Life, no doubt, is a coin with two sides. To some, it turns the good side full of fun, pleasure, plenty and splendor. To others, the opposite is their lot. The pathetic story of 68-year-old Mrs Kehinde Oseni confirms she is facing the other side of life characterized by pain, poverty, homelessness and helplessness.

If this looks or sounds strange to you, then consider the plight of Mrs Oseni, a casual worker at Lagos Island Local Government. Ironically, she lives inside an abandoned local council revenue bus popularly called danfo on Freeman street, Lagos Island. An indigene of Isale Eko, also known as Lagos Island where multi-billion naira business transactions go on everyday, it is indeed a contradiction to see in the midst of this plenty, ‘a daughter of the soil’ is not only homeless but has been abandoned by all to her cruel fate.

Hers is a life of woes and she appears already overwhelmed by them. She has obviously lost faith in life and only waiting for death to do its worse. Born into a family of 14 children, with four twins, Mrs Oseni is today the only survivor. The rest are dead. Widowed 14 years ago, she initially found solace in a church which housed her but was soon after ejected. From there, she moved into her family house but was later thrown out. With nowhere else to go, she has to move into a danfo bus abandoned on the street, which now serves as a home for her, her only surviving daughter and five grandchildren.

“My parents gave birth to 14 children and had four twins. I am a twin also but all are dead. I am the only survivor in my family. Before my husband and daughter died, we were living comfortably until death came and whisked her away after she gave birth to Mary. It seems death runs in my family”, she told Saturday Sun with fear written all over her.

A close look at the danfo shows that the two front seats of the vehicle-turned-home serve as beds for two members of the family while four other members cluster on mats spread on the floor of the bus and the booth compartment which also houses the dysfunctional engine of the vehicle is used as wardrobe with clothes scattered all over.

For her to tell her own story, Saturday Sun’s CHIZOBA OKENWA and LAWRENCE ENYOGHASU spent some time with her in her ‘apartment’ and spoke to her. Excerpts:

Who really are you?
My name is Mrs Kehinde Oseni. I am 68 years old. I am an indigene of Lagos State, Eko to be precise. My husband died in 2001 from sickness. The people you see here are my children and grandchildren: Tunde, Temilade, Sekinat, Mary, Musiliu and Sule. I have two daughters, but one is dead while the other is with me.

What killed her?
My first daughter died of complications from childbirth after she gave birth to Mary.
How did your problem start?

My problem started when a good Samaritan, the head pastor of my church, a Cherubim and Seraphim church, gave us a room to stay at Unity Road. The house belongs to the head pastor of my church.

She also gave rooms to different pastors, assigning one room to each pastor. One of the pastors whose name was Seun, I don’t know his surname, was the one that messed things up for us. He was given one room; he used another as a studio. He later rented two rooms to other tenants without the consent of the head pastor. He collected N190,000 as rent from tenants, rooms that didn’t belong to him.

In that area, there was this lawyer who knew the head pastor’s husband. The lawyer warned the man that there was imminent trouble in the house, a very big problem for him to handle which might lead to litigation. On that note, the man said we should pack out, all of us living in that house including the pastor.

I packed my load to 64, Bitrus Road here in Igbosere which was a family house. Some days later, some people from my husband’s family came and said that I should leave the house because it had been given to a developer to rebuild. I told them to give me time as another person had given me a land at Bariga and I had bought building materials for it and urged them to be patient with me. I bought some of the materials with the N60,000 I got from the monthly contribution among my peers at work.

The person, Mr Tunde that gave me the land said his brother who owns the land said no one should use the land until he came back from abroad before any construction will commence. I agreed and that was two years ago and the brother has not even come back.

What did you do with the materials you bought?
I had to sell the materials I bought for the construction at a lower price because the land was already generating dispute. I used the money to cater for my family and it has finished.

How come you sleep in a bus with your family ?
On Freeman Street where we live now, the bus was abandoned here for a long time and since I have no place to go, my daughter, grandchildren and I stay in this bus where they can sleep at night because there is little security around this area and the inhabitants are familiar with us.

What about your relatives?
My husband’s family abandoned me; they have not helped at all. Since my husband’s demise, his family has abandoned me.
What about your own family?

My parents gave birth to 14 children and had four twins. I am a twin also but all are dead. I am the only survivor in my family. Before my husband and daughter died, we were living comfortably until death came and whisked her away after she gave birth to Mary. It seems death runs in my family. I just don’t know what is happening. Even my late daughter’s husband’s business crumbled. It was last year December he saw Mary, his daughter and since then, we have not seen him since.

How do you feed yourself and your children?
For 10 years now, I have worked as a casual staff for the local government. So far, I have received little help from people, but with my daughter and grandchildren to take care of, it has not been easy. I wash plate to survive now. Anytime there is a party somewhere, I take my children and grandchildren there where we wash the plates and get paid. Sometimes, I earn N500 or N1000 depending on the occasion.

We get insulted most of the times but we are used to it now. I am just begging God to have mercy on my family because we are extremely suffering. My grandchildren are always scared when the night comes but I am used to it. It is not comfortable. Their friends mock them in school because we live in a danfo bus. I will like the government to help us because this situation has made me lose faith in humanity.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/what-a-life-2/

Touching Story.

Nobody deserves to sleep outside, especially a vulnerable old woman with kids.

Life is so tough, that nobody even thought about sparing a thought for the woman that lives in a Bus. What have we as humans, turned into?where are the churches?mosques?pastors?imams?Government(State/LGA)where is anybody with a milk of human kindness in them?

I am even humbled by the fact, that it took an Eastern Newspaper to report on what is happening to a Yoruba woman in Lagos. Where is the Punch?Tribune?and the Nation when you need them?

Hard-knock life

So sad...

when you think your problem is the greatest .......



wait




and hear the next person speak.....


then you will know that life has been fair to you

Stories that touch the heart... Its a pity

So bad

In oritshafemi voice : Mercy of thy lord come down for your children. Anu Oluwa sokale lawa omo re nbere.

What do you mean by eastern paper ? I beg no point there jare any media can carry the story. What if there is no one that call on the Yoruba papers you're casting nko ?

HungerBAD:
Touching Story.

Nobody deserves to sleep outside, especially a vulnerable old woman with kids.

Life is so tough, that nobody even thought about sparing a thought for the woman that lives in a Bus. What have we as humans, turned into?where are the churches?mosques?pastors?imams?Government(State/LGA)where is anybody with a milk of human kindness in them?

I am even humbled by the fact, that it took an Eastern Newspaper to report on what is happening to a Yoruba woman in Lagos. Where is the Punch?Tribune?and the Nation when you need them?

Mehn people are suffering

I think this forum should be contributing money to help people like this.

this is really sad

God bless me so I can be a blessing to people. How I wish I can travel to Lagos to evacuate them from dat bus into a good flat with furniture. So sorry ma. Help is coming

Please can somebody clarify me here. Her late daughter had one child (Mary) she had one surviving daughter and four other grand children? Who fathered the grand children? Where is their father? I hate it when people who are in need of help continue to make their matters worse. Why conceive and bring forth children when you can hardly take care of your own personal needs? A father who cannot provide for his own family is worse than an infidel!

Just waoh!!!

Her story is quite pathetic, what I don't understand is why she should be the one taking care of her daughter. Her daughter ought to be working to support whatever her mother is earning.

njideoby:
Please can somebody clarify me here. Her late daughter had one child (Mary) she had one surviving daughter and four other grand children? Who fathered the grand children? Where is their father? I hate it when people who are in need of help continue to make their matters worse. Why conceive and bring forth children when you can hardly take care of your own personal needs? A father who for his own family is worse than an infidel!

Most people will blame anyone or anything but themselves for their problems

I totally agree with you, I don't think she would be living like this had it been she had just mary and herself to feed, I wonder why she will take in her other daughter and her children from God knows where knowing her life condition.

Maybe it's a mother's love.

Hmnn

HungerBAD:
Touching Story.

Nobody deserves to sleep outside, especially a vulnerable old woman with kids.

Life is so tough, that nobody even thought about sparing a thought for the woman that lives in a Bus. What have we as humans, turned into?where are the churches?mosques?pastors?imams?Government(State/LGA)where is anybody with a milk of human kindness in them?

I am even humbled by the fact, that it took an Eastern Newspaper to report on what is happening to a Yoruba woman in Lagos. Where is the Punch?Tribune?and the Nation when you need them?

Ha! How do I get in touch with these people? With 100k they can be settled. There are cheap apartments in Bariga

O God!!b

What help did the eastern papers rendered to them after knowing their state of living?

Her story is truly a pathetic one,at her age she is suppose to be eating the fruit of her labour but it's the other way round.I just pray that God sends good samaritans her way, and yet you will see some money miss road lavishing money on unnecessary things. Nature has not been really fair to some.

LaraiBoluwaji:

Ha! How do I get in touch with these people? With 100k they can be settled. There are cheap apartments in Bariga

O God!!b

Well, it seems there's hope for 9ja then.

With young people like you & others here showing empathy.

Maybe we can all give a little help.

Hmmmm

AreaFada2:


Well, it seems there's hope for 9ja then.

With young people like you & others here showing empathy.

Maybe we can all give a little help.

My dear, there are many who want to help but are financially constrained. Some people go to malls and blow 200k, so how much is 100k or less to help these people?

It just tears my heart that we humans are so selfish. God knows I cannot in good conscience spend 650million on a house when there are many in need of a tiny fraction of that money.

I read somewhere today, in the book of proverbs where we are exhorted to be the voice of the voiceless; that true religion is helping those in need. Why do we store up riches for ourselves, when we shall return to dust and others will eat up those riches?

All I need is enough to get by on, then the rest is for people like mama. How I wish I can do something.

LaraiBoluwaji:

My dear, there are many who want to help but are financially constrained. Some people go to malls and blow 200k, so how much is 100k or less to help these people?

It just tears my heart that we humans are so selfish. God knows I cannot in good conscience spend 650million on a house when there are many in need of a tiny fraction of that money.

I read somewhere today, in the book of proverbs where we are exhorted to be the voice of the voiceless; that true religion is helping those in need. Why do we store up riches for ourselves, when we shall return to dust and others will eat up those riches?

All I need is enough to get by on, then the rest is for people like mama. How I wish I can do something.

The first step in doing something is having the will/desire to do so. You guys may already be doing more than you know.
I hope Tehns are following.
Oh yes, that reminds me of something outstanding Tehnswise.

AreaFada2:


The first step to doing something is having the will/desire to do so. You guys may already be doing more than you know.
I hope Tehns are following.
Oh yes, that reminds me of something outstanding Tehnswise.

What's that?

LaraiBoluwaji:

What's that?

Sorry dear. That was just a reminder for me.

Since you mentioned cheap accommodation in Bariga, would you know of cheap and clean accommodation for a young student?

Like self contained/miniflat or a room around Oshodi or Iyana Ipaja or somewhere within fairly easy commute to school in Ikeja?

Budget under 150k per annum. Thanks.

CC: Tehn

Such a sad story .. A house/shelter should be the least anyone should be deprived of..

The cold at night..
The rain..
The wind..

God, you just have to bless me to bless others, Amen..

Oh, some people are really suffering in this country.

Hmmm.

Sad situation.