Even in a desert you find beauty
After the gate scrutiny of luggage, the toilet was on my mind. I tried to get all the necessities like bucket and food so i don’t have to go the distance to mami market/gate side. After the collection of bed, I and iyanu were assisted by the little boys who hang around to carry things for money. Looking at the hostel from a distance, it was more than i had expected. The buildings were modern structures and the rooms were spacious though eventually people loaded mine. I and Iyanu became bunk mates while our flow still remained superb.

There was a lot of noise and movements could be heard even though i was deeply asleep. Ife! wake up came the call by Iyanu’s fine voice. I could feel her tapping me i opened my eyes in a slow motion to see people dressing. ‘Oh na! we just got here last night, we are not among, we haven’t done our registration’. i said and slept back. The noise grew louder becoming unbearable so i sat up on my bed looking around for five (5) minutes before booting finally then i struggled to come down from my bed which was the up bunk. On getting down, i stared into my water for another three minutes then i decided i was supposed to go have my bath. On my way out of the room, i heard a whistle sound it multiplied and became very disturbing that i felt my ear drums would be badly affected. I kept walking to the bathroom till Commandant Beauty yelled at me in pidgin saying ‘you still dey go baff if i catch you ehn’. Then people started running i dropped my water at the entrance which happened to be my bunk side. I tried to change my clothing but the moment i tried to, i saw the female soldiers approaching and the way people ran got me lifting my legs and joining in the race. I got to realize i was with my small body towel and soap\sponge case. We were told to jog to the parade ground.
I was barely covered well. I turned my towel to muffler, when my bus people saw me they laughed at me. After that day I promised myself I would never be in that situation.

Through out the first week, I found myself trying to adjust to the whole Kebbi setting. The sun was extreme at noon. It felt like the sun penetrated my skin and created invisible holes it was more like my skin was burning and they never excused us the 4’o clock parade. Their food was an eye sore both the one given free and the mami market. The food usually lacked salt they substitute salt for sugar. I fell sick during the first week. I hardly took pictures as I was always in a foul mood. I never paid attention to the matching drills. Worst was that every morning after waking Nigeria, flies start perching around kissing the lips and adding to the already visible frustration. I was ever complaining and i was so eager to relocate.
Oh! I forgot to mention Kebbi’s rain is also very extreme with whirl wind blowing humans to the extent of bumping their heads on each other(the case of Iyanu and I).
During the second week, I had done a lot of talking to myself to enjoy the camp. I began to relate well and attend few platoon meetings which got me spotted by some executive members. They persuaded me into contesting for miss hot legs representing my platoon. Afterwards, the master of ceremony needed a co-anchor for our platoon presentation night and my conversation with him made him conclude i would be the one. I was terribly scared of facing two thousand (2000) plus people talking or cat walking but i kept my mind in the fun of doing the acts. So there was I feeling all nervous on my first public appearance. I tried to do my best and I think it went fine. There had been a Yetunde from the Lagos to Kebbi Journey. She was my bunk neighbor and my friend. She was I and Iyanu’s alarm. Yetunde would wake up as early as 3 a.m giving us no respite from the previous day activity. She also did not like to serve in Kebbi but like myself and Iyanu she started being positive.
The Lectures at either the pavilion or lecture hall was an opportunity to sleep the sleep we were denied. Sitting at the Pavilion three times or more in a day had an adverse effect on the butt. I began to get inclined with the food at Mami market as it was way better than the camp food. I, Iyanu and Yetunde had a particular spot for rice and noodles. Madam no hurry in life was our spot for eating jollof rice. Taiwo was also one of us. He also was in the same bus with us. Taiwo was and is a wonderful friend, after parade or lectures we will all assemble at the fly dominated Madam no hurry in life. He would come with his friends and we will all chill together. He always created time for us despite his busy networking business. Most times at Madam no hurry in life we were unable to finish our meal, the little Kebbi boys would deliberately clear our table just to feast on our leftovers. At Kebbi, i got to understand that the only thing that makes me different from those little ones is the blessing, grace and favor of God to have taken me to a good family. When we discovered they feed on our leftovers we started leaving the leftovers in a presentable state. After the pageantry i became a popular face which got a lot of attention from both sex. Before the Pageantry i was the model for my SAED Class the make up and gele tying class that had made me known among a set of female folk. Network was extremely poor before you could get a fairly good network for browsing or calling at times, you have to be seated at the top level of the Pavilion.
Wale’s presence was a good vibe for me, it made me feel i had my loved ones around despite the distance from home.

The third week of the orientation course, i still desired to relocate knowing that camp life would be totally different from leaving alone. Even though the deduction, i left the relocation in the hands of God telling Him to let His will be done. On my Platoon presentation night i co-anchored with Chris of Lagos State University (LASU). While our presentation was on, the presence of our state coordinator the  number one Corp member was recognized. From day one that i had seen him and heard him speak, i loved his personality. Alhaji Lawal Turawa was able to blend with the youths yet he showed he was a fatherly figure and an undoubtedly intelligent and humble man. His presence made my platoon members and I happy as that was the first time he graced a social activity. I was supposed to hype his presence just then, Atamma ( the anchor of all activities in camp) called his presence to the stage and the state coordinator called a male and female corp members and started giving their biography eventually, we got to understand it was an engagement ceremony. The state coordinator stated proudly that he is proud that in his camp love found it’s way and got them united. Meanwhile my platoon members were angry it had to be our night as we were cut short of our presentation. After that night, the phrase ‘missing rib’ became the trending words. I was also one of those whom paraded for the inter-platoon parade competition i wouldn’t have believed it if i was told in the first week.
My last night was my best night i had an hearty conversation with one of my friends.
The Passing out day held a lot of emotions. I knew i was going to miss Dakingari Orientation camp, i was going to miss the people i have met from diverse tribe, culture, language and religion. I was also going to miss the beautiful view of the sky which displays brilliant shinning stars in large amount appearing from a closer view. After the Parade which Iyanu participated in, it was time for the collection of posting letter. I waited for my number to be called but it was skipped that made me happy. I found my way to the administrative block and discovered i had been relocated and same applied to Yetunde, Iyanu and Wale. I was happy all my other friends got good posting and were even taken in two’s. After the whole revealing of posting it was time to bid farewell. It was quite emotional biding farewell to my other real G’s.

As i prayed in my heart and glanced round the camp for the last time taking short steps with Yetunde and Iyanu, I left my prints on the sand leaving the trail of my absence taking the memories with me….

 

From the desk of Mary Elebijo.