'The Dangerous Stream' By Adesina Ogunlana

There is a mystery stream in the “Compound B” of the Ikeja High Court. The stream in specific terms is located in the very slight depression between the stalls of law books and paraphernalia sellers and the entrance of the new repositioned court of Honourable Justice Kazeem Alogba. The mystery about this river does not lie in its source or emergence, even though it was suddenly one recent morning, that eyes opened only to find that a stream had sprouted up in that very place. The mystery, or at least one aspect of the mystery of this stream is that it is an on and off creature or better still, it is a week-day body of water. What I mean as this, from Monday to Friday, the stream, never more than eight feet long at the most could be clearly seen (albeit with a shudder) covering an area that cannot seat two cows comfortably. But on week ends, (Saturdays and Sundays) and up to 8.00a.m on Monday mornings, the stream disappears.
The other aspect of the mystery about this stream is that, even though it publicly and brazenly even, harbours colourful but deadly enemies of human beings such as cholera, alias ‘mass killer’, dysentery alias “tear stomach” typhoid a.k.a “the finisher” meningitis a.k.a “The stiffener” etc passersby, including supposedly learned folks march merrily even sometimes stamp over this deadly stream with little or no concern. How blind, even plain stupid human beings can get.

Worried about the existence of this very dangerous, little stream, I conducted an investigation as to its source and how it can be eradicated. This is what I discovered:- the stream is the creation of certain priests in the temples of justice located in the area. These priests are assistants of various categories of the Chief priests in these temples. These priests often go to some small rooms to off-load, after quaffing some liquids and eating some sacrifices in the line of duty.

When they off load, some of their rejects instead of going to oblivion in the depths of the earth, escape through some cracks in the conduit pipes and seep out onto the wide palms of the earth. These priests do not work or come to their temples on Saturdays and Sundays, hence the drying up of the stream on these two days!

This Monday morning, I am sure that our sight will again be assaulted with the greenish and brownish coloured stream. What can be done about this odious stream? One would have suggested that a ban on eating, drinking and “off-loading” while at work be placed on the gods responsible for the odious little stream, but then is it not true that to pass waste is human?
Thus the only viable solution is the immediate and adequate repair of the sewage system. If it is only shameful to see the excreta and other bodily wastes of priest, one might not have minded so much. But the presence of these odious matters in the open, as you all know is highly dangerous.

A temple of justice should not be turned into embassies to the cemetery. So let the employers of these priest (the Lagos State Judiciary) take action. Prompt, effective action. Cholera, typhoid, dysentery, meningitis etc are not the best of companies for men. So there!