NIGERIA HAS HAPPENED!!
What a very sad, right thing to say!
On the morning of October 1st, all I wanted to do was eat hot rice and stew and then go to church for evening service and prayers. Independence used to really hit different when I was younger, and sometimes I find myself trapped in the memories of parade grounds, white- and green-painted faces, horseback riding in Kilimanjaro and speakers from long buses loudly blaring Funmi Adams’ “Nigeria, my beloved country”. One cultural day at my school, we were asked to bring flags to celebrate independence. While others bought the cotton flags on plastic, I made mine with cardboard paper and a cane. A teacher forcefully collected the cane from me and said: “Everybody bought their own; you, you made yours. Na you like Nigeria pass”.
I hated that man then, I don’t think I like him any better now.
While I used my thoughts about hot rice and stew to weed grasses around my house, twenty parents received calls that they should never have to receive in their lifetimes. Their children were travelling to NYSC camp in various states, and they were kidnapped.
What’s worse?
Bandits are asking for amounts that only governments have access to.
On Friday, there was still a swearing-in ceremony for the corps members who managed to get to the camp. It was obviously an “If you get to camp in one piece, good. If not, sort yourself out” case that played out. I thought about the parents of the children, to the immeasurable sadness that would befall everyone who knows them. I saw posts calling for fundraising for these people; I reposted some of them. I was in disarray.
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We all want to ignore the Elephant in the room, though, but it’s taking up space and one day, it will crush us into fine, flat powder. Since I am not like you, I will address the elephant!
“Is the NYSC still a relevant scheme in this day and age?”
“Are we equipping youths to die?”
Do not get me wrong, bandits kidnap and kill people in every area of the nation. I have posts about how grievous these killings have been and how the government is silent. What I am saying now is that these prospective corps members would not have been on the road if not for NYSC. And since it has been confirmed that they were going to camp, why has nobody come to their aid? Maybe even a post or something! What did we get, anyways? Nothing!
Maybe we should not be surprised…
While I apparently enjoyed celebrating independence as a little child, some families also wept that very day. For example, in 2009, when I was probably battling with a large cup of Happy Bite Ice cream, Grace Ushang was murdered in cold blood. She was also a corps member posted to Maiduguri, in Borno State. While in the process of reposting, she got into a row with a few people, was raped, and killed.
Nigeria, I actually hail you!
I actually, actually hail you!
Where else would I call home, if not for you?
