My first time in one of the states in the North East of Nigeria. I’ve been to all the states of the Federation except Adamawa, Borno, Taraba and Yobe.
When I approached Damaturu the state capital on the 23rd of December 2023, for the National Musabaqah Competition I was full of excitement.
The road from Kano straight down was impressive, not like the potholes ridden roads in some parts of the South.
Let me not forget to mention the stop over at Azare, Bauchi State, where a “Borno” restaurant offered a unique set of menu, chief is Kukah (not the noise maker in Sokoto) but a unique soup with assorted pepper soup to go with.
Surprisingly everything goes for a Thousand Naira only.
Down south, the combine dishes would empty someone pocket.
I noticed check points but not as surplus as being painted by the media, few in distance locations compared to highways in the South South where every kilometre is littered with checkpoints.
THEIR WAY OF LIFE
Our hotel was not noisy but beautifully set out for standard accommodation. The attendants were males, but few Christian females.
Here, Islam walks on ten toes as we usually say, meaning you can feel and touch Islam as you walk the streets.
I was shocked to observe the naira notes in circulation here. Tattered and heavily pasted notes with cums, and were happily offered and accepted.
Nobody would accept them in Abuja and environs.
In the South, it would not only be rejected but you could be pelted with curses for offering it.
There’s trust everywhere, in the restaurants, tea kiosks and taxis.
I drank shai (tea) and the attendant said no change but I can return the next evening and drink more to round up the cost. “You can keep the money till I come back”, he rejected.
A perfume seller whose extraordinary trust impressed me had gone viral in just a day on my arrival.
I began to wonder if there was a state wide broadcast for the indigenes to show uncommon hospitalities to visitors arriving for the Musabaqah.
There was nothing of such. Just pure Islamic virtues governing their way of life.
I felt highly confident and proud to be a Muslim. It was like being close to the edge of paradise.
No one tries to take advantage of any of us the visitors, but would rather prefer to let go of the differences.
I couldn’t help but remember why the insurgents were against “Western” way of life, that have polluted the other part of the country, but were mis-quoted by the same western-allied media outlets as if they were against “western education”, tagging them BOKO HARAM.
It was only the day of the closing ceremony of the Musabaqah that I saw a lady jogging in the street towards the city centre on short wears.
It was a rare sight as females adorned themselves with hijab and Christian ladies go with trousers.
Someone said she must be a military personnel to muster such effontery in Damaturu.
I met a police officer of the bomb squad attached to the governor’s office, he happened to come from the South South and we struck a common bond instantly.
We talked and compared contemporary issues bordering on religion.
He readily admitted that most of the reports chunked out in the media were completely fabricated and sometimes a mere incident are blown out of proportion.
He agreed that CHURCHES are all over the town as against the believes that churches were burnt down and forbidden in Yobe State.
“Last Sunday I attended Morning mass in the cathedral,” he said.
We agreed that there are few unpleasant characters in Yobe, though, being the reason Force Headquarters posted him here.
He also related his interactions with the common people in town, how they treated him with kindness everywhere he goes.
“You have experienced Islam at close range, would you like to be a Muslim?” I offered.
“Chei oga! Make I think small small. True true, this church thing don tire person,” he said.
We exchanged contacts, he from Bayelsa and I from Akwa Ibom.
We knew that all the gists we related could not be found in our zone. The simplicity, honesty, trust to even strangers had grown wings and flown into the thin air in our zone.
Else I forget, POS were still charging Hundred Naira for Five Thousand Naira withdrawals within the same period of naira scarcity as compared to reports from Port Harcourt where the same amount goes for One Thousand Naira, and some charges above that to desperate travellers.
Many I heard, couldn’t travel out for Christmas.
During the closing ceremony, I shared next seat with a Local Government Chairman and he was very unassuming and friendly.
He said it was a pleasant day for him to meet a Muslim from the far South and was visibly happy when the overall winner of the 6th category, representing one of the South South States was announced.
GOODBYE TO YOBE STATE, INDEED A PRIDE OF THE SAHEL.
HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
