The sky looked misty as if it would rain but the weather stood still as picnickers munched the sumptuous meal to mark the Easter holiday. By 11 a.m., the recreation park located right inside the Lagos State Governors office, Alausa was filled with merry makers.For some months, the garden had been under rehabilitation while the adjacent park was left fallow with the entrances put under lock and key.The construction work at the park was concluded about three months ago and left open for the use of residents. Perhaps because of its closeness to the governors office, residents were reluctant to visit the place. They preferred to hang around other parks that had since formed beautiful border patterns in the secretariat.However, on Monday, hundreds of picnickers trooped into the field to celebrate Easter. It was a beautiful scene one would have loved to see everyday. The little children hurdled on the green grass while the adults stood in groups to relate the experiences of life.With food packed and set on the lawn, the picnickers, especially the energetic youths were ready to burn their energy. They danced, ran, ate and gulped various types of drinks till the picnic lasted. Besides the euphoria of Easter, it appeared that the park was a haven for lovers who normally hide under the flower.A stroll by Lagos Life around the park revealed vividly the comfort couples who patronised it enjoyed.The turf was tender to touch and cool to relax on. It is a nice place to be. I love it. It is cool, one of the picnickers, Miss Tola Kadri, said.She had come to the park with her fiancé, Tunbosun. According to her, one of the best ways to enjoy the long holidays is meeting new faces. She said, Today, I met my old friend. I do not know that she also stays in the same community, Alausa and we have not met.She told Lagos Life that she met Gloria, an old friend during the National Youth Service in Rivers State about four years ago. If I have not come around, I wouldnt have met Gloria. She is a good friend, Kadri explained.A woman, Mrs. Foluso Akande, described the atmosphere as an interesting one, saying she had brought some food to the garden to enjoy with her children. She said, We spent the last Easter holiday in the US with my husband. But this year, I could not travel because of the ongoing election. I decided to visit the garden with my kids. I have come here because of better security. It is right inside the governors office. Its a good development for Lagos. I know we are getting somewhere here.Her son, Segun Junior could not hide his excitement as he expressed great pleasure about the location.I just spoke with Dad and told him that we are enjoying ourselves in Nigeria. I told him that Im in Lagos governors office, he said.Segun explained that his father was surprised to hear that he was having fun at a garden located in the Lagos State Secretariat. I love this place, I will come back here on Sunday, he said.As fun went on, there were people who took the advantage to make money. Lagos Life observed that some people gave out mats to picnickers for rent, especially lovers who preferred to lie down. They claimed to be gardeners and they had numerous sizes of mats for rent at the rate of N200 each.One of them, who simply identified himself as Gbolahan and claimed to be a gardener, said that he rented out mats, especially during the rainy season when the turf is usually wet. Some of the people who come here will not like to sit on the wet grass, so I give them a mat at the rate of N200, he said.Asked how much he made daily, Gbolahan refused to disclose it but said that most people did not always hesitate to pay. He said, That is the only way we can augment our salary. We thank the government for this.According to one of the people who sat on the mat but refused to mention his name, the mat is good to take a nap. He said, I come around here to take a nap nothing more.Though he could not totally disagree that some love birds used the mat as a platform for some kinds of games, Gbolahan said that he never bothered to know how they used it in as much as they had paid him.They are adults. I dont give mat to kids. But I believe a responsible couple cannot play adult game in the public, he said.But to Godwin and Cynthia, who spoke to Lagos Life, rolling on the mat in the garden is not a big deal.They are lovers and they spoke with confidence that they enjoyed clutching each other anytime and anywhere. I can do whatever I like with my lover anywhere so far I do not commit any crime. I can kiss him here and lie on his chest right on the mat. I dont think I have committed any sin doing so, Cynthia said.
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