Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 3
We ran the race in batches of fifty persons, male
and female. I came back the fifth position in my
batch. Running had never been an issue for me, I
grew up in the Village so hunting games in the
forest had prepared me for the race, the only
difference was that here I was running on plane
and smooth terrain as we ran round the
circumference of the Barracks.
Upon arrival, our names and details were
recorded in a hard cover note book, the names of
the first ten persons were recorded while others
were declared disqualified instantly and were
advised to leave the barracks immediately. We
were then taken inside the Gymnasium for push-
ups and sit-up exercises. I did well in all the
physical exercises while more Persons were
disqualified.
At the end of the day, forty of us qualified from
all the batches and were eligible for medical test
the next day. I could not go home that day
because we had to report at the military hospital
early in the morning with our early morning urine
and sample of our feces, this was to be
collected before we taste anything in the
morning.
I knew my Mother would be very worried at my
absence from the house and I also knew that
Baba Miko would have questions to answer. I
had never slept outside the House in all my
growing up life. Mama at this stage did not know
of my plans to join the Army. I wanted it to be a
surprise to her, I knew she would oppose the
idea but Bab Miko had encouraged me to go all
the way as there was nothing to lose if I fail, he
also told me that I had to take certain decisions
as a man without seeking my Mother’s opinion.
After four days at Ede barracks, I was among
the Fifteen Boys and two girls of Osun state
Origin that were short listed for the 1990
Nigerian Army recruitment exercise. We were to
gather together in two weeks at the Barracks
from where we would be driven to Zaria for a
nine months training at the “Land of no going
back.”
I went back home and went straight to the
building site to meet Baba Miko but was shocked
to see my Mother seated at a corner with
swollen face, she had her scarf tied to her waist
and she was bare footed. Immediately she saw
me, she stood up and started walking away.
Oya! Oya! Just be going with your Mother like
that! Baba Miko said: pointing at my Mother’s
direction.
I knew better than say anything or apologizing to
Baba Miko at that moment because I knew what
my Mother must have put him through.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
It was a herculean task convincing my Mother to
let me go to Zaria for the recruitment exercise,
whenever I remember the drama that ensued in
the house on the day I finally left Esa-Odo to
meet our contingent at Ede, I weep. A mother’s
love for her Child is pure. Mother and Son wept
inconsolably, Villagers were gathered to see me
off as well as proffer several pieces of advice.
The Villagers kept singing into my head “Ma
gbagbe Iya e o!” do not forget your Mother o! Of
course I am all she had lived for, how can I
possibly forget her? I have no other person in the
world but her, we lived for each other, but I
needed to go and see the bigger world outside
my Cocoon.
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