Written by Pince Chidozie Okechukwu Nwachukwu
Tears
I shall not emit, because none of us will die any time soon…join me as I write this memoir of
my stay in Ekiti as a Corps member.
On Monday Nov.5, a vibrant young son of Elder & Mrs Nwachukwu
bounced into the camp site @ about 6pm. The NYSC scheme is such
that every graduate and undergraduate of Nigeria must long to
experience. Sharing my own experience right down is like listening
to an evergreen R&B song. My expectations towards the NYSC scheme
was not too high,and not too low, to avoid any disappointments.
I strolled into the camp site with my Blue sexy luggage, with two corps
members who boarded the same bus with me from Ojota axis of Lagos
state.
The journey had been a bumpy ride as the bus was not in a great
shape, I sat at the tail end of the bus, close to its side glass to get a
superb look of every cool and uncool stuff as we rolled on. Everything
seemed so cool, and God was moving with us as my heart longed heavenly
on what the NYSC scheme had to offer, several ex-corps members had
shared their experience, some were boring,others cool, but then I was so
eager to share my own experience and of course you are lucky to be
reading this today as I elucidate all I went through during my NYSC
days.
After about 2hours plus on the road, we had crossed the
popular Ibadan city and were headed towards Osun state. Getting to Ikire
side of Osun state, we had a flat tyre, as the driver was fixing the
issue, I went with a new friend, a graduate who was about to kick-off
his own NYSC experience, he was a Doctor, we walked into a restaurant
and treated ourselves with their cool delicacies, I ordered for some
wraps of fufu and two meat and one “kpomo”, after having my fill, we
headed to join the bus, after solving the problem of the tyre, the
journey continued, after another hour on the road, the driver refused to
stop when some FRSC marshals ordered him to, it was like the set of a
nigerian movie, as they chased us with their patrol van, after a while
our driver gave in,as we kept screaming for him not to kill us oo,we
were all dragged into their unfenced station somewhere in the heart of
Osun state.
Well, we spent another 2hours plus here, what a
journey?, we kicked off around 11am and up till 3pm we were still
stagnant. What a day?, what a way to kick-off the NYSC experience, but
then we kept apologising and we told the most senior present in the FRSC
post that we were newly mobilised corps members and headed for the Camp
site at Emure, but all our “begging” fell on deaf ears. I still
recall,one of our female corps members, placing some calls to some high
authorities, who ordered for our release immediately, na wa o, some
people get mouth oo..After the call,the driver dropped like two thousand
naira with them as we kicked off the journey.
It was getting
dark,but the driver assured us that he will drive us to the camp, that
we should not fret. Well, as promised he did, there were several
marshals all around stationed at the gate, I took my bag and headed for
the gate, my bag was searched and I later received a number that never
counted at the end as we got new numbers the next day.
Well, I had no
contra-bands as I had learnt prudently from others. I walked in and was
directed by one male NYSC official to follow one guy to the room, I and
my doctor friend followed the guy, as corps members that have arrived
before us were greeting the boy, a foolishness I thanked God I never
exhibited, as I later found out that the guy was the popular joker
“mimikolo or papilolo or something”..the room was A3, I took the low
bunk and made myself comfortable, some others arrived, later that night,
we introduced ourselves, then the long awaited sleep came, as I head my
money and phones in places you will never believe..*Smiles*..but very
safe..
Before the cock could crow (as we heard none), I had
opened my eyes, because the boys had woken up and where just making a
lot of noise, some had gone to take their morning bath, kai, it was
freeking cold, how will I take my bath, I just fetched a bucket of water
and waited patiently for the morning sun like I was awaiting a
saviour.
As the day broke, I saw a multitude of youths,
beautiful and handsome people, all moving around like confused jambites.
I already knew the drill as I had learnt from others, I recall seeing
some of my school mates, students of high potentials, students of
valour, Babcock university graduates of 2012(the Ruby graduating set),
we hugged, spoke and shared our experiences, just then all were summoned
to a hall, so as to begin our registration.
It was a real
struggle, as every one behaved like goats forming wisdom, I was calm and
calculated too. Initially, it was organised that we shall register
based on how we arrived, I was a bit relieved as I came timely, but then
as the announcer left, the whole thing turned downside up oo…Boys were
huzzling seats, kai, even girls were doing the “what a man can do a
woman can do it better” syndrome..Well, I held my side, it was a
struggle to the end, untill I got the best number ever…EK/12C/0247(
everyday and every week), I was a platoon 7 initiate, thank God I was
there cos,I met my Emeka(SUG) and Goodness(parade commander)..
Join me in the Part2 and 3 of this memoir and in the nearest future,My book on Efon and NYSC….
#Tatafoefon..