Create a path for me to walk

PUTTING one foot in front of the other is a basic skill that can help keep me healthy, but I need a space to express myself; to free my mind, to put my heart to work, to stretch my muscles, to break a sweat and to make me live actively as created by my maker… but you need to create a path for me to walk.

My place of work is only five kilometres away from where I stay. As an early bird, I desire to leisurely walk to my office, strapping my backpack to my shoulders and enjoying the early morning dew. I get on the road and the okadas, the marwas, the motor cars are all competing with me on the path I tread. I feel very vulnerable and keep looking over my shoulder so that none of these vehicles hit me. I am not protected from these metals, but I desire to get to my destination in one piece…why don’t you create a path for me to work?

The school closes. I am happy to go home with my friends. The lollipop man stops the cars and I move across to the other side of the road, heading to the bus stop. I struggle to walk between the deep open gutters to my left and the maddening vehicles to my right. I keep looking over my shoulders to ensure that these vehicles do not hit me. The Marwa driver bellows at me to get out of his way and I raise my hands to ask…but why don’t you create a path for me to walk?

My disability is not my greatest challenge. I want to be independent and do things by myself. I wheel myself unto the road and I get on to a crosswalk, to cross to the other side. The median stares at me and says I cannot cross. Someone lifts me with my wheelchair across the median. I get to the raised sidewalk and become helpless again because there is no ramp. Some random guy comes to my aid and pulls my chair up on the sidewalk and says, ” this is a tough life for you, eh”…why make my life tough, when you can create a ramp unto a path for me to move like others.?

I am enjoying my twilight years. My grandchildren all swarming all over me. Gran’pa, can we go on a stroll, says Mosope? I asked ‘Dunsi to get me the buggie, place my little angel, Anuoluwapo, in the buggie and strap her. ‘Dunsi holds Mosope by the hand and off we go on the street. I push the buggie, and suddenly I almost tripped as the buggy goes into a pothole. Gran’pa, Gran’pa, shouts ‘Dunsi, ” the buggie is falling” I struggle to keep my balance and hold tight to the handle. Look into the beautiful eyes of Anuoluwa, who cuddles up and sucks away at her pacifier. To make it easier for buggies, stroller, scooter, trolley to move freely, why don’t you create a proper path for them to move?

• Onabanjo is of Go-Forte Foundation