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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.
A former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Alake Adeyemo, has been sworn in as the Chairman of the Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urging members of the party to rally support for President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Adeyemo formally assumed office on Friday following the inauguration of the newly elected State Executive Committee members who will manage the affairs of the party in the state for the next four years.
The inauguration ceremony, held at the party’s State Secretariat in Oke-Ado, Ibadan, marked the climax of the party’s 2026 congresses in the state.
The South-West Zonal Legal Adviser of the APC, Kolawole Majaro, administered the oath of office on Adeyemo and 35 other members of the State Executive Committee.
The executives had emerged through a consensus arrangement during the March 3, 2026 state congress held at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, under the supervision of a committee led by Amos Gombi from the APC National Secretariat in Abuja.
In his acceptance speech, Adeyemo described his emergence as a renewed call to service, pledging to strengthen the party and sustain unity among members.
He appreciated party leaders within and outside the state for ensuring a smooth and successful congress process.
Adeyemo also commended members of the Local Organising Committee, particularly Fatai Ibikunle and Afeez Bolaji Repete, for their contributions to the success of the exercise.
He said, “This new State Executive Committee under my leadership is being put in place to add value and strengthen our great party in view of the challenges ahead.
“We have used the opportunity of the congresses to showcase our collective commitment to unity and harmony as progressives and democrats.”
The new chairman expressed optimism that the atmosphere of peace within the party would be sustained ahead of future party primaries and the 2027 elections.
According to him, the party’s target is to secure 90 per cent of the votes in Oyo State for President Tinubu while also reclaiming the state’s Government House in 2027.
Adeyemo praised the President’s leadership, saying the administration was delivering on its promises.
“President Tinubu is, no doubt, performing beyond our expectations and the best way to appreciate his good work is to retain him in Aso Rock until 2031,” he said.
“Against all odds, the President is pursuing his Renewed Hope Agenda with vigour and passion, while the positive results are being felt across sectors of the economy and national life.”
Other members of the newly inaugurated executive include Taofeek Lamidi as Deputy Chairman, Fatai Adesina as State Secretary, Adekemi Opatunde as Woman Leader, Olawale Sadare as Publicity Secretary, Olalekan Oladejo as Youth Leader, and Remi Adepoju as Organising Secretary.
Also inaugurated were Ajiboye Akinsanya as Treasurer, Sunday Aborisade as Legal Adviser, Tinuade Adigun as Auditor, Lukman Owonikoko as Assistant State Secretary, Fatimah Hassan as Deputy Woman Leader, and Jimoh Osundara as the Leader of Persons Living With Disabilities, among others.
The Kano State House of Assembly has initiated impeachment proceedings against Deputy Governor Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo over allegations of gross misconduct, abuse of office, and breach of public trust.
The notice was presented yesterday during plenary by the Majority Leader, Lawan Hussaini Dala, who said the action follows Section 188 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Dala said the allegations stem from Abdussalam’s tenure as Commissioner for Local Government (2023–2024) and his current role as deputy governor. He accused the deputy governor of diverting funds meant for the 44 local government councils.
According to the majority leader, Abdussalam allegedly received N1.5 million monthly from each council between June 2023 and January 2024, totaling N462 million. Between February and July 2024, he allegedly collected N3.255 million monthly from each council under the guise of special assignments, amounting to N726 million.
Dala also accused the deputy governor of abuse of office, claiming he facilitated payments of N10 million from each council to NovoMed Pharmaceuticals Limited, totaling N440 million, in violation of state procurement laws.
“The misuse of official capacity to confer undue advantage constitutes abuse of power and undermines public trust,” Dala told lawmakers, adding that the allegations amount to gross misconduct under the Constitution.
The impeachment notice was reportedly endorsed by 38 lawmakers, meeting the constitutional threshold to proceed. The Speaker has acknowledged receipt, and the House is expected to serve the allegations on the deputy governor.
If approved, a panel may be constituted by the state Chief Judge to investigate the claims.
As of filing, Abdussalam had yet to respond publicly to the allegations.
The Senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson, on Thursday announced his resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that he had joined the newly registered Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Dickson, a former governor of Bayelsa State, made the announcement during a media briefing in Abuja, attributing his decision to what he described as irreconcilable differences within the PDP.
The lawmaker said the emergence of the NDC would strengthen Nigeria’s democratic system by providing a credible opposition platform.
According to him, the party recently received its certificate of registration from the Independent National Electoral Commission.
He said, “Last week INEC issued a certificate of registration and we now have the newest party in Nigeria known as the Nigeria Democratic Congress and our symbol is victory, the victory sign.
“So, my dear Nigerians, you now have a credible alternative opposition party known as the Nigeria Democratic Congress.”
Dickson noted that although the party’s registration took longer than expected, its eventual approval was a welcome development for the country’s democratic landscape.
“Yes, it is coming at this time. We would have wished it started some years or months back. We don’t control INEC and their processes; they delayed. We don’t also control the judiciary, but thank God it has finally arrived,” he said.
The senator also stressed that Nigeria’s democracy must not slide into a one-party system, insisting that political diversity remained vital for national stability.
“This nation cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria cannot be a one-party state. Nigeria is not designed to be a one-party state.
“We are a very diverse nation culturally, religiously and politically and that is the beauty of our country.
“So anyone or any party promoting one-party rule in Nigeria is mistaken. We build political parties and get involved in movements to access power for the good of the people, not for our personal benefit,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission recently announced the registration of two new political parties.
The parties are the Democratic Leadership Alliance and the Nigeria Democratic Congress, bringing the total number of registered political parties in Nigeria to 21.
The announcement was made by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, during the commission’s first quarterly consultative meeting with political party stakeholders for 2026.
According to him, the Democratic Leadership Alliance completed the required verification process, while the Nigeria Democratic Congress was registered in compliance with a Federal High Court order.
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