Dear Random Person....

Random person: Where are you from? (I have even heard "are you from where?")
Me: Adamawa
Random person:   Ah, you are Atiku's sister.
Me: *straight face*

Random person: Where are you from?
Me: Adamawa State
Random person: Ah, I hope Boko Haram has not reached your people?
Me: *fake smile* No, they have not, we are fine.

Me: ..........(says something about church or bible)
Random person: Haáhn, are you Christian?
Me: Yes
Random Person: But you are Hawusa now......
Me: Arrrrggggghhhhhh!!!!

        Dear Random person,  Yes, I am from the North and shocking as this may sound to you, I am Bachama from Lamurde LGA and not "Hawusa". My ''brother'' Atiku is Fulani from Jada LGA. You see, there are over 80 ethnic groups in the 21 local government areas of Adamawa state.  Yes; there are. And each has its distinct historical and cultural heritage.

There are two major religions in my state. Christianity and Islam. You see why there really is no point being oh, so surprised that your Northern Hawusa 'friend' is a baptized, 'kabashing', spirit filled Christian?

Let me tell you more about my state....

Do you know that ''the state generally is characterized by many rivers with River Benue as the major one whose source is from the highlands of the Cameroon and flows southwards to join the River Niger?''......Errrr, keep that quote aside biko, the river flows through Numan town and you can clearly see where it meets our local river but they don't mix. Really amazing. You should come see.

Adamawa is home to 3 Universities (Federal, State and Private), 2 polytechnics (Federal and State), a Nursing school, a minor seminary, a school of legal studies, a Federal Government Girls' College, a Zoo, an international airport, Banks and more.

You do know that Yola is the state capital of Adamawa right?

Moving on.... 

Adamawa is also home to Sukur Hill, a UNESCO accredited world heritage site (I have never been there), it is also home to The Three Sisters Rock in Song LGA (never been there) The Koma Hills (never been there either), Gumpti park (you know na), Gorobi Rock ( I should visit one of these places soon) and lots more.

Yes, I am sad that all you see are sad photos from the boko haram menace. Just type 'Adamawa' on any search engine and you will be flooded with these gory photos. This is what my Adamawa is known for now. Really sad.

I want the Adamawa I used to be eager to visit for Christmas vacation. I remember how by the 18th of December my siblings and I would begin to arrange our boxes and if by the 22nd the oga at the top (aka Daddy) hasn't said anything concerning our journey, we'd begin to move our bags to the corridors.....And he begins to get the message.

It was always great going to Adamawa back then. So imagine my pain when on my last trip home,  about 3 persons asked ''why are you going where everyone is running from?''  I just smiled and said because it is home. That smile was genuine. Genuine and sad. Truly said.

Adamawa, the land of beauty, I still prefer to call it the Sunshine state.....

When did we get here? Where is the beauty?

I pray for Adamawa, my Adamawa. I pray we find the beauty once more. 

I pray we find the sunshine once more.

I pray we find peace. 

Again.

Peace to the North East.....