigeria and not just Lagos and Ibadan.
Bayo Adeyinka, an Administrator and Author; writes from Ibadan, Oyo State.
Leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo South Senatorial District have endorsed a member of the House of Representatives, Aderemi Oseni, as their consensus candidate for the 2027 senatorial election.
The endorsement was announced on Wednesday at a stakeholders’ meeting held at Alice Hall, Ibadan, with party leaders, stakeholders, local government chairmen and state executive members from the nine local government areas in attendance.
The councils represented at the meeting are Ibadan North, Ibadan North-East, Ibadan North-West, Ibadan South-East, Ibadan South-West, Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North and Ido.
The stakeholders expressed satisfaction with Oseni’s aspiration, describing it as timely, credible and anchored on tested leadership and grassroots appeal.
Those present at the meeting included Chief Timothy Jolaoso (Ibarapa East); Alhaji Kamorudeen Ajisafe (Ido); Chief Abdulrauf Bello (Ido); Alhaji Muili Oluokun (Ibadan North-West); Alhaji Mufutau Adisa (Ibadan South-East); Alhaji Bello Oladeji (Ibadan North); Prince Gbade Lana (Ibadan North-East); Engr. Olatunji (Ibadan South-West); Comrade Wale Gbadamosi (Ibarapa North); and Alhaja Moji Adetona (Ibarapa Central).
Other party officials in attendance were the senatorial chairman, Alhaji Mojeed Adebayo; the secretary, Fatai Adesina; Welfare Officer, Sunday Babalola; Deputy Women Leader, Alhaja Fatimah Hassan; Auditor, Alhaja Tinu Adigun; Youth Leader, Lekan Adebayo; Ex-Officio member, Kola Amoo; Treasurer, Lateef Ajiboye; and Senatorial Youth Leader, Olalekan Olowe.
A chieftain of the party in Ibadan North Local Government, Hon. Shina Alabi, moved the motion for the lawmaker’s endorsement, which was seconded and unanimously adopted by the stakeholders.
Alabi said Oseni’s decision to abide by President Bola Tinubu’s directive to step down his governorship ambition for the senatorial race underscored his loyalty and commitment to party unity.
He said, “Hon. Oseni has demonstrated uncommon commitment to the welfare of the people. His leadership style is inclusive, responsive and development-driven. We are convinced that his emergence as the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District will strengthen the party’s chances and guarantee effective representation.”
He also urged party members to remain united and rally behind credible aspirants with proven capacity and electoral value.
In his remarks, Hon. Aderemi Oseni said his decision to pursue the senatorial seat followed the presidential directives, noting that he accepted the decision in the interest of party cohesion, progress and stability. He recalled that he had earlier prepared for the Oyo South senatorial race in the 2023 general elections, having already purchased the nomination and expression of interest forms as part of an arrangement reached, before stepping down following appeals by party leaders.
The lawmaker, who chairs the House Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), said the party must close ranks to reclaim political dominance in the senatorial district.
According to him, “There is a huge task ahead, especially with several House of Representatives seats in the district currently held by the opposition. We must work together, mobilise effectively and secure victory for our party and leader, President Bola Tinubu”.
Oseni thanked party leaders and stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him and assured them of his commitment to advancing the interests of Oyo South Senatorial District.
The meeting also had representatives from all nine local government areas, with about 10 leaders from each council in attendance.
The lawmaker representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency of Oyo State, Olafisoye Akinmoyede, has denied allegations of violence at the All Progressives Congress (APC) state secretariat, describing claims that he assaulted a party member as false and politically motivated.
An online platform, IMPARTNEWSNETWORK, had alleged that Akinmoyede assaulted one Gafar Oyebade during a meeting convened by the state chairman of the party, Alake Adeyemo, to resolve issues surrounding the executive list of the APC in Lagelu Local Government Area.
However, Akinmoyede, in a statement on Tuesday, said the meeting was peaceful and attended by key members of the state executive, including the chairman, deputy chairman, and secretary, who witnessed the proceedings.
He clarified that contrary to Oyebade’s claim of being the party secretary, the official list presented by the state leadership recognised him as the Public Relations Officer.
According to the lawmaker, following the clarification, the state executive directed the Lagelu Local Government chairman, Fatai Awoyoola, to proceed with the swearing-in of other party officials.
Akinmoyede also faulted attempts to link the incident with the 2019 killing of a former federal lawmaker, noting that a court of competent jurisdiction had already ruled on the matter.
He said, “In Suit No. I/70c/2019, delivered by Justice Mufutau Adegbola on January 23, 2020, all those accused were discharged and acquitted.”
The lawmaker expressed concern over what he described as a deliberate attempt to mislead the public, alleging that Oyebade, a public school teacher under the Oyo State Government, should not be involved in partisan politics.
He described the allegation as a “recycled script” aimed at tarnishing his image ahead of political activities, urging constituents to remain calm.
Akinmoyede also called on journalists to verify information before publication and urged security agencies to take action against individuals who file false reports.
“These tactics surface every election cycle. Those behind them should learn to accept the outcomes of political processes. They failed before and will fail again. Power comes from God,” he added.
The lawmaker representing Akinyele/Lagelu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Olafisoye Akinmoyede, has denied allegations of assault levelled against him by a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagelu Local Government Area, Mr. Gafar Oyebade.
Akinmoyede described the allegation as “false” and “a lie taken too far,” insisting that no physical altercation occurred.
The denial was contained in a statement issued on Monday by his Legislative Aide, Dr. Isiaq Akintunde.
Oyebade had alleged that he was hospitalised following a confrontation during a meeting held at the office of the state party chairman in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, convened to resolve a leadership dispute in the local government.
But the federal lawmaker maintained that the meeting was peaceful and attended by top party officials.
“The meeting was convened to clarify Mr. Oyebade’s position within the local executive, and it was attended by the State Party Chairman, his deputy, the secretary, the publicity secretary, and other key state executives, all of whom witnessed the peaceful proceedings,” the statement read.
He added that contrary to Oyebade’s claim of being the party secretary, the official list presented by the Lagelu Local Government Party Chairman, Hon. Fatai Awoyoola, identified him as the Public Relations Officer.
According to Akinmoyede, the state executive thereafter directed Awoyoola to proceed with the swearing-in of the remaining members of the local government executive.
The lawmaker accused Oyebade of fabricating the allegation to advance political interests.
“I wonder why Mr. Gafar Oyebade, a secondary school teacher, would claim he was assaulted in the presence of the State Executive. This is an attempt to justify money allegedly collected from an aspirant to tarnish my image,” he said.
Akinmoyede further claimed that Oyebade was seen walking freely after the meeting and was not hospitalised as alleged.
He also raised concerns over Oyebade’s involvement in partisan politics, noting that civil servants are restricted from active participation in political activities.
The lawmaker called on security agencies and the media to investigate the incident at the party’s Oke-Ado office to ascertain the veracity of the claims.
Efforts to reach Oyebade for comments were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.
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