THREE HUN’RUND!
SPAAARTA! What is your profession?
Flagrant Corper, assessing the state of affairs 300 days
since trading my Bus Pass for a wooden Danfo seat.
You know initially when they say it whizzes by, you overlook
their observation as mere ignorance but when I glance back (no Lot's wife) it
has gone quickly. I recall entering orientation camp as a young, somewhat naïve A je buta
boy not knowing what exactly to expect. Area boys, Okada & MOPOL have put
me through a baptism of fire with each harrowing encounter being a fresh
lesson. I've experienced, learnt and now shine eye better than most - I'm now
the aggressor but never the instigator – in my approach and reasoning when
dealing with challenges over here.
Surpassing Expectation
A lot of people are in disbelief that I've even managed to
stomach Nige for this long. From friends to family members, even strangers
applaud my efforts but I continue telling them I was already mentally psyched
for this. Just envisioned and prepped myself for the worst. Once you're able to
accept this, nothing can shake you. All my A je buttish peers drive lavish cars
to their luxurious workplaces whilst I endure the bus conductors unwashed
armpit in my face on the way to my industrial container of an office. I've
gritted and just got on with it and I'm more accustomed to the more adverse
side of Nigeria.
At 300, I stand as a man who feels more Nigerian than at any
point in my life. Lodged in Lagos I've discovered a deeper appreciation for
Yoruba culture. Despite the aggressive undertones, I love the poetic elements
and passionate delivery of indigenous speakers of the Yoruba language. If
Nigeria was the world, Yoruba would be the equivalent of English – I picked up
small still.
Unfortunately Igbo culture has failed to make an impact. It's not
like there's a shortage because Igbos are plague-like on this axis just that
their language, mannerism and behavioural tendencies have dithered behind their
outspoken counterparts.
Still woefully trying to acquire a more meaningful
understanding of my home tongue. Still find the ‘Pongs’, ‘Tongs’ and ‘Wongs’ more
of a comical jibe rather than something I desire to be fluent in but one day I'll
get there.
As you were
Some aspects are yet to change or improve. Silly
superstition and senseless beliefs still hold my country firmly by the nuts.
It's as if we refuse to believe unfortunate incidents are part of life – if
anything adverse occurs it's usually passed off as a spiritual undertaking.
We're still critically short-sighted and this is what prevents us from moving
forward. Long-term planning is deemed irrelevant – we're only interested in the
here and now and understandably so seeing as today's sacrifice for many, in a
poverty stricken nation, probably means dying.
The inequality gap continues
to widen, corruption remains absolute and now this new threat of terrorism
ravages the chances of Nigeria ever being great. It's through this NYSC service
me and my fellow youth aim to learn, grow and engineer change for the better but
reality will probably slap me and ask ’what's the point?'
