The okada man charged me extra for 'spiritual protection' and I paid it

My brother, I boarded one okada from Obiagu to New Haven last Tuesday. The fare wey we agree na ₦600. We reach halfway, this man just slow down near one pothole and turn to me. He said the road ahead get 'bad spirits' because of how many accidents happen there, so he need to add ₦200 for protection. I looked at this man. I asked him, protection from who? He said from the spirits. I said but you are the one driving, are you not the one that will protect us? He said no, the spirits no dey listen to driver, dem only dey listen to passenger wey pay extra.

Nwanne, I paid the ₦200. Not because I believe am. I paid because he had already started moving and I was already late for a counseling session with one young man who was going through serious depression. I sat on that okada thinking about how this country turns everything into business. Even spiritual attack don get price tag now. The thing about life is, we are so used to being charged for things we never asked for that we just pay and keep quiet. Our people say the goat wey run from lion will still pay for the grass wey e chop on the way.

I reached the church, the young man was waiting. He asked me why I looked like I just saw something. I told him an okada man sold me spiritual insurance for ₦200. He laughed so hard he forgot his own problem for five minutes. Maybe that was the protection I actually paid for. Have you ever paid for something ridiculous just because arguing would waste more time than the money?