NYSC-APRIL 18/BAUCHI 10: Is This
Nation Worth Dying for?
It was a
sunny Monday afternoon. Having had a great time at my place of primary
assignment I left for Alhaji Omar Hassan’s residence where I teach his
kids(it’s popularly called PP-Private
Paroll). Sooner than later I began to receive phone calls from house mates
asking of my whereabouts. I could not juxtapose the extremely calm town and its
warm people I used to know with the news of hostility and inhumanity that was
reaching me. In little or no time, I rushed out of my host’s residence to find
out that the roads have been deserted. So petrified and jittery, was I. At the
peak of my desperation to get to a safe haven, a man who has just moved his
family to the Army barracks, rescued me, a stranded stranger.
How can I
forget in a hurry how I fled for dear life from Zubuki village in Itas Gadau
local government in Bauchi after I was given free knocks on my head and
humiliated in my NYSC uniform at the polling station I was posted to as an
Independent National Electoral Commission ad-hoc staff and later rescued by a
God-sent motorcycle rider. Through it all I got to Bauchi at 11 o’clock at
night. Few hours after, the town was literally on fire. Bauchi LGA INEC office
was set ablaze, bon fires at major roundabouts, roads and even wanton
destruction of properties. The fear of these and unfavourable security reports
and rumours locked me behind walls and gates for 3 days and 2 nights. Hot,
consistent and persistent fear-propelled
prayers and intercession flowed ceaselessly from my heavy lips and
discombobulated mind.
How can I
also forget in a hurry how friends and acquaintances were sent to early graves
like poultry birds? The brilliant and visionary president of Banking and
Finance departmental body, Kehinde Adeniji who was my set in Adekunle Ajasin
University Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State. Our last moments at Gadau(where I was
posted for the elections)-we ate lafun(a local food made of cassava flour) and okro and stew prepared
in the same pot. He later gave me passport-sized photograph to deliver to
another friend of ours in Bauchi LGA. I passed the night in an adjacent room to
his, shared thoughts of our spectacular experiences and bade me farewell-and
that was his last. As for Ayotunde Ebenezer Gbenjo and Anslem Nkwazema our
paths crossed at Nigeria Christian Corpers Fellowship (NCCF). Ayo’s story is
very pathetic in the sense that he with some other corps members were rescued
from Tafawa Balewa LGA’s communal clash that claimed lives and properties and
even a corpers lodge. Yet death was
lurking around the corner and finally made away with him during post
presidential election crisis. As for the gentlemanly Anslem ran for safety into
a police station but was smoked out and butchered thereafter. Should I wake the
painful memory of the newly married and pregnant Gift Anyanwu who was badly
burnt and gave up the ghost days after
at the National Hospital Abuja.
Other lives
lost are Teidi Tosin Olawale, Okpokiri Obinna Michael, Adowei Elliot, Adewunmi
Seun Paul, Ukeoma IKechukwu Chibuzor and Akonyi Ibrahim Sule. I called this
politically motivated with religious colouring the height of man’s inhumanity
to man, although I expressed an unusual optimism in an interview with a
reporter with May 2011 edition of 234next online newspaper, which was attacked
by many readers. I captured my thoughts in the poem I titled ‘TRIBUTE TO OUR MARTYRS’(April 2011)
“With shouts and doubts I greeted
The phone call announcing your home call
Why do bad things happen to good people?
Are probably three decades of gain and pain, sweet and
sweat, favour
and labour,
thick and thin, ups and downs disappeared into thin air?
My mind replied me with full emptiness...
Dear Naija
why drink the blood and sweat of them who served you selflessly
Cover your face in shame ‘cos you gave them no defence
Oh! Your parents and loved ones longed to have you in
their waiting arms
But you have journeyed to the land of the quiet ones
You even returned home but ‘dead on arrival’
Oh! See corps members receive NYSC discharge
certificates
But your exit gave birth to death certificates
Ocean of hot tears from bleeding hearts
Has refused to wake you up
Then our hearts are made up
To live our lives on purpose
Impact lives of people
And serve God with sincerity and passion
We remove head-dresses
Cos your nation’s clarion call you heeded
We remove head-dresses
For these great leaders, visioners,bread-
winners,educationists,professionals,parents...
Who are gone into early graves
Courage and fortitude we ask you dear Comforter
Forever you are inscribed on our hearts
Good night! Good bye!! ”
NYSC is
compromised. A scheme that dances to the tune of the highly connected, mighty
and wealthy. Their children and wards serve in choice cities like Abuja, Lagos,
Kano as well as big companies or organizations while the other choice-less
corps members wallow in despicable conditions. Wicked employers absorb cheap
labour, some even serve ‘legislooters’ kolanuts during meetings at the National
Assembly(The Punch; Mar Fri9,Pg 16). What of those militants kidnap, even the
Osun ‘royal rape’, what of avoidable road accidents that claim some lives,etc.
Little wonder the acronym NYSC is sarcastically redefined as ‘Now Your
Suffering Commences’. What a compromised NYSC!It is a pity that the Gowon-conceived
NYSC paramilitary and unifying scheme has become a laughing stock. The BIG question is that-
has NYSC over stayed its welcome? Or considering its purpose/vision of national
integration, cultural cohesion, inter-tribal marriage, job opportunities to
mention but a few. Is it that it needs a complete repositioning?
A foundation
in their memory, sincere insurance scheme for any corps member who suffers any
kind of loss, being unmindful of the gestures of the FG-Donation of 5 million
naira to the families of the 10 slain corps members, automatic employment for a
sibling from each of the families, 2 million naira donation by Bauchi state
government, state burials and condolence speeches. Besides, the Brigadier
General Okorie-Affa led NYSC is saying corps members will now serve in four key
areas(education, agriculture, health, etc), a policy that is believed to be ill
timed. Also, there is tracking device for their security.
A year is
come and gone, I do not want to believe that a critical lesson learnt is that
you can perpetrate and sponsor evil and get away with it. What a nation! A
nation that turns a deaf ear to the yearnings of its citizenry. When will greed
for money, fame and power become a thing of the past in this corner of the
world? How I wish that those children tied to their mothers’ apron and fathers’
deep pockets wake up, face the realities of life and embrace hard work and shun
mediocrity. However, all thanks to the scheme for the scattered Hausa language
I speak, imparting knowledge and values into young Secondary School students of
ATBU International Secondary School, adventure to the northern part of Nigeria
but no thanks to the crisis for truncating my plan to visit Yankari Games
Reserves. A nation that eats its future destiny in the present is not worth a
drop of my blood(QED). Nevertheless, I believe in the Nigerian dream of the
emergence of a great nation. In Dr Tunde Bakare’s word “Nigeria will prosper in
my lifetime”.
OLUDOTUN ADESUA
Ex-Publicity
CDS President,Bauchi LGA
08060399540
dotunadesua@gmail.com
20
Ajibodu street, Karaole Estate,
Ifako
Ijaiye, Lagos.
