When God Pays The Rent

Here is an account of my adventure which tells of the importance of reaching out to people, connecting with them and speaking out when in need and despite not being a big fan of the city due to its expensiveness, I still found myself in the city but was able to speak out and connect with people who later helped me with accommodation which was a daunting challenge for a poor boy like me but he made it known to me with his benevolence that favour is God paying one’s house rent when you lack the financial capacity to secure one. And so he’s leasing out the apartment for me for free and here’s my story………..

I have not being a fan of Edinburgh-like-lifestyle considering the fact that things are pricey in cities coupled with bustles and hustles of waking up early to catch up with buses. it won’t be gleeful especially when you’re impecunious. It’s meant for the nabobs-people with grandiose modus vivendi. isn’t it?

While in camp a lot of corps members if not all prayed to be deployed to the state capital. They just didn’t want anything to do with villages and exurbs  But me? I like nature. And due to my austere lifestyle I  wished to be posted to a moshav-like area where the cost of living is eath.

The day of passing out of the camp was drawing near and near and this thought of ‘you’re going to the state capital’ kept recurring. Well, I just hope if at all it would be the capital, let the establishment be paying so as to match with my modus vivendi over there. It was the 8th of July and we had just matched past the representative of the state Governor in slow time. With our hands in salute as we match pass by. someone from our platoon was shouting I don’t know if it was actually the platoon leader or the platoon officer saying ” keep matching towards the multipurpose hall, to collect your “judgement letter”. Well, it was actually a judgement letter because upon reading through what’s inside the letter, some corps member will jump up in joy and while some will break down in tears. In fast and quick time, we all marched to the tree beside the multi purpose Hall to collect our deployment LETTER. The NYSC staff that would hand over each persons letter’s countenance was like .” Hmmn here it’s oo, accept it with fate oo” dropping down his shoulders with a sympathetic look. I collected mine and in bewilderment just as I had feared was posted to the state Capital. I was happy partly and that’s because of the you’re-lucky-feeling most people attached to those posted to the state’s capital and on the other hand I was disconsolate. I collected the letter and started looking for the bus that would convey me to my Place of primary assignment.  At that moment it occurred to one is sequestered. All my friends had been Separated and everybody is busy either looking for where he would see a bus going to his LOCAL GOVT. Or still BUSTLING to collect his posting LETTER.

The Christian fellowship house we arrived at thirty minutes later was a duplex that can comfortably accommodate up to twenty persons conveniently. Their executives had came to pick up corps members with the same faith affiliation at the camp and they were very hospitable. I had raised concerns on them not forgetting my luggage at the camp when the man I later knew to be the house vice president said a separate bus would pick up our bags and luggages and told us not to worry. And surprisingly, few moments after we arrived the fellowship house, the second batch of the corps members with our baggages arrived. Then my fear allayed. But then the thought of getting accommodation considering my economic situation remained another fear and problem to be mollified and solved. Well, I think I’ll consider staying here i told myself that’s if I couldn’t secure a cheap accommodation. We were then served a good food that was distinctively superior to that we’ve been offered,  for the past twenty one days. I mean rice and chicken that can fill an adult and not the EBA  with what corps Members call “watery melon soup” that will make you purge for days. Infact most corps members prefer not to eat their purgeable substandard served food that cannot fill a teen talk less of an adult in the morning for fear of falling out during parade to evacuate their bowels in the toilet.

While taking a nap in the house fellowship sitting room, my attention was drawn to a memo-like publication pasted to the left hand side of the  big room. Those clinching round the memo-like were somewhat astonished with the content but compelled to hold their sentiments to themselves- afterall we’re accommodated free of charge. I stood up and move closer to the paper pasted and I read through the fifteen rules slated for the occupants to abide  by accordingly. “I thought we’re done with regimental lifestyle?” I questioned myself. They’ve been good to us no doubt but it seems just like the camp, there are some rules you don’t query but abide with.

The thought “you need a house” emanates again and it kept recurring till I slept off. The next day, we’re to report to our various PLACES OF PRIMARY ASSIGNMENT for acceptance or rejection and from there to the LG for documentation. When I arrived the college I was posted to, a female corps member was already on sit being addressed by the college corps member coordinator. “Good morning sir” I greeted then patting the already seated corps member at the back. He looked up and said “welcome, pls relay all I have told you to him…”. NO ACCOMMODATION, no incentive apart from the FG allowance, no absentia from work except your CDS days said the female corps member. So should we accept you or reject you? Asked the C.M coordinator. I mull over it for some seconds and told him to accept me and he did.

At the LG I met some friends most of whom we’re in the same platoon then in camp and inquired them about their accommodation, most of their answers were yes and the prices they gave ranged from ninety to one hundred and twenty three thousand naira per annum.  “Please where can i buy this form” asked one of my fellow corps member friend whom just told me she got her apartment at one hundred and twenty one thousand I was shocked and momentarily didn’t know what to say.. finally I found my voice and said “God bless you, you tried”. “I have no choice” she said. I was about pointing the shop to her when the guy that sold the form to me walked pass us and I called him back. Then the guy said he overheard my discussion with the girl and said he can connect me with a man who could help me get a cheap house I thanked him and collected their (the boy’s and the said man) numbers.

I finished with the documentation at the LG and heeded back to the fellowship house to pick up my bag and thank them for the accommodation. Indeed I was grateful. I was about leaving the premises of the fellowship house when one of the executives, an emeritus corps member approached me and asked if I would be coming back or not. I told him I’m still looking for a cheap house to rent and if I’m able to secure one I wouldn’t be coming back and If wasnt, I would be coming back. Then he said there’s an ex-corps member that’s looking for who would buy his properties at a very cheap rate and even the house he stays is cheap ”you can stay there…” he told me. How much? I asked. I think it’s one hundred and five thousand naira. Ha! You see that’s too astronomical for someone collecting nineteen thousand eight hundred naira only per month. He said ehn.. it’s cheap o considering this location and guess what..? you won’t pay any agent fee again. Definitely I’m coming back to this house I said whimsically. No problem he said and pointed where I would get bus going to ibadan. Well, I’ll call the man whom qudus (the young guy at the LG) gave me his number. He could help me get a house of twenty four thousand and in two months I would complete the payment. That was my thought in the bus as the white painted eighteen seater bus was running along Ibadan, swerving left and right and left to avoid potholes. I slept off.

My parents and siblings received me in a joyous mood and my mom was happy I wore my khaki uniform back home so that all our neighbors could see a “corper” entering the doorway of our house. After the how-was-your-journey formalities, my dad asked if I had secured an accommodation. No! I replied instantly. God will do it he prayed.

I called the man qudus gave me his number later in the day and the man was more interested in the money than getting me a house or even showing me one. He sounded like a “419”. We concluded on if am back to the state capital he would show me.

Two weeks later, we were to report to our PPA for our clearance letter. And I decided I’ll seal all deals of accommodation that day. I arrived my PPA and after collecting the clearance letter from the corps member coordinator, I decided to call the man and inform him I’m in the state capital while walking with other corps members towards the college gate.

Hello sir I’m in the state capital now..

Ok.. he said I’m coming. Few moments later he called and asked if I’m with three thousand naira. Money for what you asked? I did also. Ehn.. the agents that will show you round…. their okada money and you will buy form also. Wait oo.. all this protocols for someone that’s looking for an affordable accommodation. I’m not with any money oo I retorted. Ehn…. I’ll call U back now I’m coming.. till date he never called back. This one broke die he would have said at the other end of the call after dropping the call. And who cares?

Disturbed by the news, I decided to sit by the old security man at the college gate to calm my head and think of what next to do. Can I sit down with you sir? I asked griefly. Sure you can. He said. Thank you and I took my sit. A thought sprung up and I asked myself what if this old man can help me get a cheap house?

Well, let me ask.. sir, do you know where I can get a cheap house rent close to this place?. The man started by telling me yes that there’s a three bedroom flat of his and one is vacant and I was like hmmn bedroom flat?. How much sir? He said ha.. my son it’s free o!. Astonished by what baba said, and i told him I don’t understand. He said he will get me an apartment free of charge! Wow this is favour! Then he told me the security company he works for built a three bedroom apartment for its workers and he as the chief security officer has his home nearby and one of the three bedroom is vacant. That vacant one was actually meant for baba but he has his house nearby and decided to lease it out

For me for free.

“God has given man life free of charge and he’s the owner of this world and whatever in it. So why shouldn’t I help a needy boy when I have the power. Pack your things in whenever you’re ready” the old man said.

I offered him money for cola he refused.

He has indented on my mind the need to speak out and connect with people jettisoning class and background with his sheer benevolence. 

–Tiamiyu Idris wrote via [email protected] from Ibadan. Oyo state.

Disclaimer: This article is entirely the opinion of the writer and does not represent the views of The Whistler.