Tales of a corps member (Published in The Guardian, June 3rd, 2012)

Tales Of A Corps Member

by Folarin Samson

THE time was 3am. It was icy cold outside and the earth was still submerged in heavy darkness. Even the sharp chirping of the night crickets had thinned out. I was fast asleep in my room when a quick rap on my window rudely ruptured my rest. I froze and curled up on my mattress with a start.

I gently pried my eyes open with the back of my hand, still feeling sleepy and waiting to hear the owner of the hand speak. “Folarin, you no go wake up make we go fetch water,” a rough Benin voice called out. I recognised it immediately. It was Oboh, my CLO. He was a fairly tall, light complexioned corps member, who, in his school days, held sway as a keggite chief. He thrilled us with stories of how he shook his campus with gyration.

“See, the handle of the tap don break o and we go trek go Ugbodo to go fetch water,” he added sadly, his falling intonation betraying fear and transferring the same to me.

I caught it mid air. “The handle of the pumping tap has broken? My God!” Cold sweats seeped from my brow. Fear seized me. My head spinned. The pumping tap Oboh mentioned was the closest to us. How do we cope without it?

I could remember how the long iron rod, used as lever to pump the water, had worn out from frequent friction. We had hoped it would still be intact before we finish our service in three months’ time, to escape the hardship of travelling far in search of water. But that was not to be.

Our present decision to be going out to fetch water at midnight was to avert joining the army of villagers that besiege the tap in the daytime. And even at that, we would still meet villagers queuing to fetch water. Some of them slept at the tap despite the risk of being stung by scorpions.

Our situation was worsened by the dry season and to pump out water in the day could be a life threatening exercise. I once told a friend that the technology behind the tap was punitive.

And now, to think of Ugbodo as a substitute, as suggested by Oboh, was madness. Nothing else came to my mind than that. That place was hellish far.

I shuffled my feet to our little kitchen, to carry some of the buckets we would use to fetch the water. Ikupoluyi had joined us. Okwose was already ahead in his faded blue short sleeves, his grey fraying knickers dancing to the tune of the cool breeze. We were four, the remaining Batch B corps members.

MY eyes roved round the environment as we trudged on, side by side. Tangible darkness enveloped us as the moon slightly peeked out from its shade to gape on these daring corpers who have defied sleep to go in search of water. She smiled, bade us goodnight and slowly retreated into hiding. The stars winked at us with childlike shyness.

The road was completely deserted except for some huddled sheep lying on the road and staring vacantly at us. There was something sinister in their look that I hated.

It was the lone shimmering light in their eye, which bore wickedly into my fragile courage. It increased my heartbeat and I quickly looked away in fright. The sheep all rose as we approached. They want to fight? Jesus, help us. I marched on with faked courage. Then they scattered and made way for us, only to regroup later.

The torch from our phones came handy, as it shone with forceful intrusion a little metre ahead to announce the portholes and gallops before fading out. It was a long dreadful walk.

We headed for another tap by the dusty road that led to Abakaliki, the State capital, not Ugbodo again. We met two scantily dressed girls at the tap. I imagined what risk they had exposed themselves to by coming out at such ungodly hour of the night.

We didn’t talk to them because you never could even tell if they were not humans after all. When they were done, they left and vanished into the looming darkness.

We took our turn. Oboh pumped the water while I exchanged the buckets. Everything was distilled in silence except for the squeak and screech of the lever Oboh was belabouring.

Returning was hard. Each of us clutched tightly to two buckets. Torch in mouth; buckets in hand. The thin semi-circle iron rod that provided the handle etched sore lines on our fingers. We felt scalding pain.

At intervals, we stopped to relax, catch our breath and stretch our fingers. After the pain had ebbed, we continued our tottering in the cold night. My mind was, however, on how I would not be behind or ahead: two dangerous positions.

As safety precaution, I tried to keep pace with someone after making each stop.  Thankfully, we reached our lodge without any incidence.

THIS week, my one year of national youth service ends, together with many enterprising and adventurous stories like this. I took a look back and I saw no regrets. I couldn’t have served in a better place than Ebonyi.

I was one of those youths who almost influenced their state of deployment. But it just didn’t work out and I resigned to destiny, believing there was a purpose behind my deployment to Ebonyi, a state I reckoned not to be anywhere near my expectation in terms of resources and post-service opportunities.

True to my fear, though I studied Mass Communication, I was sent into an interior village to teach CRK of all subjects. I was disappointed and embarrassed. I could hardly share this with anyone when asked the subject I was teaching.

What good will I do the students’ intellectual capability teaching what they can ordinarily learn in their churches? I was worried although I did not show it. I just accepted as an obedient servant.

Soon enough, we got started and I saw it was fun teaching those boisterous youths about God. They enjoyed my classes and looked forward to it. But I was still not satisfied; their level of communication was poor.

The teachers seemed not to help matters, as they were constantly conversing with them in their vernacular. They found it convenient. Hence, my decision to begin a ‘Press Club’ where I taught as many of them who showed interests the basics of communication.

It was a chance to bring my communication skills into play and impart it in the young lads who appeared bemused many times I spoke on their assemblies during moral instructions.

Then, there were moments of sharing together, talking together and playing together. But I guess some of them took this for something else. I had heard of how corps members messed up with some of the female students in the past.

One in particular threw herself to me, coming to my room at 11pm for English coaching. Sho, what English will I be teaching at such time of the day? I understood the message clearly like a magician studying his crystal ball.

Being human, I almost fell for it. But on the second thought of my mission in the village, I withdrew and stylishly dismissed the poor girl. Several of such temptations came. This was probably one of my trying times at Ojiegbe.

The rural rugged outreaches offered the best opportunities to reach those the government might not even have oversight of due to distance. On such occasions, we would go with detergents, footwears, clothes, and other welfare packages to distribute freely to the villagers.

Doctors were also at hand to offer medical services to the old women and children some of whom were plagued with ailments fast draining life from their systems.

In such places, you’d find youths fast wasting away in vices, children suffering from malnutrition, men who had worked themselves out on their farms because the sustenance of their large families depended on it.  The people drank water from the same stream in which they bathed and washed their clothes.

It’s usually the most exciting moments spreading the good news of Jesus around those jungles singing, dancing and watching the excitement and gratitude on the pale faces of those villagers.

The truth is that not all of us will get state or federal awards and we are not driven by such trifles. Some of us went hungry throughout our service year, running around and borrowing to see to the completion of a project.

Some of us felt so concerned about the state of our communities, we willingly sacrificed our life’s savings to finance life-saving projects. The need is great.

Many of us have seen the enormity of the development challenges of the country where we served and have been shaken to the marrow. We are no longer the same. Despite the challenges and difficulties of environment, we still forged on.

Some of us had miraculous escaped from snake and scorpion bites. Some of us lived and served where there was no electric pole running through the roads. Some of us stayed where we needed to climb hills, trees and mountains to catch fluctuating telecommunication networks.

All these have made us to see the many sides of the mammoth called Nigeria. Nigeria is bigger than what many city minds conceive in the cocoon and comfort of their bedrooms!

MY first parting shot goes to the Federal Government, to treasure the youth of this country. Many times, we are being placated with the platitudinous refrain of being leaders of tomorrow and yet, the leaders of yesterday have refused to relinquish power to the leaders of tomorrow.

This probably explains why, as a nation, we have been living in the past and groping in the dark when the whole world keeps marching ahead in quantum leap. Please, give us space and let us bring freshness into governance and public administration.

It is also unfair for us to go through all these and get back home only to become redundant. We need to be rewarded with gainful employment. Some of us have caught the vision of a new Nigeria, and we need room for exploration.

My challenge to prospective corps members is to step out of their shells. There’s a lot of excitement and fun in the NYSC. There’s a lot of adventure in the uncharted lands of the interiors. Nigeria is bigger and wider than what you can read up in any geography text.

I wish to state that any Nigerian youth that refused, boycotted or bought his way out of the NYSC has missed a lifetime opportunity of making the investment that never depreciates, memories that never fades, and impact that is not soon forgotten. Because he only has lived who has done something for someone who can never repay him. That probably summarises the essence of the NYSC to my mind.

I will spare a word for parents and guardians who, out of genuine love and concern for the security of their wards, influence their postings to choice companies and towns. It may profit in the short run, but the trail does not wipe out easily.

Such youths don’t grow up to have a comprehensive knowledge of the diversity of the country and if by any twist of chance they find themselves in leadership tomorrow, they will make bad leaders.

It’s true tragedy strikes sometimes, but to generalise from such isolated cases will tantamount to irrational judgment and irrelevant conclusion. Let your children be, and leave them in the hands of your God if you truly believe He’s almighty.

The NYSC must hear this. Since its inception in 1973, many Nigerian graduates have passed through the scheme with varying degrees of experiences, fairy tales, sights and stories. Many of these have gone without being passed on to people who probably have not visited such places or seen such glorious sights.

This writer thought it would not be out of place if the NYSC could institute a project to annually compile and document the experiences of corps members from the 36 States of the federation. The stories will certainly make interesting reads and will help keep memories of corps members alive.

I tried doing this via social networking site, Facebook, but the time frame was just too short and I could not muster the human resources.

The NYSC should also pay attention to the security of corps members, especially those posted into the interiors. And allowee should be paid on time so corps members don’t become derelicts in their places of primary assignments. We had this challenge in my time.

But I have no regrets for serving my fatherland. It’s been full of fun. I will miss the animal community in Randa. The musical bleating of the black goats in my neighbourhood gives a poignant presence of nature. The ducklings with their human interactions, the dogs and their pranks and barks, the hen with their troublesome male counterparts, especially the games they play before mating. I enjoyed the scene whenever they played out like theatre.

I will miss Nigeria Christian Corpers Fellowship (NCCF) and the Deeper Life Corpers Fellowship (DLCF) for all the rural rugged evangelisms we went for touching the lives of those villagers.

I will miss my students at Nkaleke Achara Community Secondary School, Ojiegbe, especially my Press Club members. I will miss my colleagues in Randa: Stephen, Jo, Frank, Jawa, Samson, and Alfa Ibrahim.

I want to thank the good people of Ebonyi State for the salt they have added into the lives of thousands of those who have served in the state and the state coordinator in particular, Mr. Otaru Eshimakhe, for his fatherly disposition to all the corps members.

The state is blessed with such resources that can provide good exports for the country. The Federal Government will need to give serious attention to the nutritious Abakaliki rice and promote its consumption in the country.

Dear Nigerians, I have served! I look forward to opportunities for higher calling to national service. Aru go mi ya, I have served!

• Samson, outgoing Batch B corps member in Ebonyi State

08030572852/ childofdkingdom@gmail.comchildofdkingdom@gmail.com

NYSC: where is our allowee? (Published in The Nation, The Punch, The Guardian, Blueprint Newspapers)

NYSC: Where is our allowee?

Folarin Samson

It is high time the Federal Government looked into the unbearable delay in the payment of corps members’ monthly allowance. This trend is assuming a very dangerous proportion and corps members are not happy with it. Many are already threatening fire and brimstone. If the Federal Government is not aware, corps members across the federation under the auspices of National Association of Aggrieved Youth Corpers are planning to embark on strike actions which they termed ‘No Pay, No work’. It is unfortunate and shameful things have degenerated to this nauseating stage that corps members now think of strike. We have never had it so bad. The rumour is rife that there are people diverting the money into private accounts on fixed deposit. We want to know the truth.

Corps members in the country certainly deserve better treatment going by the pain many of us go through. Our uniform gives many of the people in our host communities the false impression we are living large. Some of them surcharge us for every small item we buy because we are government ‘pikin’ and yet, we are as hungry and angry as some of them are.

I want to appeal to the Director General of the NYSC, Brigadier Okorie-Affa to please use his good offices to urgently look into the matter. There was tension in the country sometime ago when the salary of the nation’s servicemen was delayed by just few days prompting the government to issue circular to calm frayed nerves. I wonder if we are not important too or our selfless national service is not valued for us to be treated with such shoddiness. And yet, we are not on salary, all we collect is allowance. We depend on this stipend not only for our upkeeps, as there are some of us who are also saddled with responsibilities from home.

I don’t want to believe the statement credited to coordinating minister of the economy Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala recently on Sahara Reporters has anything to do with this. The coordinating minister was quoted as saying Nigeria is cash strapped and can’t pay monthly allocations including NYSC allowance. That must be a big joke. The take home package of our senators and reps makes it a joke. The allocation for the President’s feeding allowances makes it a big joke. The billions of money being bandied with reckless abandon at the investigative committees set up to probe the various scandals make it a big joke. But we are not laughing at this cruel, wicked, sardonic, lugubrious joke. Only action, quick urgent action will save corps members from declaring "to thy tents oh Israel".

NYSC: Abuse of Nigerian Graduates (Published in This Day)

NYSC: Abuse of Nigerian Graduates?

By Folarin Samson

The NYSC scheme has been in the news for two major reasons this year. First was in the conduct of the April election in which the scheme provided the platform for the use of Nigerian graduates. The results of the election gained international applause and endorsement and the scheme largely shared in the credit. An African president even said Nigeria has opened their eyes to the usefulness of corps members and promised to take a cue from us in the future. Well said. Second was the hoopla subsequently generated from the harassments and assaults on some of the corps members in which ten of them tragically lost their lives. Many stakeholders understandably called for the scraping of the scheme but reason prevailed when many other respected Nigerians and the media especially canvassed for its continuity. We don’t have to cut off our nose to spite our face, they argued. However, an important issue emanated from the discourse which was the need for a review of the scheme.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu in particular took it to the floor of the National Assembly for consideration. It is instructive that another member of the Assembly, Senator Sahabi Yau and 33 others have reopened the discussion recently. I was a prospective corps member when the issue first came up and was privileged to make contributions including writing an open letter to Mr. President on the matter.  But now as a serving corps member seeing with an improved prism, I perceive important issues which the new director general of NYSC, General Nnamdi Okorie-Affia need to critically examine. This could help advance the primary objectives of the scheme. I see the need for some adjustments in programmes and policies especially as the ones presently in place seem tantamount to abusing the intelligence and integrity of Nigerian graduates.

To be candid, it appears there are states where youth corps members are not needed. Through audible and unmistakable actions these states do not attach much importance to the scheme and do not appreciate the efforts of corps members. They probably have excess workforce. In such states, corps members are rejected at their place of primary assignments.  In such places, corps members are not entitled to the usual state allowance approved by NYSC in lieu of accommodation. You will pardon me for not being specific here.

NYSC need to make its findings. In such states, youth corps members only roam the streets, idle because they have been rejected in several places. They end up wasting the one year of youth service not adding values to themselves let alone to the nation. NYSC is duty-bound to enquire from states if they really need the services of corps members and what number to forestall time wastage of Nigerian youths. It is an insult on me to show up where my service is presumed to be needed only to be turned back.

Worse still, some states not finding places to post corps members circulate them among private individuals who have link with government. Those saddled with the duty of posting corps members to their place of primary assignment make fortune selling to bidders and distributing them among their circles of friends and acolytes. It is therefore not surprising to find corps members at business centres doing some odd, degrading and disgusting jobs. Is that not an abuse of our graduates and an open scorn of their years of rigorous academic labour? The excuse of some states for putting corps members in questionable places is shortage of funds. If a state cannot accommodate corps members, is it compulsory it accepts a responsibility it cannot discharge?

The three weeks orientation programme also needs overhauling. As fascinating and educative as the camp activities are, some swindlers find their way into the camp to extort corps members albeit professionally and diplomatically. They do some motivational gymnastics laced with ideas of money making picked up from foreign books and in the end issue certificates of participation at a sum. They tell fake stories to impress listeners, their gleaming three-piece suit testifying to their mojo. Some simpletons usually fall for this sophistry for the single reason of upgrading their CV. But I wonder how NYSC permitted such people into the camp to hoodwink impressionable minds.

It’s unfortunate these speakers who parade themselves as representatives of their principals who head some nebulous consulting firms and professional institutes come talking about how to grab white collar jobs, implicitly discouraging the entrepreneurship spirit the organisers intend to inculcate into the corps members. NYSC shoots itself in the foot by planting these subversive elements with trained persuasive but delusive tongues. I should make a point clear here. It is good to listen to a motivational talk, but where the speaker has ulterior motive or is primarily motivated by despicable greed and pecuniary gains, then there is need for a check.

Some Nigerians have suggested the incorporation of some forms of defensive military training during the orientation programme. I wish to accentuate the essence of this point. In the prevailing condition of abject insecurity in the country plus Boko Haram unpredictable dastardly onslaught, such trainings come handy. When corps members are confronted with impossible situations where their lives are threatened, they can courageously switch either to the fight or flight mode. The ladies especially need training on how to fight rape, a malaise that is becoming endemic in the nation if recent media reports are anything to go by. The corps members that have been victims of rape would have fared better if well oriented. This means the orientation curriculum is not complete at the moment.  
It is also worthy of note that the uniform distributed to corps members in the camp is disgraceful and reproachful to say the least. The khaki wear is of two types. One is good and durable while the other is substandard and a single wash turns it into instant rag. The crested vest is also ticky-tacky. Youth corps members pay heavily to procure substitutes. One wonders to whom the federal government contracts the job of producing the wears for the NYSC. The individual or company is grossly incompetent and can be dubbed a cheat that deserves to be prosecuted for short-changing Nigerians except if the government is not paying its dues which is very doubtful.
•Folarin Samson is a serving corps member in Ebonyi State

Our government is notorious for preposterous spendings.

There is the most important issue of the lot. The NYSC needs to come out clear and tell the Nigerian public its policy on posting of Nigerian graduates. This year for instance, Lagos was unusually overcrowded to the point that NYSC was forced to issue an order that some graduates posted to Lagos should have their orientation programmes in certain designated states. What do we make of that? Struggle for the soul of Lagos? Insinuations are also rife that private tertiary institutions in the country get preferential postings. I have no grouse against people who seek relocation after being posted to troubled states or on grounds of health, marriage and other genuine reasons (It is however laughable how corps members desperate for redeployment feign mental problems, epilepsy, et al). But I am miffed at redeployment or influencing of posts for the sake of convenience and comfort.

How do you know your country well when all your life you’re restricted to the confine of your small state? What will be your world view, or is it national view, when in position of national leadership if your story begins and ends in one locale? While I don’t expect to attract a wide following on this sore note, I intend to drive it home to everyone that it is an issue we cannot continue to gloss over because it strikes at the heart of our corruption crisis.

Surprisingly, even religious institutions are divided over the moral and spiritual implications of such practice. My questions will however be better directed to the NYSC. What is NYSC stance on the issue? Does it try to check such partial and unethical practice? If a Nigerian graduate could decide where he wants to serve and no eye brow is raised, the liberality of choice may as well be extended to all; no discrimination. For instance, I would have rather chosen to serve in the luxurious office of Mr. President in Aso Rock villa and not the village school where I now find myself teaching some noisy youths. I’m not complaining. It’s good to see the other side of Nigeria and appreciate the depth of our national predicament.

As recommendations, I wish to admonish that influencing of posting on untenable and intangible grounds should be halted. The NYSC should use its discretion and the guiding lights of NYSC--national integration and cohesion, cultural appreciation and cross-fertilization of ideas--to decide where corps members serve. States having internal crisis should be tactically avoided without making any fuss or attracting media attention to such decision which could heat up the polity. Their indigenes could be sent to them to prevent a distracting lacuna. The NYSC should investigate the allegations raised here and find urgent answers to the questions posed for the future of the scheme.

The NYSC scheme is doing a lot for corps members, thanks to the visionary leadership of the past Director General, Brigadier General Maharazu Tsiga who was both a father and friend to all corps members. His travail and triumph in the critical moments of the April polls bespeak him as a colossus worth national celebration. Brigadier General Nnamdi has a great challenge ahead of him and on behalf of corps members nationwide, I pledge unalloyed support for his leadership.

The Deeper Life Massacre and the rest of us (Published in Sahara Reporters)

The Deeper Life Massacre And The Rest Of Us

Posted: August 12, 2012 - 14:08

By Folarin Samson

They were in church listening to the word of God. Three different districts converged on a location because the service was by satellite transmission. There was no premonition of danger as the atmosphere steeped in specious breath. Many of them just returned from their places of work and although fatigued, they still found time to be at the evening service.
A few who came late hurriedly sandwiched themselves into empty backseats to avoiding causing distractions. Their pastor was nearing the end of his life-streamed teaching, when there was a power cut. Many of them gasped, PHCN will not let them enjoy their Bible study. So, they thought. Suddenly, they heard confused shouts at the gate. “We are here to finish off all of you”, a husky voice hollered, impelling them to lie flat on the floor. Hails of bullets ricocheted the aisles and pews in a war fashion, riddling frightened bodies. Shrieks and growls in the throes of death with last-minute meditative spasms followed. Fresh hot blood gushed out from ruptured veins, splattering opened Bibles. It’s another murder in the cathedral. Dead silence. Forced eternity.

That may depict the sad fate of the twenty people who recently lost their lives in yet another gruesome onslaught by some “unidentified gun-men” whose mode of operation is not in doubt. Report has it that some of the worshippers who scuttled out searching for escape routes were apprehended and their throat slit in a bloody flash.  One can at best imagine the thoughts that ran through their minds in that deciding moment of their existence. Many of them must have been anguished by the irretrievable reality of being the next victim of Boko Haram.

The reaction so far has been less impressive as in past cases where top government officials perfunctorily visit the site of the murder with their entourage as if on a tourist stroll and dish out mindless condolences with empty threats and uninspiring promises. We are getting used to this ritual of enraging graveyard elocution which has continued to advertise failure of government in performing its primary constitutional duty of safeguarding lives. Sometimes to save their face, some rouges are paraded before television cameras typical of a circus show, we hear no more about it. In other climes, situations like this would have led to massive revolt that could topple an incumbent for repeated breach of the social contract bond. But Nigerians are the happiest people on earth just as the Global Peace Index tips us as the 6th most dangerous country in Africa, coming behind war-torn Somalia and Sudan. We are happy but insecure.

But everybody cannot be happy. The families of victims of Boko Haram’s numerous bloody blasts and booms cannot be happy. Christians in general who appear the prime target in this apocalypse cannot be happy. They now live in fear and suspicion that make worship a charade. The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as a body cannot be happy as evidenced by some of its critical releases in recent times.

A serious cause for concern however is the rather uncoordinated reaction of Christendom to these consistent attacks. Denominational and doctrinal differences which have often created wedge among religious leaders and invariably their teeming followers in the past have precluded a clear-cut, agreed solution. While a group thinks defensive and retaliatory might should be employed to repel the confrontations, another believes an eye for an eye will only make the world blind and hence says Christians should rather pray for the enemies; no fight back. A radical set dismisses both approaches as unintelligent and advices Christians to bear their cross fatefully and faithfully, because theirs is a fait accompli. Its end-time and things like these are bound to happen. In other words, Boko Haram can continue to enter churches and blast the pulpit and the pews unchallenged.

The time has come for our religious leaders to unite and speak with one voice. It is instructive that Jesus who commanded prayer for enemies, was the same who admonished his disciples to ward off avoidable attacks by getting swords. His noble intention became obvious when he rebuked Peter for cutting someone’s ear with it, including healing the victim. The same Scriptures that enjoin turning the right cheek after a first assault, shows Paul the Apostle challenging an unlawful slap. He was in a law court and his assault was a sign he had been convicted even when he had barely said anything. These are situations that if not put in proper context could warrant childish arguments and misinterpretations. The point here is that although the Bible preaches tolerance and good neighbourliness, it does not encourage foolish martyrdom. The end time does not make Christians sacrificial lambs. It is lack of discretion that predisposes some Christians to parochial sentiments in the face of danger. It is high time the Catholics and Protestants, Charismatics and Pentecostals, Evangelicals and Non-evangelicals formed a strong shield of solidarity and unity to crush this common enemy of their faith. A uniformed action plan of prayer and adequate security, with proper defense mechanism must be drafted for the security of people who leave the safety of their homes for church meetings.

However, it will be wrong to claim Christians are the only victims of the rising challenge of insecurity in the country. After the Deeper Life strike, report says the same killer gang stormed a mosque killing some security operatives around the area. A few Muslims that are perceived as liberals are attacked and killed.

The Boko Haram members certainly have a different interpretation of the injunction: “Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious...let there be no compulsion in religion: truth stands out clear from error” Al-Quran16:125; 2:256. This makes it important the Muslims not only join in condemning the terrorist group, but preach and pray against their continued existence. It is not unlikely some of these destructive elements attend some of the services and a continued denouncement of their infernal activities could break the spell on them.

Nigeria has never been this troubled. Many of our statesmen have now painfully submitted that the country is under siege. Aside the Boko Haram albatross, we have a president that is cumbered with an impeachment threat, underperforming armed forces, a divided country, corruption of unprecedented scales, a perceptibly incompetent cabinet and swelling opposition heat. The political climate is hotter than usual. An evil agenda is unraveling before our eyes. The government is failing the people and no one appears moved by the mere window dressing in economic apologetics and humdrum statistics that don’t translate to societal development. The finding that says Nigerians are the happiest people on earth may need to be reviewed if current realities mean anything to the researchers.

I urge the Federal Government to indeed implement the full, 24-hour surveillance of worship centres as directed by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Abubakar. The religious centres must also be vigilant. If there is any time the “Watch and pray” admonition should be cherished, it is now. Security is essential to worship hence watch and pray, and not pray and watch.

Folarin Samson
Abakaliki, Ebonyi State
childofdkingdom@gmail.com/ 08030572

Paradox of Religion (Published in The Punch 11/09/2012)

Paradox of Religion 

By Folarin Samson

I was listening to an FRCN lunch-hour show in which two clerics were guests, a Ustaz and a pastor. The subject was on religious conflict in the country. The atmosphere of the discussion was relaxed and gave the impression that Muslims were not at war with Christians and vice versa. There was unpretentious camaraderie in their tone as they both made their submissions, citing verses from their Holy books. Also, they were unanimous on one thing, that religion is not Nigeria’s problem. Instead, they averred, some disgruntled politicians are inciting restless and jobless youths to foment trouble in the country using the cloak of religion. The Boko Haram menace was a quick reference. That assertion is true on the face value. A deeper and closer look at our nightmares –corruption and recurrent violence- would show how perverted religious practice has damaged us as a nation. A sentimental approach will only blind our eyes to the solution to our problems and we’ll keep hunting shadows while the situation degenerates further.

It is first a paradox that Nigeria, considered the most religious country in the world, is also voted one of the most corrupt, crisis-prone nations on earth. It’s a disgrace to God. It beggars the question of the essence of religion. Religion is supposed to bind, not split. Religion is supposed to strengthen ethics and morality of society, not weaken them. It is supposed to correct societal ills, not perpetuate them. Religion should promote good neighbourliness and the sanctity of human lives, not bloodshed. These are the elusive ideals. Religion itself has been muddled up and now reeks of corruption and to say it is not a problem is to play the ostrich in a very bad situation.

Today, materialism sits on the pulpit of many assemblies with monstrous confidence. Many pastors are vain pursuers of wealth who shifted business after several failed adventures, with the hope of lining their pockets with God’s money. Their sermons are therefore pure motivational and psychological cook-ups that misinterpret God’s Word to fleece unsuspecting and impressionable members. New ways are continuously formulated to expand profit and not the kingdom of God. The new trend is schools. Those not satisfied with the tithes and offering of their members are floating schools run and established with their members’ money. Not too bad. But what annoys is that the children of these poor members don’t get to attend the schools because of their exorbitant school fees. So much for conscience and justice.  

Many of the corrupt political leaders are not pagans. They worship God in churches. They drop fat envelops during annual harvests and funds raising programmes. They take front seats on Sundays. And the man of God instead of telling them the truth that corruption is evil and will damn their soul in eternal hell, heaps undeserved encomium upon embezzlers and national criminals. The message for the day has to be changed and dedicated to a corruption laden worshipper drabbed in ostentatious regalia. Thieves steal and pay big tithes and nobody raises eye brows as long as the ministry is moving. No piercing message to rebuke them, it’s all fables and highfalutin lies. It is high time EFCC began investigating the pastors of convicted political thieves. Many pastors have a hand in our problems and lack the moral justification to criticize any politician when they can’t use the natural platform of their pulpit to preach and practice social justice. Few churches make exceptions.

Islam is one of the most organized religions in the world. Ever since the advent of the religion by Prophet Mohammed (SAW), many adherents have learnt to fear and respect their imams because they are God’s mouth piece. However, some men of questionable character are misusing this enormous religious power to undermine national security. Sometimes, it is the message of abuse and name calling of government functionaries, other times it is open attack of other religions and seditious, inflammatory remarks that completely fly in the face of the creed of the Holy Quran. Many of the religious violence in the North were presaged by religious convocations. One would have asked, ‘What preaching did they hear that suddenly filled them with murderous hate?’ And yet, the Islamic holy book says: “Invite (all) to the way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious...let there be no compulsion in religion: truth stands out clear from error” Al-Quran16:125; 2:256 so, something is wrong somewhere. When Boko Haram members attend Jummats, what preaching do they hear? Truth has taken permanent leave of the mouth of some imams because of pecuniary gains. Corrupt policemen sit comfortably under their sermons without being warned of the danger of collecting bribes on the highways, harassing poor citizens with state instruments. The strength of religion itself is its ability to compel obedience through the sanction of eternal punishment for wrong-doing.

It is true that there are men of reprobate minds who may not respond to the prodding sermons of their religious leaders. But the situation in which the country is presently calls for a reassessment of what the pulpit feeds the pews with. Religious leaders should know they wield a lot of power and influence that can be positively deployed for the good of society. They have a duty to God to preach the truth, and to society, to do the truth. Streets are flooded with religious centres and yet, nobody talks of supporting government work. How many religious centres care about orphans and widows? How many mosques are involved in humanitarian services? How many churches give scholarships and grants to poor members children? And yet, the Christian Bible says pure religion before God is to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and be pure, nothing else. But how often do we preach these? Where do the monies go? People need to begin to ask the right questions from their religious leaders.

One thing is still missing. We are quick to forget like the FRCN lunch-hour show that traditionalists are part of society, even older than Christianity and Islam as far as Nigeria is concerned. Nigerian writer, Femi Ademiluyi had wondered in his classic novel ‘The New Man’ whether the impunity we witness today will subsist if political office holders are made to swear with Ogun, the irascible god of iron or Amadioha, the unforgiving god of thunder. Only someone prepared to end up in the pool of his own blood will dare do that. But this is a modern society where such “fetish things” are disregarded. So, people don’t take God serious, because he is very patient and yet they forget in His anger, He once wiped out a whole generation in early biblical days. It is instructive that God himself knew things like this could happen and that his house could be hijacked by charlatans, hence He gave a useful hint: “For the time will come that judgement MUST begin at the house of God….”1 Peter 4:17.

NB: piece had earlier been published in February in The Nation and Compass Newspapers

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NYSC Rape: when the law is mocked (published in The Guardian Newspaper)

THE case of the alleged rape of a former corps member by an Osun monarch is taking a sickening dimension. The latest being the revelation by the victim on how the traditional ruler forcefully had carnal knowledge of her despite her cries. The detail is too horrid to capture. The high point of the proceeding was however when the counsel to the Oba, one Mr. Taofeek Tewogbade, threw caution to the wind and shamelessly asked the judge to permit him examine the injury sustained in the course of her struggle with the king. In other words, the tipsy lawyer wanted her to strip naked in the full glare of the court audience. Expectedly, the sanctity of the court was violated and the gravity of the offence at hand momentarily paled as the court erupted in uproarious laughter. But two people were not laughing. The girl, who was in tears at such humiliation of her womanhood; and the counsel to the prosecution, who swiftly countered the immoral request with commendable fury. The judge understandably rejected the obscene prayer of Tewogbade. The truth however is that such a cruel demand by a supposed learned legal practitioner who has a wife and children not only evinces a deliberate ploy to insult the intelligence of the court and frustrate the prosecution, it is also a slight on womanhood. It is a mockery of the ex-corps member’s courage to stand up to be counted for her right.

The ordeal of the ex-corps member Miss Helen Okpara, a 23-year old Abia State indigene, started when she was in the course of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Osun State early last year. She was teaching in a secondary school. The traditional ruler of the town, Oba Adebukola Alli, the Alowa of Ilowa in Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State sought her assistance in giving computer training to some of the villagers which Helen agreed to do in the spirit of offering community development service, a prerequisite of the NYSC scheme. The immoral king tricked her into following him into his house where he allegedly raped her. The girl was said to have sustained some bruises in the process of his forceful penetration. But Helen did not lick her wound in silence. She cried out and the NYSC responded and took up the case. Since the legal battle started last year, it has been a show of intrigues and gimmicks with the obvious intent of rubbishing the case.

In the earlier stage of the case, the community had raised a mammoth delegation led by its council of kingmakers to solicit the support of the state government. They were particularly apprehensive of a possible political undertone in the trial of their beloved king. They dismissed the rumour of dethronement and begged the Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration to throw in its weight behind them. When probably they could not get their wish, they pushed further. The Oba was said to be critically ill and needed urgent medical attention in the comfort of his palace. He was granted bail under the Justice Jide Falola’s ruling despite his counsel’s failure to produce a medical report to substantiate the claim.

Now that his royal highness is well enough to hunt some other girls, the table has been turned around and this dare-devil stranger has to be checked for attempting to spoil the good name of their king. It’s over a year since the evil deed was done and justice is being tampered with by sleight. She is being subjected to more emotional and psychological pain. Helen was said to have broken down in tears in court when the wicked request was made by Tewogbade. And this was after an earlier test had been conducted and tendered in court by a medical doctor. This was obviously calculated at festering her wound, disgracing her parents and by extension the entire family of the NYSC to which this writer belongs. That cannot be funny to any sane and cultured mind.

First, the hearing of this case has to be accelerated because of the afflicted girl. She had completed her youth service since July last year but the spectre of Ilowa still hunts her. The case has been adjourned to May 2, a long two months away. She cannot settle down in her home state because she has to show up anytime the case comes up for mention to bear the insults and cruel questions of some paid lawyers without conscience. Aside the danger of our bad roads, her presence in the court will stir up hostility among the people of the community together with probable threats and coersion. Also by now, some of her colleagues may have been working and probably married, but she cannot. Her names are everywhere in the papers and that not for a good reason.

She also needs the protection of the court. The judiciary will need to erect stiffer restrictions on how lawyers take the court for granted and make unwholesome requests targeted at insulting the intelligence of witnesses especially in sensitive cases like this. Section 228 of the Evidence Act which forbids provocative and insulting questioning of witnesses may be amended to compel heavy sanctions on such mindless contempt of court. When people get mock treatments like this despite a substantive medical report, many other victims of rape will prefer to keep quiet instead of aggravating their problems with undesirable publicity and ridicule.
The touching side of the story is the rather sad way the people of Ilowa have been desecrating the cultural values and ethos of the Yoruba nation by celebrating the atrocious conduct of their king. Gone are the days when such kings would not have only been deposed but also asked to open the charmed calabash as a sign of denouncement or commit suicide as punishment. A stranger came to your land to help your people, and instead of protecting her from her fears, you pounced on her and became the sly guard who was also the thieving demon. And all that the people of Ilowa could see in this tragedy of a king was political persecution, what a pity for their unborn generations.

The NYSC will do well to blacklist this community from its beneficiaries of corps members. Their shameful solidarity for the bad behaviour of their randy king shows the community is not safe for corps members. One is tempted to believe the people of Ilowa still think we live in the age when traditional rulers are presumed to be next to God and are seen as unquestionable and answerable to nobody. They are Kabiyesi with absolute authority who can claim anything that catches their fancy either by bargain or by brute. They must wake up from this illusion before being by-passed by the goodness of a modern society.

Finally, this case must not be aborted or frustrated by any out-of-court settlement. All corps members and indeed Nigerians are interested in it. The Brig-Gen Okorie-Affia led team must monitor all the processes as the case of Anthonia Okechukwu Okeke, another female corps member who three years after she was kidnapped has not been found is still pending. That case became messed up when the principal suspect after a short interrogation was let off the hook on a flimsy and faulty ground. The agonies of her traumatized parents have continued to echo in various media. The NYSC has a lot to do to prove it is capable of protecting the interest of corps members from all fronts.
•Samson is of the NYSC, Ebonyi State

NYSC kolanut servers and call to true national service (published in The Punch Newspaper)

It was in the news recently that some members of the National Youth Service Corps alleged being subjected to degrading tasks in the course of their national service in the National Assembly. Report has it that the only thing they do is to serve tea, kolanuts and confectionery during committee sessions and run errands for the lawmakers. They receive volleys of insults and rebuke, they further revealed, for making simple mistakes. It was all a tale of intellectual abuse and verbal bruise. The immediate reaction of the National Assembly’s Director of Information and Publications, Mr. Monima Daminabo, was that of non-challance as he swiftly dismissed the allegations for want of evidence. He believes the civil service is too disciplined and busy for such idle talks. An insider, however, revealed in confidence that corps members have nothing serious to do because the civil service in that realm is already saturated hence the only job they can best be assigned to do are those servile encumbrance.

The revelations from this episode should be of serious concern to every well-meaning Nigerian. It calls for an objective analysis of the condition corps members find themselves in their places of primary assignment. The first wisdom that can be gleamed from this incident is that corps members are many times posted to where their services are not required. So, where the organisation has no choice, the corps members are absorbed to be redundant. The NYSC is highly culpable for this repeated error. Secondly, it shows how corps members are regarded in many government establishments. If the lawmakers could watch as these youths serve kolanuts and sweets, then it speaks volume of the disdain and disrespect the ruling class has for the future of this nation. The implication for the latter is very grievous because it portends disaster for our future. No doubt, some of the corps members attached to the National Assembly would have some form of legal training. They had probably thought their privileged placement will give them exposure and experience in the tedious art of lawmaking. They also probably thought they would be eagerly accepted by the lawmakers since the campaign for youth empowerment was in full steam and this could also facilitate the gradual transfer of roles from the old generation to the new. Well, the National Assembly members had a different opinion of national service: serving tea, kola nut and sweets.

The last obvious thing to any discerning mind is that the NYSC is fast losing its relevance. What national integration or discipline is in serving kola nuts in the National Assembly? What cultural cohesion is in running around as an errand boy for a big man in a State House? How does posting of corps members to banks, oil companies, and private businesses justify the corporate objectives of the NYSC? This arguments favour the clamour for the scrapping of the scheme against the backdrop of the avoidable deaths of some corps members while busy serving Nigeria. President Goodluck Jonathan has however affirmed his commitment to the sustenance of the NYSC and is stepping up programmes for the security of corps members. The NYSC stays because Mr. President has spoken. What appears the general consensus now is a review to halt this human and intellectual waste. A review to strengthen the scheme and make it more productive.

Speaking on the review, the Minister for Youth Development, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said corps members would no longer be posted to some organisations because they unduly exploit them to provide cheap labour. The organisations don’t bother to employ people since they can always rely on their steady supply of corps members every year, which has resulted in increased unemployment in the country. Good step in the right direction. But the quick poser is where will the myriads of youths who queue up for the mandatory scheme serve? The civil service is ever saturated, coupled with the bureaucratic chaos of duplication of functions. So it is completely out of the question. I know of corps members who simply do nothing than sit and chat throughout working hours and at the end of each day, return home not adding values to themselves or the state of their service. A corps member I was told, turned an Okada rider in his state of deployment because he had nothing to do in the ministry he was posted to. The common case of rejection of corps members at their places of primary assignment is enough evidence of the inappropriateness of posting corps members to the civil service.

One basic challenge confronting the NYSC since its 38 years of existence is how to effectively mobilise the many graduates of Nigerian higher institutions for the actualisation of its mandate. Thankfully, the Federal Government recently approved a new policy direction for the scheme that will refocus it on four key sectors: rural health, education, infrastructure and agriculture. The place of sincerity in pursuing these outlined development needs cannot be overemphasised. As a corps member serving in the interior of Ebonyi, one of the least developed states in the country, I agree that rural community is where to go. This is where you find schools without teachers because even indigenes don’t want to teach or live in the village. This is where you find hospitals without doctors because many doctors cannot imagine treating poor patients who cannot afford their medical bills. This is where you find people living in abject poverty because even their children have abandoned them for city pleasures. This is where you find young boys and girls with potential yet wasting away in teenage vices because of lack of proper orientation.

But arising from this great need is the grave concern for security. To gloss over this and proceed with rural deployment is to invite the wrath of parents and guardians of prospective corps members. It is heart-warming that Mr. President again recently launched a project that will help in tracking the movements of corps members and make help available when the need arises. We can hope for more of such laudable projects. However, a review of the NYSC to reflect the demand for geo-political zone posting may also allay the fears of many stakeholders. This could foster the envisaged rural postings of corps members for national development without attracting public outcry. Where traditional institutions exist, corps members may be handed over to community rulers and elders who will personally account for their safety.

Nigerian youths also need proper orientation. The NYSC is not forever. One year of selfless service offered in hard condition makes Nigeria a better place for those coming behind. So, the issue of influencing of postings on flimsy grounds should be discouraged and the Brigadier General Okorie-Affa led team has a big work to do in this regard. The NYSC itself needs to be restructured and equipped to answer to the repressed cry for help of those in the forgotten interiors. Places that can only see the glorious light of urbanisation and development when strangers visit and make inputs. The Federal Government needs to set up facilities to stimulate interest in these places and encourage enterprising and visionary youths to troop there with renewed vigour and commitment to national service. National service not induced by the urge to satisfy the criterion for securing appointment in a dream organisation, but genuine love for fatherland, for Nigeria.

•Folarin, a serving corps member in Ebonyi State, wrote in via childofdkingdom@gmail.com, 08030572852