Chapter 21
A Narrow Escape
From Death!
"I opened the window for some fresh air. Along the way, I had thoughtlessly placed the stencils on the window ledge. Whereupon the usual Marina breeze gushed in and, before I knew it, all the stencils were already flying like kites out of the window, in all directions, down towards the nearby buildings and adjoining streets. I was appalled by the sudden turn of events."
Hazards exist everywhere, including work-places, even types with which danger would normally not be associated. That's how circumstances of the seemingly safest undertakings could lead to or inhere dangerous occurrences or possibilities. That was the sort of fate I almost suffered one day after I had been at sixes and sevens in the office as to how to dovetail my work on the day to accommodate my study programme. I was saddled with a typing load I must finish before I caught the 1.30 p.m. boat-ride from Marina to the Apapa-end so I could get to my school in time for an important afternoon test.
The time was 1.05 p.m. when I peeped through my tweltfh-Floor, Unity House, Marina office-window at the Ferry Terminal where the boat still lay at anchor. I had completed the typing on stencils and I was just about to roll them out on the stenciling machine. Since the central air-conditioners in my office were as usual, not functioning, I opened the window for some fresh air. Along the way, I had thoughtlessly placed the stencils on the window ledge. Whereupon the usual Marina breeze gushed in and, before I knew it, all the stencils were already flying like kites out of the window, in all directions, down towards the nearby buildings and adjoining streets. I was appalled by the sudden turn of events.
The stencils were seven vital pages of classified information that brooked no leakage! It was the customary yearly pre-budget Memorandum that M.A.N. sent to the Federal Government. Like a headless chicken, I flounced about down and up the stairs, unfocussed about how to retrieve the flying stencils from my 12th floor position! In that state of frenzy, I still peeped through a window to ascertain that the Apapa boat had not set sail. Then I rushed back to my office, picked up the original Memorandum and began re-typing… After five minutes, I noticed that time was already 25 minutes past one! Finally, I called my colleague, Mr. Fagbenro, to whom I explained my situation and he willingly consented to help. I sneaked out of the office and raced down the stair case toward the ground floor, not trusting or waiting for the lift. I was determined to catch the 1.30 p.m. ferry or else I would be delayed for another two hours and then miss the test!
I ran as if on wings across the Marina to the ferry gate as the boat began to drift off. With my face virtually distorted with anxiety, the cashier quickly issued me a ticket and I rushed out onto the Lagoon deck. I waved frantically to the Captain who sighted me and kindly reduced throttle to enable me jump into the boat across a strip of water!
Which Ferry? The one I landed in was the smaller Marina-Maroko boat; the Apapa ferry had broken down. Since it was the only boat on the two routes, the Captain decided to make it a Marina-Apapa-Maroko trip, thereby lifting the combined commuters at the same time. The result was over loading and the boat was already listing! As we sailed, you could see anxiety in all faces because most of us knew the boat was dangerously overloaded. In no time, the seawater was already overlapping into the boat and it began to sink slowly with the flooding. Many people had already removed their shoes; some, particularly the women, were crying; the majority however were busy bailing the water out.
I remained calm, although I thought that the end had come for me. About the middle of the lagoon, somebody screamed “Omiyalee” (the word, which was in current usage, developed from the Ogunpa flood disaster which claimed very many lives in Ibadan a few months earlier.) It was an awkward attempt to relieve tension but it turned out to be an expensive joke not funny in the circumstance, to draw laughter from the surrounding, agonized faces.
I looked steadily at the Captain's face, it gave no sign of hopelessness. So I decided quietly to rehearse the procedural use of the life-jacket as in an emergency. Even though I could not swim, yet I moved closer to the device so that I could grab the nearest one. I imagined myself wearing one and floating in the lagoon, flagging or flapping for rescue!
To compound our dangerous situation, a big ship was sailing in our path from the Apapa-end of the Dockyard towards the terminal. As we were navigating the same course, there was a possibility of collision. In that eventuality, our boat would be in danger. As it were, we were between the devil and the dee p blue sea!
At the critical moment, however, the ship slowed down for us to pass and in another harrowing minute, we landed safely at the Apapa quay!
I Left M.A.N.
In 1984, I left M.A.N. To join Ogilvy Benson , an adverting company located in Yaba. I worked directly for the Executive Director Adminstration (Ms Tola Olujobi). I did only one month at Ogilvy Benson before I joined another company, a multinational company, about which I cannot give further details here because I have the principle of not dwelling extensively on current occupations. This stand stems from the fact that one is never able to give a complete picture (which I am more interested in) of a current situation that is not concluded. So I prefer to write about companies or people or places I have ceased to have dealings with. In that way, I am able to give a fair and complete account of my relationship with such organisations and people. Unfortunately, some of my friends will be disappointed here and I do most sincerely apologise for this shortcoming. The subsequent revisions of this book will give a comprehensive and complete picture. Again, although this book would have been richer in content and wisdom, I think what I have narrated so far is enough for those who will make it in life if they learn to apply what we've already said and will still say here after.
Next Chapt. 22
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