I alighted form the taxi I boarded at the entrance of the old building. I met with soldiers, policemen, Man O’ War, Civil Defense corps at the gate, for a moment I thought I was in the Boko Haram invaded Borno State. Why are all these security officials on duty here? I quizzed within myself. I found consolation in the writing on the signpost bearing “Welcome to NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Okada. I wanted to fortify my confidence of reading the original thing. I walked backward slowly to re-read the writing on the signpost when one the soldiers called out to me ‘kai yaro, you come for camping?’ Yes sir was my response. ‘And you dey waka slowly, your papa na oshimmole?’ no sir! This wasn’t getting funny anymore. ‘Oya fut ya bag for ya head otondo’ I suspected he was an Hausa Soldier, they usually used the ‘p’ sound interchangeably with ‘f’. I obeyed sharply to avoid stories that touch the heart. I started marching forward through the muddy path while trying hard not to mess up my legs. The same Army officer shouted at me ‘kai otondo why you dey dodge our potopoto? Common march am.’ Who born me well, I shouted ‘yes sir’. Off I marched till I got to the screening section, that was the second section. Two policewoman were there, they searched my bags and asked ‘do you have iron, razor, clipper or any sharp object in your bag?’ No ma, I answers. ‘Do you have condom?’ No ma (I wondered if she was expecting me to answer yes even if I had). Off to the next section I went. At section 3, I registered, collected a student sized mattress. The man registering us was short and slim. He was sweating in that cold weather and had cough. Jesus! I hope this is not #Ebola. Well, I got registered in 5 minutes or less. Wow! This registration is super fast I had believed the rumours that it takes eternity to register. I picked up my mattress which I won’t want to discuss because I don’t know how to describe it. I headed to my hostel only to meet the shock of my life, I closed my eyes and opened it. Is this a hostel or hovel? There were no doors, no window,the walls were uncememted; it looked more like a poultry than a hostel. Sure it is because I heard one soldier calling a corps member white fowl. Nevertheless I greeted my fellow fowls already settled in our pen. I arranged my luggages in my little corner. I locked my locker and headed straight to the main registration centre. At the main registration venue I met about 8 queues. Damn! I guess the rumours were no rumours, this will take eternity to get completed. I started the registration around 10 am and completed it around 11 pm, that’s not without special complements to my smartness and jumping of protocols at several points on the queue; at the end of the exercise I was very hungry having taken only tea in the morning. I headed to mami only to find soldiers chasing people out and shouting ‘If i find you here you’re wrong’. What will you have me do? I walked to my hostel, sorry poultry, laid down on my bed and dozed off very hungry. I ate fried rice and chicken in my dream and was still enjoying the food when the burgle blew with soldiers shouting ‘if I find you here in the next 5 minutes, you’re wrong.’ That’s so much 4 a first day already, dont you think so?
Posted on: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 08:32:55 +0000
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