BEFORE THE CAMP
On the 19th of October, 2010, when i got the Call-up letter with the state Taraba on it to report on Monday, the 25th of October, 2010. I received it with mixed emotions, both that of anxiety and also that of excitement.
After missing the first day of reporting to the camp, i was hoping to get to camp the next day which was 26th of October, 2010. I left my home weighing about 61kg/134.48pounds, i wondered what i was going to return with.
After an air trip from Lagos to Abuja to Yola, i finally touched down in Yola at 6:45pm. Alighting from the plane, I saw and shook hands with the Nigerian-born ex-England international football star John Fashanu who happened to be in the same flight with me. It was one of those opportunities i cherish as i would be greater than him by God's grace.
The deadline for reporting to camp was supposedly 12:00am, and as at 7:35pm, i was still at Yola airport, unfortunately, my destination was still 5 hours away due to bad roads and all sort. All hands were crossed, as i and 3 of my friends that we came together were anxiously waiting for the next big decision whether to risk our lives for the unknown road at that late hour, or risk it by sleeping over in Yola to depart for Taraba the next morning which might be more damaging. Any decision taken, both were of great risk, so we decided to sleep over.
The journey for Taraba state began at about 6am the next morning. Enroute Taraba, i saw ruralty to its core, mud houses that were slightly bigger than DMT mobile toilets. All the wayward animals we had to stop for so they could cross the road, ranging from Cows to Goats and then Birds, and another Goat, and Ducks. Imagine Sheep chillin at the road side. I saw a mini van crush a chicken. I saw Trees growing on Rocks. I saw kids walking miles before getting to school. I saw people spreading food stuffs like pepper and maize by the road side, wonder for who to buy?
THE ORIENTATION CAMP
We finally reached the camp on Wednesday, the 27th at 10:30am, after a long trip of 4hrs 30mins from Yola to Wukari, Taraba state.. Only God could measure the speedometer. They did a searching of our luggages at the gate for electronics, then the deputy governor of the state Alhaji Danladi came to the camp. All left was to register. Camp gave me a little scare when i saw someone who fainted from standing too long under the sun, and also heard of 3 girls who fainted. I also heard tales on how people got to the orientation camp from their different destinations. Some went from road to ferry on the sea, sometimes with their bus on the ferry itself. I remember someone saying the steering of their bus removed. All this inconveniences just because we want to serve our fatherland.
Settling on the camp wasn't easy, as i had to use money to charge my phone's battery. At 7:15pm, i had my first meal of the day, which happened to be my favourite dish which is Pounded Yam. At about 10pm, i had my bed and a temporary hall to sleep, which later became my permanent room throughout the 3 weeks at the camp with 39 people sleeping on the floor. What a stressful life we live on, leaving the comfort of our homes.
The next day, i had to wake up before 4am for the morning exercise, but based on the excuse i haven't collected my kits, i skipped the rigorous exercises, to the extent that i wished i went on like that throughout the remaining days, but that could only happen for another day of grace.
Eating the camp food was really difficult, i wondered what implications it might have on my health. Although i had no choice when i became broke.
I was so happy to hear that i would be coming home for about a month, as i had thought it would take me a year before seeing home again. I couldn't wait to see the very special person to me "Lawlah" before the time elapses. Unfortunately, she left before i could get home. I was really heart broken.
Due to the salah hoilday, we were released from the camp about 3 days short of the due date. Getting my posting letter and seeing GDJSS, Kungana, Bali, all that was on my mind was "where the hell is that"? As everyone was hoping for the capital Jalingo or the coldest region in the state, Gembu. My new task was to find out how far the place was. My platoon soldier gave me his view, my platoon officer also gave me his view, a trader friend of mine also gave me her view, one thing they all had in common was that they lied, as the average time they gave me was about 45 minutes, which we eventually took over 5 hours to get there, with our bus stopping on the road for a while. Only for us to reach the local government, Bali and getting myself dissapointed.
AFTER THE CAMP
The first thing i inquired was if there was electricity, and i got a NO, but there was a community generator which they put on at ridiculously short hours and sometimes at will. This was still a relief to me, only for me to find out that where i was was not my final destination, as i was still going to a village called KUNGANA. I had to see things for myself. Fortunately, the village was by the road side. On getting there, i noticed there was nothing like electricity poles or cables, by this, i knew there was no other choice but to endure. I was even lucky i came when they had just recently completed tarring the road.
I.N.E.C
After leaving home on the 2nd of January, 2011, INEC decided to use corp members for the Voters Registration Exercise, and i had the opporutnity of working in an inner village i never knew existed called Mallam Yero as Assistant Registration Officer /ARO 1 and was paired with a wonderful lady called "Uko Bridget Chima Uchechi" as my partner/ARO 2.
The hospitality of their village head, who is called 'Mai-Angwa' and his family was well appreciated and accepted by us. Language barrier was the major problem that existed between us. He was so humble that he'd bring us our meals personally. After about 3 weeks in the village from 18th of January, 2011 to 5th of February, 2011, our work elapsed and we had to vacate. But i left with the memories of the fall i had on a motorcycle on the 27th of January, 2011 from the village to a neighbouring village called Takalifiya on my way to print voters' cards.
The strange or rather extreme weather conditions of this region did not go unnoticed, as there was extreme cold in January and then changing overnight to extreme heat in early february. There's always a phrase i loved saying and i will never forget, "God bless INEC".
P.P.A
Strike actions by the public sectors of the state also played a major part in delaying the services to be rendered by we corp members in the state as schools were closed down until the latter part of february before they were reopened. It was then i discovered that people do not value education in the village, mostly the northern part in general, as farming is a more productive means of living to them, because it produces instant money to them when they need it.
The biggest news of the service year came in July that our allowance had been increased from the meagre =N=9,775 to =N=19,800 with some arrears added. This was a big news for me because my dad never sent me allowance except transport money throughout my service year, and a big news for us because the promise had been made long ago, and its was actually happening in our time.
SIGHTS AND SOUND
We all know about road traffic signs, from "slow down, children crossing" to "50km/hr" and so on, but in Taraba, i saw the traffic signs for "cows", with the cow drawing on it. In Taraba (north extensively), not only humans are entitled to the road any longer, we now have to share it with animals.
Also witnessed the Fulani people's way of marriage. The bride to be is paraded round the village under an umbrella with a veil over her eyes, while being escorted by her friends
If you've got an item for sale and you aint got money for a placard to inscribe "FOR SALE" on, just gather a bunch of green leaves and put on the particular item for sale, at least its done in Taraba.
The lowest point of my service year was when i heard one of my closest student i taught "Doko Aondofa" in my Place of Primary Assignment passed away on the 3rd of August. I was really touched to the extent that i wished tears could fall from my eyes. The last words i remember him saying before he travelled was "SE KWANA BIYU" in Hausa, meaning "TILL WE MEET AGAIN DAYS AFTER".
On the 9th of September, upon returning to Mallam Yero where i did my INEC registration, the motorcycle conveying me collided with an oncoming ram and slightly injured the rider, and i got my leg burnt by the silencer of the bike. The incident did not deter me from meeting those that made my previous stay a memorable one. Their reaction after seeing me made me think, "wherever you find yourself, try to leave smiles on people's faces so they'll have positive things to say about you when you're gone". Their king (Maiangwa) was so pleased that he gave me =N=500 when i was leaving.
The highest point of my service year was definitely when i won "Batch 'C' Corper (Male) of my local government, Bali. An award by my fellow corpers.
My Passing Out Parade was shifted backwards by 2 days to Tuesday, the 4th of October, 2011. Due to the alleged threat by the terrorist group Boko Haram, our discharge certificate was brought to the zone rather than we travelling to the state capital, Jalingo.
During my service year, towards the end, I met an another amazing person, Dupe Monsurat Oriyomi Lamidi. It was rather unfortunate i didn't get to know her earlier, months back. I'm definitely gonna miss her and everyone other person that made my stay a pleasurable one. Ranging from Juju, Chi, Elliot, Bright, Oga, Abideen, Chika, Tunde, Warri and a lot more i didn't mention.
I got the best send forth i could ever dream of, when i saw movies stars like Chika Ike whom i eventually chatted, Chinedu Ikedieze (Aki), Ebube Nwagbo and a few others on my way back home.
One thing i could be proud of is my versatility in nigerian languages, as i knew at least 3 words in the following languages (Hausa, Tchamba, Igbo, Tiv, Fulani, Ndola and Itchen). I also had the priviledge of relating with people from Idoma, Kaka, Manbilah and Karekare.
At the end of my service, i didn't really drop much pounds, i was virtually the same.
My service year was definitely remarkable. "Veni Vidi Vici". (I came, I saw, I conquered).
