Femi Bamgbala, was, and is still my boss. Easy going. Humble. Honest. Dependable. Nice personality. God-fearing, I dare say among some other qualities that endeared him to me. He was among the big boys when we were enlisted as rookies. He was one that stood for the truth. And I loved him for his principles and truly missed him when he left the Federal Road Safety Corps over 15 years ago.
Today, I have chosen to remember my boss. Not because of his principles. Neither, his fine face or the truth he stood for. I remember him today for one lesson he shared with me sometime in 1999 when I got my first car; a Mercedes Benz 200. Gray colour. On that particular day, Oga Femi in company of some other senior officers was walking by my car when he stopped to examine the car.
After x-raying my car, he commended me for buying a clean car and equally gave me a pat on the back for using standard tyres which he said, testified to my status as spokesperson for the corps. Just as he was about leaving, he paused and then asked if I was married. I responded that I was hoping to tie the knot soon.
Just then, he threw a small banter at me and said, I will come inspect your car again after marriage to see if you will be able to afford a standard tyre. I smiled, complimented him and requested for his kind permission to proceed which in his usual calmness, he granted.
It is over 15 years since he threw the marriage joker at me. And it is over 21years that I have by the mercies of God remained married. Now that I am married, I understand the timeliness of oga Femi’s counsel which was meant to put me on guard. It was his way of guiding me on how marriage responsibilities could tweak safety priorities.
We he said those words, standard tyres were going for maybe less than N20,000; yet I was being commended for standing out in prioritising safety despite the fact that even with a “buoyant economy”, tyre abuse was still rampant. Contrast 1999 when he spoke to me and today.
The huge difference is too clear. Safety was cheaper then, because safety paraphernalia such as tyres were cheaper to procure. Today, the story is different because of the ongoing reforms by the government. To replace all four tyres now, you will need to cough out good money for your safety as well as to guard against the trouble called, “road Marshals”, according to some road users.
For the records, this piece is not about Oga Femi or any of my seniors such as Oga Yemi Omidigi, the solo master. Or Oga Wole Jatto, the philanthropist. Or even Oga Boboye Oyeyemi who ended up as corps marshal. Most of us will remember him for his workaholic driving antics.
One of his common work habits was to always schedule meetings late in the day. As a mark of his generosity and satisfaction on the assigned job, Oga Oyeyemi will order suya and drinks for all of us as refreshment before greasing our palms with some small change for transport. It was truly fun sitting for such meetings after the initial grumblings.
It was the tragic incident over the weekend that brought memories of Oga Femi’s counsel. I am talking about the recent tragedy that befell one of our leaders who lost a son in a road traffic crash said to have been caused by a trye burst. I know the incident is still fresh. But while expressing my condolences through this platform, I believe we all have a duty to play to ensure no one dies in a crash, less in one caused by tyre burst or wrong usage of tyre.
Although tyre burst is not my focus, let it be said that tyre burst could be as a result of high speed, faulty tyres, high temperatures, or old tyres. It happens when there is rapid loss of pressured air from the tyre. Tyre experts say it is caused when the structural integrity of a tyre is compromised and the tyre is unable to hold the air inside it. However, tyre pressure is the most common tyre burst causes.
In about 12days, we will enter the thick of the 2024 Ember month season. In my usual practice during this season, I wish to commence my weekly focus on specific safety issues that should interest the average traveller. My focus for this week is no doubt on tyres because of the yearly worry by the FRSC on the increasing cases of tyres burst and the need to address this.
The FRSC annual reports, indicate that tyre related crashes account for a significant percentage of causative factors behind recorded/reported road traffic crashes alongside tyre infractions. Aside the concern over tyres, the reports reveal that excessive speed which will form the focus of another piece, yearly account for about 54 percent with dangerous driving also listed.
Tyres are among the most important part of the vehicle but unfortunately, the least understood. Without the tyres, your vehicle is useless. You need the tyres to start, move and stop the vehicle.
So, buying tyres is a task you need to undertake very carefully otherwise your safety and that of other could be put in great danger. Before you buy any tyre, give serious consideration into the size of the tyre, the age of the tyre and the physical conditions of the tyre.
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