Meshack’s Drones (5): Posting Wahala

Now before you think this is a vent, or another unnecessary gist about dissatisfaction about national institutions and structures, just relax and be happy as you read my indifferent mindset about an inconsistent system and failures of national institutions. 

During my days at the Nigerian law school, the haze about the compulsory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) blew in and everyone was registering like it was rapture about to take place. I couldn’t be bothered because of a number of reasons I would be sharing and you would be a judge to whether I was right or wrong.

The NYSC has an online platform and a tweeter handle from which they disseminate information purported to have come from them. Up until this month, there have been clamors to scrap the institution because of the several security issues and how Corpers in the past have been used as pawns for ethnic struggles, religious fanaticism and maybe family rivalry. At inception, the intention was lofty: to get Nigerians to reintegrate. Inter-tribal marriages were fostered on this platform and a whole lot of other feats have been  achieved. So the argument that its purpose had been fulfilled was not in any way a wrong one. Nigerians have moved on to greater challenges that called for a different agenda and institution to carry it out. As much as I agreed with this, I couldn’t also discard the idea of the short military training, the networking options and inter-ethnic community that the NYSC stands for and has been beneficial to a whole lot of persons known and unknown.

So yes I have always looked forward to wear my Khaki, have a platoon, do endurance treks, meet new people, climb the ropes and snap that picture. But no, I never knew security would become such a problem to make some areas “un-go-able”. When the NYSC through its handle informed us of the new registration and posting process, I was happy. Not just about the fact that I could get to choose where I wanted to go, but also because for once, a national institution could come up with such an innovative idea that would check the concerns raised. The idea was on a first come first serve basis. So when a particular state got full, such state would not show on the prospective Corper’s registration page. This was how I got to choose Oyo, Kwara and Akwa Ibom states. Whilst everyone expressed their paranoia and every to me, I would calm them down with that phrase “we have chosen, they can’t send us to where we didn’t choose”. And when it happened, I was posted to Zamfara.

Fast forward the story to today, you can understand my shock, displeasure and sadness. Sad not just because I would thousands of miles from home, or that I am entering a zone where about 31 people were killed in July by the BH guys, but because once again I was fooled by the ardent belief in working national structures. I am disappointed again because I put in such unwavering faith in the process and hoped for nothing but what I had chosen, my Yola experience didn't teach me nothing. In that sadness comes some more level of expectancy though. I really want to see a changed Nigeria and I feel it is my opportunity to be that change. The first step like I said before is doing something extraordinary, allowing a little self inconvenience for the greater good. One thing is certain, dangers and risks never end and they are everywhere you turn no matter how you try to evade them. What good is it envisaging danger or scarcity or even irrelevance instead of unlocking the several juices and plans of positivity you can in search of a beautiful service year.

So here are somethings you can do when you find a place you are totally not satisfied with:

1.       Smile: do not frown your face, at least not so that anyone can see

2.       Check the date of resumption and know how long you have to make inquiries about the place

3.       Google, ask, and read about the place

4.       Check for hotels, malls, or tourist attractions in the state

5.       Know the cost of living in the state: accommodation, and feeding in choice areas

6.       Check to be sure there is a bible believing church in it, and take the contacts there, call them and introduce yourself and they would pray with you to take away your fears.

7.       Explore the redeployment option on the three available grounds: security, health or marriage.

These are the things I have done, and I think they can work for you! oh yeah and was I wrong to have been so at peace? Be the judge.