The Wise Ones And The Foolish Ones (Putting the trend of cultism in perspective)
Dunnex Samuel
"Tayo, Tayo, Tayo, How many times did I call you?" His mother asked. Three times ma. She went further, "Now, that you're finally going to the university after two years of seeking admission, always remember the son of whom you are, remember the home you're coming from and don't join bad gangs. You should remember Professor Olumorin told us when we visited him that there are no cultists in Ife."
He interrupted shockingly with eyes wide open, "Really, is there any Nigerian university void of cultism?". She replied, "Yes, there is, Professor said that the students' union has stemmed cultism through several mechanisms. Hence, making Ife a dreaded zone for cultists." "Wow, that's really interesting" Tayo said. "Yes, it is o, Omo mi, can't you see God has prepared a safe way ahead for us" She replied. "But, mummy...I'll really like to also join the students' union when I resume".
She cuts in, "Shut Up there! Students' Union ko! Western Union ni! My friend you're going to school to face your book squarely and graduate on time, so you can get a good job." "But mummy, they fight for peace and freedom which are two values you cherish," He said. "Mr man, Let those who want to fight, do so. And those who choose to read only, Do so. remember Prof. told you to be the WISE ONE." "Okay ma," Tayo reluctantly grumbled. The conversation ended.
Three weeks later. Tayo has resumed. He could be seen in the company of his colleagues, laughing and gisting loudly as they moved through the faculty corridor. Suddenly, he saw some students gathered in a circle and it appeared they were having a serious discussion. Being a very inquisitive being, he left his clique and leaned further towards the direction of the group. Moving closer, he noticed how each person in the group articulated their analysis with confidence. He was stunned, but he concluded immediately that they must be stallites to have had such confidence to debate publicly, and that was no place for a bloody fresher like him. He took a step back and was about to leave.
But, suddenly, his hearing caught a mention of "Students' Union" in the discussion. That triggered his long-suppressed interest about the students' union and he jumped into the gathering immediately. The conversation got hotter and the crowd had begin to increase.
One of the students popularly known as Malcolm Y said, "Right to unionise is a fundamental human right so the university does not have any power to proscribe a union, if not, why haven't they proscribed ASUU and NASU since they also engage in protests that disrupt the school calendar."
Another student known as Kay Power cuts in, "No, such comparison is fallacious. Are you not aware that the university proscribed the union in the interest of students because of the violent and corrupt nature of the leaders."
Malcolm Y bursted into an uncontrollable laughter pointing fingers at Kay's face, he said, "Kay, you're funny sha, if corruption is the reason for proscription of the students' union, then the university management should have even been proscribed a long time ago". He added, "Or haven't you heard about the 5.6 billion Naira needs assessment fund story or is it the I.D card scandal. Oh, I see. Besides, students already impeached the corrupt and violent leadership, so why the proscription?"
At this point, the conversation got more heated. Tayo was deeply engrossed and felt more relaxed. He had already prepared his points, ready to burst into the conversation, but suddenly, he remembered his Mom's voice saying "BE THE WISE ON." Immediately, he withdrew from the group, taking some steps back, and dashed into thin air.
Many sessions later. Tayo was now a fully-grown university boy. As a part 3 student, he has learnt the unwritten rules and pattern of survival in Ife. He was familiar with the pattern. The pattern of trekking miles to a well or stream after prolonged days of water scarcity. The pattern of reading for tests and exams without power supply. The pattern of being harassed by security officers for not having an I.D card the university is yet to give. The pattern of waiting for hours to get transported to town and to spend a significant hour of the night hoping he does not get robbed/killed because a friend of his was killed in a robbery attack some months ago and all the Vice-chancellor said was that thieves should fear God. Also, the pattern of campus activists pacing the length and breadth of campus to sensitise students on the need to stand up and fight for themselves. But, he wasn't brothered. "At least, I am almost done with this school," he would say to himself. "I am the WISE ONE and they are the FOOLISH ONES."
Meanwhile, a new development had begun on campus. There have been rumours of cultism returning back to campus. Students have been talking about the porosity of the once-revered security in Great Ife. There have been cases of unchecked bullying and kidnapping on campus. The security department is always promising that they are on top of the situation, but nothing significant can be seen apart from the frequent arrest of student activists and harassment of female students for indecent dressing - as if dressing poses any security threat to the university, lol.
The rumoured rise of cultism became intense. It was the talk of campus. Many even considered it a baseless rumor. Different students had different views, and the arguments would go like this.
Wise One: This is OAU, such can't happen in OAU"
Foolish One: The question to ask is are these still the same set of conscious students with a radical union that cultists use to dread?
Foolish one: Leave that alone, what I just know is that there can't be any cult attack again on OAU campus. The university management has placed enough measures to stem cultism.
Foolish One: Security is a collective issue. How can you fight cultism without a radical students' union. Or is it not the students' union that stemmed cultism on campus. Are you even aware that a confirmed cultist was allocated bedspace in Awo hall during the last session. Med floor for that matter, at a time students spent hours at DSA pleading to get a regular floor.
This trend continued till... _May 3, 199X._ At _11:30pm:_ Tayo and his friend (beejay)
encountered some suspicious figures lurking in a dark part around the venue for the party. Beejay tried looking further into the dark direction to confirm the identities but he was welcomed with a hot slap. The figures had pounced on Beekay and beaten him to a noticeable mark before he was released. Tayo was shocked! He had never experienced such brutal audacity since his stay on campus so he decided to alert the student activists immediately, but, he remebered his mummy's advice. Be The Wise One.
Later that night. At 12:30am. It was reported that several students were attacked and brutally injured, leaving many with severe injuries.
Eventually. The rumour became proven. The abominable had happened. Fortunately, few students were able to apprehend some of the cultists. They were detained at the Moore Police Station only to be released after 48 hours. Once again, another rumour had begun. That the said group has threatened to retaliate. Once again, the wise ones and the foolish ones has come out to display their perspectives. They would say.
Wise One: That threat is an empty one, I am very confident that it isn't authentic.
Foolish one: Obviously, the authenticity of the message can't be verified but it doesn't mean it should be taken with levity since it took precedence already.
Wise one: The school is not taking it with levity. Can't you see the security measure has increased and I.D cards are now being checked.
Foolish one: So, what happened to I.D card falsification? What about students of the university who have I.D cards and belong to cult groups? What happened to the arrested cultists, why can't the university ensure that the police make them confess their other members?
This would go on...And on... And on. Till power went off...on the night of July 9.......... And on the morning of July 10
Five students dead. OAU 5; Malcolm Y and Four others were gone... Including Tayo (The wisest of all).
Then the story would begin. And we would realise that the wise ones were foolish. And the foolish ones were wise.
Dunnex Samuel; A Foolish student and the Chairman of the Great Ife Students' union action committee.
"Tayo, Tayo, Tayo, How many times did I call you?" His mother asked. Three times ma. She went further, "Now, that you're finally going to the university after two years of seeking admission, always remember the son of whom you are, remember the home you're coming from and don't join bad gangs. You should remember Professor Olumorin told us when we visited him that there are no cultists in Ife."
He interrupted shockingly with eyes wide open, "Really, is there any Nigerian university void of cultism?". She replied, "Yes, there is, Professor said that the students' union has stemmed cultism through several mechanisms. Hence, making Ife a dreaded zone for cultists." "Wow, that's really interesting" Tayo said. "Yes, it is o, Omo mi, can't you see God has prepared a safe way ahead for us" She replied. "But, mummy...I'll really like to also join the students' union when I resume".
She cuts in, "Shut Up there! Students' Union ko! Western Union ni! My friend you're going to school to face your book squarely and graduate on time, so you can get a good job." "But mummy, they fight for peace and freedom which are two values you cherish," He said. "Mr man, Let those who want to fight, do so. And those who choose to read only, Do so. remember Prof. told you to be the WISE ONE." "Okay ma," Tayo reluctantly grumbled. The conversation ended.
Three weeks later. Tayo has resumed. He could be seen in the company of his colleagues, laughing and gisting loudly as they moved through the faculty corridor. Suddenly, he saw some students gathered in a circle and it appeared they were having a serious discussion. Being a very inquisitive being, he left his clique and leaned further towards the direction of the group. Moving closer, he noticed how each person in the group articulated their analysis with confidence. He was stunned, but he concluded immediately that they must be stallites to have had such confidence to debate publicly, and that was no place for a bloody fresher like him. He took a step back and was about to leave.
But, suddenly, his hearing caught a mention of "Students' Union" in the discussion. That triggered his long-suppressed interest about the students' union and he jumped into the gathering immediately. The conversation got hotter and the crowd had begin to increase.
One of the students popularly known as Malcolm Y said, "Right to unionise is a fundamental human right so the university does not have any power to proscribe a union, if not, why haven't they proscribed ASUU and NASU since they also engage in protests that disrupt the school calendar."
Another student known as Kay Power cuts in, "No, such comparison is fallacious. Are you not aware that the university proscribed the union in the interest of students because of the violent and corrupt nature of the leaders."
Malcolm Y bursted into an uncontrollable laughter pointing fingers at Kay's face, he said, "Kay, you're funny sha, if corruption is the reason for proscription of the students' union, then the university management should have even been proscribed a long time ago". He added, "Or haven't you heard about the 5.6 billion Naira needs assessment fund story or is it the I.D card scandal. Oh, I see. Besides, students already impeached the corrupt and violent leadership, so why the proscription?"
At this point, the conversation got more heated. Tayo was deeply engrossed and felt more relaxed. He had already prepared his points, ready to burst into the conversation, but suddenly, he remembered his Mom's voice saying "BE THE WISE ON." Immediately, he withdrew from the group, taking some steps back, and dashed into thin air.
Many sessions later. Tayo was now a fully-grown university boy. As a part 3 student, he has learnt the unwritten rules and pattern of survival in Ife. He was familiar with the pattern. The pattern of trekking miles to a well or stream after prolonged days of water scarcity. The pattern of reading for tests and exams without power supply. The pattern of being harassed by security officers for not having an I.D card the university is yet to give. The pattern of waiting for hours to get transported to town and to spend a significant hour of the night hoping he does not get robbed/killed because a friend of his was killed in a robbery attack some months ago and all the Vice-chancellor said was that thieves should fear God. Also, the pattern of campus activists pacing the length and breadth of campus to sensitise students on the need to stand up and fight for themselves. But, he wasn't brothered. "At least, I am almost done with this school," he would say to himself. "I am the WISE ONE and they are the FOOLISH ONES."
Meanwhile, a new development had begun on campus. There have been rumours of cultism returning back to campus. Students have been talking about the porosity of the once-revered security in Great Ife. There have been cases of unchecked bullying and kidnapping on campus. The security department is always promising that they are on top of the situation, but nothing significant can be seen apart from the frequent arrest of student activists and harassment of female students for indecent dressing - as if dressing poses any security threat to the university, lol.
The rumoured rise of cultism became intense. It was the talk of campus. Many even considered it a baseless rumor. Different students had different views, and the arguments would go like this.
Wise One: This is OAU, such can't happen in OAU"
Foolish One: The question to ask is are these still the same set of conscious students with a radical union that cultists use to dread?
Foolish one: Leave that alone, what I just know is that there can't be any cult attack again on OAU campus. The university management has placed enough measures to stem cultism.
Foolish One: Security is a collective issue. How can you fight cultism without a radical students' union. Or is it not the students' union that stemmed cultism on campus. Are you even aware that a confirmed cultist was allocated bedspace in Awo hall during the last session. Med floor for that matter, at a time students spent hours at DSA pleading to get a regular floor.
This trend continued till... _May 3, 199X._ At _11:30pm:_ Tayo and his friend (beejay)
encountered some suspicious figures lurking in a dark part around the venue for the party. Beejay tried looking further into the dark direction to confirm the identities but he was welcomed with a hot slap. The figures had pounced on Beekay and beaten him to a noticeable mark before he was released. Tayo was shocked! He had never experienced such brutal audacity since his stay on campus so he decided to alert the student activists immediately, but, he remebered his mummy's advice. Be The Wise One.
Later that night. At 12:30am. It was reported that several students were attacked and brutally injured, leaving many with severe injuries.
Eventually. The rumour became proven. The abominable had happened. Fortunately, few students were able to apprehend some of the cultists. They were detained at the Moore Police Station only to be released after 48 hours. Once again, another rumour had begun. That the said group has threatened to retaliate. Once again, the wise ones and the foolish ones has come out to display their perspectives. They would say.
Wise One: That threat is an empty one, I am very confident that it isn't authentic.
Foolish one: Obviously, the authenticity of the message can't be verified but it doesn't mean it should be taken with levity since it took precedence already.
Wise one: The school is not taking it with levity. Can't you see the security measure has increased and I.D cards are now being checked.
Foolish one: So, what happened to I.D card falsification? What about students of the university who have I.D cards and belong to cult groups? What happened to the arrested cultists, why can't the university ensure that the police make them confess their other members?
This would go on...And on... And on. Till power went off...on the night of July 9.......... And on the morning of July 10
Five students dead. OAU 5; Malcolm Y and Four others were gone... Including Tayo (The wisest of all).
Then the story would begin. And we would realise that the wise ones were foolish. And the foolish ones were wise.
Dunnex Samuel; A Foolish student and the Chairman of the Great Ife Students' union action committee.
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