Remembering my Bauchi NYSC days

Bauchi State became my second home because of the level of simplicity and the unparallel infrastructural development witnessed when this man was at the helm of affairs in the state. I visited the Government House on two occasions to enable me have access to the Governor but to no avail, until when one of his […]

Bauchi State became my second home because of the level of simplicity and the unparallel infrastructural development witnessed when this man was at the helm of affairs in the state. I visited the Government House on two occasions to enable me have access to the Governor but to no avail, until when one of his security personnel advised that I stay visibly by the gate of the Government House where the governor would be able to notice me when he is going out of the Government House . I did as advised, and as fate will have it, the governor came out of the gate and saw me waving at him in a Rankai dade fashion with my NYSC uniform. He ordered his convoy to stop and his aides made gestures towards me indicating that the governor was calling me. I couldn’t believe my luck as I stood by the window of his black jeep, but that confirmed what I have been hearing of common people having unfettered access to him. I never thought that the gesture could be extended to a non-indigene who was also a mere corper, but that was the vintage Ahmadu Muazu, the unusual Governor. He asked me my mission at the Government House and I simply said I came to pay homage to him because I had developed an admiration for his style of leadership. He instantly gave me an appointment to see him the following day. I met him in his office and my admiration for him quadrupled because he took his time to explain to me his mission in politics and assured me that by the time he leaves power, his people will be proud of the dividends of democracy at their backyard, and in my opinion he has exceeded the expectations of even his staunch supporters and critics alike. The Director of Press in the Government house gave me some pamphlets on the projects the governor had started embarking upon. Based on my research and the documents I got from government sources, the governor had tried his best to transform his state.

I remembered complaining to one of my Yoruba colleagues who also served with me in Bauchi on the issue of people attacking progressive politicians like Mu’azu. He said he detests politics and promised himself never to join political activities with the way some nonentities who are not possibly competent enough to vie for a councillorship position go all out to rubbish people who are making a difference. He reminded me that Barack Obama would not possibly have been a governor if he was a Nigerian because of our tendency to rubbish and malign the character of competent people who have excelled in their respective endeavours. Despite all the intimidation, name-calling and negative blackmail being meted to him up till today, not for once have I ever read or heard Mu’azu made any defamatory or derogatory statements against his successor as a person or his government or any other person for that matter. Indeed great minds discuss productive ventures not exhibiting petty grievances, pre-conceived negative mindsets and have contempt for political expediency.

I also find it ridiculous that the government of Goodluck Jonathan has not deemed it fit to utilize our public servants who have done exceptionally brilliant to the betterment of our dear country. Nigeria is the ultimate loser if we don’t put forward our first eleven in deciding the direction of the affairs of the nation. From the little interaction I had with Mu’azu while he was in power, this is someone who is bent on achieving no matter the odds stacked against him.

I write this article in the backdrop of the negative publicity the NYSC has garnered in Bauchi recently where the impression usually given is the governments in the state do not care about corpers. This is highly untrue. My NYSC experience in Bauchi is one I will continue to cherish for a long time.

Okoli writes from Prince & Princess Estate, Duboyi District, Abuja