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“AGONY OF A CASTRATED MAN” A NOVEL WRITTEN BY IFEDIORANMA N.C NWOKOCHA

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SYNOPSIS “Agony of a castrated man" is a story about Chukwuemeka in his quest to obtain knowledge in the university and in the end, improve the living standard of his people. Indeed, as he got the admission to study Chemistry at the University, he was seriously warned by an ex-student never to challenge any lecturer, that a challenge to any lecturer is a challenge to all in the school, as they operate like networks. Chukwuemeka, soon forgot it and wrangled words with a lecturer unbeknownst to him. Undoubtedly, he was full of wisdom, knowledge and understanding more than any his contemporaries. And if his academic performance from the first day at primary school to secondary was anything to go by, he was a first-class material by all standards. And that was his ambition and mission at the time of his admission. However, after the first-semester examination, he failed woefully. He was dumbfounded and confused. The failure continued as he went on repeating several courses each year till he entered third-year, notwithstanding his great efforts. But he cried and cried in agony. This, nevertheless, turned him into activism, fighting for the oppressed and suppressed course-mates of his in the class. The department noted him for this and vowed to deal with him seriously. Eventually, they graduated him with a gentleman’s certificate. To this end, he concluded that he had been castrated because the power to move forward in life or be what he wanted to be had been destroyed. Consequently, he nicknamed the school “University of Calamity” and the department, “Department of Charlatans.”

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DEDICATION

I dedicate this novel to my God, the Author and Finisher of my faith, who gave me the wisdom, knowledge and understanding to craft this story.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I thank Mrs. Obiageli Muodebelu (PhD), who first read this book after writing it, and then, gave me encouragement.

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CHAPTER ONE Chukwuemeka Okechukwu had been in a pensive mood for over three weeks running. This was as a result of not getting his Joint Matriculation Examination (JME) result, which would make him to gain admission into the university if he passed. He was unable to eat and sleep very well as a result. Many of his friends, both at his country home and in Calabar, where he was residing presently had all got theirs. Some passed and some others could not meet the cut off mark. Emeka could not imagine why his own was yet to come out, as Universities had started reopening for a new session after a long holiday. Two weeks had gone; Emeka had not set eyes on his JME result like others. Tears coursed down his eyes profusely. “So, it means I’ll stay again at home for another full year,” Chukwuemeka lamented thoughtfully. He continued: “Doing what? Preparing for another Joint Admission and Matriculation Examination, JME? Oh, I’m finished! How can a brilliant chap like me who’d shown a good scholarship since my inception at school from primary be writing JME every year? Is this caused by me? All these people who had made it, are they better than me? Why is my own different? What might have caused Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB to withhold my result? Unshakably, I believe that there was no examination malpractice in my centre. But if there was, though oblivious to me, one of my friends’ results wouldn’t have been released. “Who among my friends at home will ever believe me that my JME result was not released? They’ll all think that I’m feigning. Indeed, I’ll no longer command respect where they are. They’ll all say after all, if I’m intelligent, why didn’t I make it in the first attempt. And now that all of them have entered university I’m still crawling. O this is another hope betrayed!” As he was lamenting and thinking himself out, his brother who was working in Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, came in; he was greatly astonished to see his younger brother in that pensive mood with tears watering down his cheeks in great abundance. He immediately thought that perhaps an awful thing had happened at home, and they had sent a message to them from home. In a quick succession, he began to ask, “What’s amiss? What’s amiss? Is any of our parents dead?” 5

Emeka broke his silence. “It’s because of the non-release of my JME result. How could it be possible that all other people who sat for the examination at the same time with me had got theirs and my own withheld?” “Is that why you’re crying like a baby and thinking yourself to the grave?” said his elder brother Ndubuishi. “O yes, brother! I’m tired of writing JME. I can’t withstand the stress again.” “How many times have you written it? And don’t worry yourself any longer again! There should be nothing to fear anymore. Behold your JME result!” He brought it out from one of his trousers’ pocket and handed it over to him. Instantly, tears disappeared from Emeka’s eyes as joy, at last, enveloped him. Nevertheless, the happiness that greeted the seeing the result had not waned down as he had relapsed into shedding of tears in a higher dimension. This was against the backdrop of his result not being impressive. He got English Language 60, Biology 62, Chemistry 64 and Physics 62 totaling 248. He had thought it deeply that there was no way he could meet up the cutoff mark for Medicine and Surgery, as admission is categorically based on quota-system and catchment areas. However, his brother reprimanded him for such silly behaviour. Without mincing words he told him that he must change his course of study to any of the courses in the Natural Science. But Chukwuemeka objected to it, saying that it was Medicine and Surgery or nothing. It was a week’s sequel to the released of his result and his shock of not-making it again fainting away, he began to prepare for the forthcoming JME coming up on two months later. However, Ndubuishi was hosting his town unions’ meeting in Calabar in his residence; Emeka played an active role, especially in preparing things for the august visitors. At the end of the meeting coupled with the eating and drinking, everyone was going; Ndubuishi met Mr. Onyebuchi Okoroafor, who was a non-academic staff of the University of Calabar working in the admission office. He discussed with him about his brother’s fate in the JME. Nonetheless, after hearing about Emeka’s scores, he gave unflinching promise to help him get a supplementary admission since his total score was very far higher than the cutoff mark for the any of the Natural Science courses 6

available in the university. Prior to Mr. Okoroafor’s departure, he told Ndubuishi to come to his house at the State Housing Estate with his younger brother the next day. Ndubuishi and his younger brother visited Mr. Okoroafor’s house as agreed. However, he was not in the house. Both of them were seated in the parlour after explaining whom they were. Fifteen minutes later, Mr. Okoroafor drove in from the campus. Greetings were exchanged. Soon, he took excuse to get inside to take his bath, as he had sweltered all through the day by heat. About seventeen minutes later, he resurfaced to the parlour. They discussed at length. “I’ve gone to the College of Medicine,” said Mr. Okoroafor “and found out that your brother’s score fell below the cutoff mark required for medicine and Surgery for the non-indigenous of the State. Obviously, there’s no way he could be assisted to study medicine and surgery with this his score as a non-indigenous. Should he have come from Cross River State, it would have been a different story. And in the same vein, after visiting the Chemistry department, I also found out that his score is far above the cutoff mark. That’s the place I hope sincerely to put him in. Outside Medicine and Surgery, Chemistry is the next option. There’s no other course again in the field of science, apart from Medicine and Surgery better than it in the job market. This is the course he could practise on his own after graduation if he wishes. But, nonetheless, there’s an obstacle to his getting admitted to study Chemistry.” “What’s that, sir?” Ndubuishi quipped. “You once told me that he didn’t put the University of Calabar as any of his choices University.” “Of course, he didn’t.” “This suffices to say that it’ll engulf some money to go to Lagos to change his second choice university to the University of Calabar. And this will be forwarded by the Chemistry department.” “Okay, how much will it entail?’ Ndubuishi asked. “Just four thousand Naira.” “I’ll try to see if I can raise the money. But if I may ask, which day is the deadline for it to reach you?” ”Before the week runs out.”

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However, as they were having the discussion, Emeka was in a pensive mood. Tears were rolling down from his eyes profusely again. What he thought was not what was discussed eventually. His thought was that by all means, he could by that connection be helped to get admitted to study Medicine and Surgery. At the same time, he was not happy with that huge amount of money the man was demanding. Meantime, Mr. Okoroafor had noticed Emeka’s frustrations clearly, as seen in his downcast face, but he kept mum. As the discussion was virtually coming to an end Mr. Okoroafor chided him. “Don’t be silly! Why are you sad? Aren’t you fortunate that I’m here to help you realise your ultimate dream and ambition in life? Do you think that it’s easy these days to get admission into the university in Nigeria? Look, this is what the well-to-do people are jostling for, for their children! If a minute is wasted now, they’ll buy the chance at all cost.” “Don’t mind him, please!” Ndubuishi cut in. “That’s the way he behaves. I don’t think he’s appreciating all my efforts so far. If he doesn’t like it, that’s okay. I’ll sit down to let him continue to take JME and failing. Afterwards, he’ll by himself struggle to get admitted.” “Brother, indeed, it’s not that I don’t appreciate your efforts. It’s because I’ve got an excessive love for Medicine and Surgery. I feel this is where my fate lies.” “All right,” said Mr. Okoroafor, “there is nothing to worry about. You still have the opportunity to study your desired course. One, by doing well in the forthcoming JME. Or by performing creditably well in this your first year, and you can then easily change to Medicine and Surgery.” The instant this was said, he grinned with delight, as his overwhelming sadness and tears disappeared in a moment. “That’s a good talk!” he cheerfully replied. Meanwhile, not up to three minutes later, Ndubuishi and his brother stepped out of the door that Mr. Okoroafor had started counting in his brain how much he would have in the money from Ndubuishi. Truly, he overcharged him. At that time, no professor in the University earned more than N40,000 per annum. Therefore, he would be getting on his side more than his monthly salary. And for Ndubuishi, a junior worker in NPA, he did not have such amount of money. That meant he would go for 8

borrowing, perhaps from his office and be paying gradually from his meagre monthly salary.

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CHAPTER TWO In the meantime, school had already opened for the first semester for the new students during the negotiation of Chukwuemeka’s admission. Ndubuishi had returned from work, and he informed Emeka that Mr. Okoroafor wanted to see him four days later. Thus, it was just before the twilight of the sunset, he left their house to meet him. To his consternation, on entering inside the house and getting seated, a girl came in by the other door leading to the backyard. She went back quickly again. She wondered who the girl was. To him, the posh-looking girl looked very familiar. However, he could not recollect who she was and where he knew her. Fortunately, the girl had come back. She passed across him. With open-mouthed bewilderment, he called “Chidinma Uzoma!” She was startled. Immediately, she rcognised him to be Chukwuemeka Okechukwu, one of her closest pals during the secondary school era. Indeed, it has been three years they graduated and both had changed a little bit, with both of them adding some weights and heights. Chidinma moved closer to him and hugged him. “What have you come here to do?” asked Chidinma with smiles on her face. “I came to see Mr. Okoroafor, in respect of admission,” replied Emeka. “That’s what I came here for, as well. My elder sister, Ego is in the backyard with him. Possibly, you may be the one he’s telling us about, that he’s helped to procure admission for.” “How I pray so!” Shortly, Ego and Mr. Okoroafor came into the sitting room. Afterwards, it was broken to him that he had finally gained admission to study Chemistry. Tears of joy flowed down his cheeks, at last. Mr. Okoroafor had gone inside the room to answer his wife, who called him; Ego began to advise Chukwuemeka on what to expect at the University of Calabar, which she graduated from. “Eh, look! University of Calabar, Unical, is a very tough school O. There’s nothing ever you’ll do, they’ll ever say you are serious. The lecturers are wicked. Rather than helping a student, they will be finding means to get him down in order to either fail or withdraw him. All you must do is to be studious, from the first day at school devoid of laxity of any kind, otherwise before you could know it your two legs 10

are out of the institution. Be aware right now that it’s the most brilliant and intelligent ones that fail most here. I say again, be careful so that they wouldn’t take you unawares and end up your career in this citadel with an ordinary pass or even withdraw you! Without mincing words, virtually all the lecturers are sadists. “And moreover, never you argue with or challenge any of them as if you want to prove that you’re intelligent. Indeed a challenge to one lecturer is a challenge to all the lecturers in the university. They could join hands in failing you secretly without you knowing where your failures are springing from. Therefore, I say again, be careful in all you do and in all you say! For it’s better to know your particular enemy than not knowing who you’re fighting against. Be humble! Be obedient to all! Be courageous! And be determined! For with this, you shall conquer and not fall apart in this university.” Thirty minutes later, Chukwuemeka left for home after much discussion with Mr. Okoroafor. This was the third week of the resumption; he was driven to the school by Mr. Okoroafor. On approaching the second gate, they saw students clustering in groups and others blocking the entrance gate to the campus. Forthwith, he realised that it was a demonstration. And knowing what it meant, he swiftly entered into his 504 Saloon Peugeot car, to park it at a distance so that should the demonstration turn into a violent one it would not be destroyed by the students. Inquiry into the proximate causes of the demonstration manifested in their stickers posted at the gate. Students were protesting the recent National University Commission, NUC, the university regulatory body’s abolition of ‘resit examinations’ and replacing it with ‘Carryover,’ which meant in essence that any course failed must not be repeated immediately, but must be repeated in the next academic session which, however, would be reducing students’ Grade Point Average, GPA. Obviously, students saw this as being too harsh and punitive, and which would in the course of time lead to the withdrawal of students on the accounts of poor academic record. Two, the older students were also kicking against the recent hike in all fees, especially the hostel fees, which was increased from N60 to N 90. At about 10 o’clock am the students dispersed and left to their sundry hostels to let school activities go on. And indeed, this served as a warning strike. Emeka was later directed to the Chemistry Department to confirm his name being shortlisted among the 11

candidates on the supplementary list. Reaching there he was issued with the provisional admission letter and the requirements from the school. The next day he came back for registration he was incensed. The students had resumed their demonstration because the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar had failed to address them on their reasons for the demonstration, especially on the first aforementioned issue. Chukwuemeka could not imagine why this irresponsible demonstration must be so. He wondered what to do. There he was, he only thought of his new life as an undergraduate at the university. Thus, he was averse to the interruptions from the students. With the dismal outlook, unknowingly, he shouted after gazing at the sky “What an arrant nonsense is this! The students should abandon this foolish idea and have a truce for the academic activities to go on. This will never fetch any dividend. They should pay attention to diligent studies rather than this that would, alas, bring about school closure.” He sought every nook and cranny of the school to get in, but to no avail. Anyway, he had not known what a riot or demonstration by students meant. It did not occur to him that a peaceful demonstration could be provoked and turn to violence, and nevertheless, claims lives and property. As a fresher, he was absolutely desperate. In the long run, however, he found one corner of the school towards the hostel side where the students were climbing and jumping the fence into the school compound. That gave him a momentary reprieve. He was happy. Expectantly, he afterwards breathed in air of success. Inside, some students were hurriedly walking towards the library, perhaps, to read or do one research or the other. In the hostel popularly referred to as Malabor, students were strutting from one corner to the other like flies. Some were in the place called ‘Pyramid’ – brick houses built in the form of a pyramid and roofed with thatches. The students were having an enjoyable moment. Some were having their snacks and soft drinks. Some were found in clusters, telling one story or the other with their friends and well-wishers. Bad students were not left out as well, as some were there smoking cigarettes and marijuana openly. Inside the hostel, some were busy drawing water from the various showers in the bathroom. Few of the students who had nothing to do were shouting stupidly at the

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top of their voices. Yes, this is campus life! These are the things that make them thick and unique. Things were changing very fast, as the students on demonstration at the main entrance gate and the second gate were found returning to their sundry hostels. To them all, something meaningful had been achieved, by sending across their strong message and warning to the authorities of the university. Before the noon time, the school returned to normalcy, as the serenity that always wreathes the campus during academic hours enveloped it again. Indeed, everywhere was calm and still. Meantime, beehive of activities had started off, as workers and lecturers busied themselves in opening and cleaning their various offices. The school bank had also opened for commercial activities. Hastily, ambitious Emeka had walked to the main campus of the school where his department was situated, and where also main activities of the campus went on. In front of the First Bank of Nigeria, he asked the old students innocently where the bank was to enable him pay his various fees. The old students laughed and laughed raucously. “You’re really a ‘jambite’!” said the old students holding Emeka to derision. However, he could not fathom out what the cackle of laughter was all about. Everything including the word jambite, which means a fresher, seemed foreign to him. “What a silly laughter is this! He exclaimed thoughtfully. “Indeed, you’re laughing at your stupidity. This is what’s found in the campus. It’s confusions and only but confusions!” With great eagerness and doggedness he asked again boldly. “Please, can you direct me to the school bank so that I can pay my tuition fees?” As some of them were laughing hysterically again, one of them, the kind one said; “Here you’re standing is the bank. Just be on the queue and wait for some couple of time, your turn will reach and you’ll be attended to.” “I’m very much grateful,” Emeka appreciated his kindness. Expectantly, again, he breathed in an air of success. Before many students came and started bumping one another with gay abandon he had already gone into the 13

banking hall. Shortly afterwards, he paid in his money with the teller given to him. Everywhere was in the morass of confusion, as he wanted to come out. The students had broken the queue. All with no exception and irrespective of gender were struggling to be the next to be attended to. True, this is the starting point of the youths’ struggle for prominence in the country. And in the same vein, this is what the university in Nigeria is all about – the fittest survives. Nevertheless, it was a microcosm representation of the things in the larger society called Nigeria. However, Emeka was in a quandary of what next to do, as all places were blocked. Indeed, it took him a lot of time and energy to struggle out of the scene. Coming out of the struggle he nodded his head and said; “Is that what’s found in the university? O could I liken this to the Nigeria situation where there’s no order? Even, the female students are struggling more than men. Maybe, this is the beginning of women’s liberation in the country.” Prior to the end of the school that day, he had struggled to register in the bursary and the faculty. When he had gone back home, he narrated his experiences to his brother. Chukwuemeka had come the next day to finish the registration, and alas, authorities concerned had already announced over the radio for the students to pack out and vacate the campus forthwith before twenty four hours, and to resume on the first week of January. He was unhappy with the development. Still very determined and dogged, he had vowed to continue from where he stopped the previous day. He asked for the office of year one academic adviser and he was directed. The way he thumped the office door and the time it took him in getting in, however, manifested that he was really a J.J.C. – Johnny Just Come or in the words of the students and the academic and non-academic staffs of the university a Jambite. “Eh, can I help you?” asked Dr. Effiom, the academic adviser. “Yes, sir. I came for registration.” “Registration?

Don’t go for your holidays! The school is now closed till

January next year. Didn’t you hear from the radio or your colleagues? “No, sir, we the new students are exempted. We’re told to get registered by our respective academic advisers,” Emeka prevaricated. “Is that so?” 14

“Yes, of course.” After being registered, he went to the Medical Centre which was a distance of about a hundred and twenty metres to register with them. He was given a small card to go back to his department and meet the Head of the Department, HOD, for a signatory before going for an X-ray at Atikun Drive outside the school. Fortunately, the acting HOD was around. He thumped and opened the door. “What are you looking for in my office?” the acting HOD asked embarrassingly. He scowled at him. Silence rent the air for some few moments. But indeed, Emeka was undaunted. “I came so that you’ll append your signature on this my Hospital Card,” he said naively. “I thought that you, students have been told to earnestly vacate and go home for holidays.” “Yea, sir, but I’m a ye a a a a ar-one student and thus, not affected,” he stuttered and lied again. “Don’t be stupid!’ The HOD irately shouted. He continued; “Am I your mate, that you should answer me in this manner, ‘yea’? Before coming to this citadel of learning, aren’t you trained on how to behave? Don’t worry, you’ve arrived and you’ll hear it in the course of time!” “I’m sorry, sir. It’s just a slip of the tongue.” “That’s why you, students enter cults, kill and maim your fellow students and, however, cause riots in this very school.” “I can’t belong to such a group, sir. I must be a good ambassador of my people at home.” “Ss s sh! Silence! That’s always what you say,” the acting HOD growled. “And by the way, who gave you the temerity to talk when I’m talking.” Chukwumeka continued looking at him with dead silence “Why do you look at me that way? Looking at me like a moron, have you been one before?”

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CHAPTER THREE The school had resumed after the compulsory holidays imposed on them by the authorities sequel to the demonstration. Chukwuemeka was back to school. But he was an off campus student since he did not see a student that could squat him. Presently, he was progressing fine if not the hustling for the lectures from the New Science Lecture Theartre popularly called NSLT to New Arts Theatre, NAT, at the main Campus, where they were having their lectures variously. Indeed, it was a far distance. On trying to enter the few buses in operation, there were a lot of struggles, just a replica of what is seen in Lagos, Nigeria. He was faded up with that rigorous neverending exercise. That was to say that the academic learning there was not obviously conducive in comparison to the other high schools, especially the secondary school he was coming from.. Thus, he and some indigent students and some who could not survive the struggles as often as not trekked down from NSLT to NAT, vice versa. Reaching the NSLT or the NAT, they would be tired, terribly sweating in all parts of their bodies, and in the same vein, their hearts would be thumping ceaselessly like a lizard fallen from a height till the end of the particular lecture. This was a horrible unforgettable experience. Nevertheless, receiving lectures in the so called NAT was another hectic problem. Here, more than one thousand five hundred students from sundry faculties such as college of Medicine, Science, Education and Agriculture were lectured simultaneously. It was like an oven to cap it all. This New Arts Theatre was built to contain not more than five hundred individuals, but the reverse was the case. This was a pathetic situation for Chukwuemeka and others. And, however, if this citadel of learning being touted as one of the best in the country is in this state of disorder, that means the country’s universities are in a total mess. Anyway, there was nothing he could do if not adjusting himself to the new situation and environment he had found himself. The worst part of it all was that the lecturers would stand on the podium and be talking to the entire students both inside and outside without any aid. The Theatre hall was not interconnected with sound systems all over. In one of the lectures, there were students in front, back, left and right sides of Emeka making some hell of noise, as they cared not to listen; hence, he could not comprehend what the lecturer said in the course of the lecture. He could not write as 16

fast as some of his colleagues. Truly, this was a great invitation for a massive failure of the students. One day, Chukwuemeka had come for English Lecture at the main campus near the NAT he challenged his lecturer who had virtually at sundry occasions, ridiculed, insulted and abused all the students. And, similarly, this lecturer was well-known for intimidating the female students, sleeping with them time without number even in his office. But truly, it was an invitation of trouble for him now and in future. “Which hamlet are you from?” asked the lecturer to his friend, Chukwuka, jokingly. “Eh, he isn’t from a hamlet O,” Emeka jumped in obtrusively. “He’s from Orlu, Imo State. It is a developed and urbanized area.” Afterwards, the English lecturer asked one of the female students again; “You, which hamlet are you from?” Emeka interrupted; “She too, is not from a hamlet, but from Owerri, the Capital of Imo State. Against the backdrop of Emeka’s inquisitiveness, Mr. Udoh Akpan, a young lecturer on his middle thirties descended on him. “Okay, you yahoo, which bush tribe are you from?” Chukwuemeka was annoyed: one, for being called a yahoo, which means a bestial human being and two, being regarded as a man of the bush tribe. “Sir, please, I am not a yahoo, neither am I a man from a bush tribe,” he growled at him. “I’m from a well-developed urban area since before Nigerian Independence.” Not yet finished with Emeka, he replied; “Aren’t you a man from the hinterland according to the British colonialists?” “I am not, please. If you know the place I hail from, you’ll regret your reference to me.” As if it was not enough, the lecturer abused him again. “Look at you, an old Calabar woman can speak better English than you!” “Ah! Me? What an insult! Emeka exclaimed to the surprise of all the students. His venturesomeness and confidence was winning him fame, as the students did dread the lecturer like a lion, as he was widely touted to belong to the Buccaneer 17

Confraternity, a secret cult in the campus. Against this backdrop, they were in openmouthed bewilderment. “By the way, aren’t you the first man in your village to attain this academic height?” the lecturer continued his abuses. At this point, Emeka became irate. He replied incisively after hissing. “Don’t be too myopic, sir, that I’m the first person to go to university in my area! After all, we were among the first people East of the Niger to have attained the Whiteman’s education.” In the interim, the class was as quiet as the grave, as the abusive lecturer was threading words with Emeka. The students wondered again, where was his darings coming from? Looking at him, he looked small, fragile, but young and very handsome. “If you say apparently that you are not a man of the bush tribe, tell us the hamlet you’re from.” “Anyway, to disabuse your mind, I’m from the Lake City of Ugwunta, Imo State.” He replied. Mr. Udoh Akpan looked left and right not knowing what to tell his challenger. He looked defeated, as he was at a loss for words with Emeka’s pronouncement. “Ugwunta, the land of millionaires and lettered men! Okay, tell me an important personality there,” he said this out of shame and to know whether he hailed actually from there. Indeed, Chukwuemeka began to name this and name that successively to his surprise. The lecturer, in trying to wipe away the shame and defeat, then, asked Chukwuemeka in a friendly way his name. “My name is Ifeanyi Ugboma” he lied, as his face was wreathed gracefully in smiles. Some students were surprised at this blatant lie from him, who some regarded as being too innocent. Perhaps, it could be in the best interest of him not to let the lecturer know his real name. But how far could he go in his academics in the university? Sincerely, only future can tell. However, the English lecturer who Chukwuemeka has removed every myth surrounding him could not contain his shame, as he left quietly even without lecturing. He met Emeka at the entrance door trying to leave too. He growled at him to demonstrate his anger and defeat. “Why did you talk to me, your lecturer like that?” 18

“I’m very sorry, sir” Emeka apologised “Hmm, you are looking for trouble!” he shook his head in disgust. Meantime, the class at the end of the lecture was thrown into jubilation for the lecturer’s shameful defeat. Forthwith, Emeka has turned into a celebrity, especially from female students. He was being looked up to, to lead them out of the wicked lecturers. Myriad of students believed instantly that something was in Chukwuemeka’s upstairs. Some students who did not know him very well inquired whom he was. He was very much liked by the female students in the end. For another reason, he was neat and tidy and dressed gorgeously to almost perfection. His name was echoed everywhere. It was shortly a week afterwards, the Chemistry students gathered in their English Language lecture room again, waiting for the arrival of Mr. Udoh Akpan; Chukwuemeka was outside glancing through his English handout. There, he was met by three glamorous female students who admired him amorously. “Eh, why are you sitting calmly outside?” Chidube asked He kept mute. Adaobi cut in. “Don’t you know that he’s a quiet guy? I love him for that” “Hmm, Adaobi!’ Said Thelma jealously. “You’re surprising us, O! Anyway, how I pity Emeka; if he marries, the wife will be taking advantage of his quietude nature and gentility to control him!” “Ha! Don’t make me laugh O.” Emeka broke his silence. “How can a woman dare control or dominate me? Nevertheless, I don’t blame you. Whoever does not know a person calls him a friend. Maybe, the unfolding events will make you to know more who I am.” The three friends who were jostling to possess Chukwuemeka, as an intimate friend grinned with delight and love respectively. “Please, don’t disturb Emeka again!” Said Chidube. “He’s my darling husband.” Afterwards, they chuckled respectively, into the lecture room with the approach of the lecturer. The lecture had commenced, but the lecturer’s face was looking twisted. He was pretentiously mien. Soon, he had dropped his mien look and returned to his normal way 19

for which he was known for. Sometimes, he behaved like a clown. But, however, he was Socratic in his teaching. Chukwuemeka himself was unrelenting. He had manifested not only in his character, but that he was a brilliant and intelligent scholar. He had doggedly answered all the questions, especially those relating to current affairs thrown overtly to the class, which his course mates were unable to respond to. Mr. Udoh Akpan could not hold back his admiration for him. He burst out suddenly. “Look, if you can’t show your intelligence and brilliance through your character or either show it by your speech or at least through exams, even though examination is not a true test of knowledge, indeed, you aren’t intelligent!” he concluded, making reference to Chukwuemeka, who had shown a lot of intelligence in his speech and character. Looking closely at him, no one was in doubt about what was being said or seen in him. Besides, he was exceedingly neater and tidier, notwithstanding his sterling qualities of his equanimity and calculative nature compared to any of his colleagues. “I’m not convinced that some of you came to this university through good means,” the lecturer started his abuse again. “Several of you indeed have come through the backdoor, and some of you came with forgery certificates. Very soon, you’ll be flushed out if you fail to pass your examinations. Thereto, if you insult me, especially you the female ones I won’t fail to pay you back on your own coin. I hope you understand what I’m saying. However, you should note solemnly that the insult heaved on any lecturer is an insult heaved on all the lecturers in this citadel. Take it or leave it!’ This incisive remark came on the heels of the noise made by two female students at the back bench that he is randy lecturer, very eager to have sex with them all, in addition to Chukwuemeka’s insult and challenge the previous day. There was silence everywhere when he said this. And this triggered fear on everyone. Nevertheless, the news of the Chukwuemeka’s challenge to his lecturer has spread like wildfire to his town brothers in the campus. They were startled to hear such rash actions from him. He had been called for dialogue by one of the brothers, who was touted to be the leader of the Vikings’ Confraternity in the campus; and perhaps, it was his girlfriend, Chinelo, from his class that told him about it. “How come that you challenge your English lecturer?” asked Ifeanyi. “I didn’t do so,” he replied. “But I heard that you threaded words with Mr. Udoh Akpan,” 20

“No, it wasn’t that I wrangled words with him, but I tried to let him realise that I’m not a yahoo neither am I from a bush tribe, as he taunted me to be. Obviously, that was the cause of the problem.” “But why couldn’t you keep silent as he referred you to be a yahoo and a man from the bush tribe knowing fully well you aren’t?” “No, I wasn’t supposed. He’s among the miseducated and misguided lecturers, who needs proper education. Look, a person who fetched ants-infested firewood should not blame the lizard for coming to play! “Ha! Ha! Ha!’ Ifeanyi burst hysterically into laughter. Look, it’s like you don’t know where you are! If you want to remain stunted in this school continue like this. Know it that an attempt to insult a lecturer here wittingly or unwittingly you’ve done it to others. Your rash action is never radicalism. If you claim to know too much or prove stubborn to any, they’ll just find a way either by crook or by hook to frustrate you or push you out. They may even accuse you of fraternizing with any of the cult groups in the campus. Thus, take your time, for this is not being wise or radical. You’re an Igboman, the Nigerian Jew; you’re hated everywhere, and they wouldn’t hesitate to deal with you severely, as they gang up against you. I say to you again, be careful so that this school will not graduate you with ‘Let my people go’ class certificate which will, however, endanger your career in life! “Meantime, I hope that you aren’t unaware that this said man is very dangerous, as he belongs to one of the most dangerous rival cults confraternity in this campus. Nonetheless, he can never attempt to harm you on the latter premise against the backdrop of his drinking habit. He drinks from one beer parlour to another with students. Thus, on this premise he can’t attempt to maim any student since he could easily be poisoned. But my advice again is, watch your steps and discipline your unbridled tongue so that it wouldn’t land you into trouble here. Indeed, our people say in the proverb, ‘A stubborn fly follows a corpse to the grave.’ They say again, ‘If you know how to pound, you pound in the mortar; if you don’t know how to pound you pound on the ground.’ If you are wise, follow this advice and you’ll be successful here,” he concluded. “Thank you for your good brotherly advice,” Emeka appreciated.

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Now Chukwuemeka was still thinking seriously about how to switch to Medicine and Surgery. He concluded the arrangement of buying JME form which was on sale. He was ready to buy it with his own money if his brother could refuse to give him money. Already, he had bought it for his friend who gave him money for it. Ndubuishi was now back from work, he had seen the JME form and the brochure on the table in the parlour. Thinking that it was his brother’s own, he was irate. So he called him. “So, you’ve defied my advice not to buy the JME Application form?” he scowled. “It’s not mine. But when did you dissuade me not to enter for the exam again?” “Look, if you disobey me and sit for this examination and eventually pass, you’ll look for someone else to sponsor you! If I may be sincere to you, I’ll not be able to sponsor you in Medicine and Surgery. Doctors are not the richest or the most revered or successful people in our society. I don’t just know why you should bother yourself so much on this instead of concentrating on the course you are doing. After all, it’s not what a person study here in Nigeria that makes him, but his inventiveness, planning, organisational skills, coupled with his ruthless efficiency, doggedness, mental acuity and his non-vacillating character that makes him. Thus, keep calm and pay attention to your diligent studies otherwise you’ll be driven to academic oblivion!” Chukwuemeka was calm, as tears coursed down his eyes profusely. Indeed, his hopes and aspirations had been dashed. Incisively, his brother’s statements had foreclosed his ambition even if he performed so excellently in both semester examinations. For over one week, he thought himself to the grave. But he could not do otherwise. Decisively, he had taken it as his fate and to sit down seriously for diligent academic studies. Meantime, one third of the female students in the Chemistry class had fraternized with Udoh Akpan by his intimidation. Unashamedly, he was using them as he liked, even in his office table. When a male and female student simultaneously came to see him for something he would dismiss the male student and tell him to come back later. But for the female student, either by hook or by crook he would force her to gratify his sexual whims. He was more often than not promising to pass them with good grades, that is, between A and B grades. Nevertheless, he did not even stop at that; he 22

went further to demonstrate to his lecturer friends in other departments to come to his class that he had a lot of ‘beautiful fresh meats for chopping’. Thus, it was during the first semester examination many of the year one female students not only from Chemistry, but virtually in all the departments fell into the hands of the malevolent, but randy lecturers as preys. They were ‘beautiful and palatable meat’ to be devoured according to them. However, the students had been sold the idea that if one failed a certain number of courses she would be withdrawn or sent for probation. Male lecturers were respectively having enjoyable moment. Tension was high everywhere. Serious students referred to as ‘Eficos’ were burning the midnight candle, while the non serious ones referred to as ‘Jonesers’ were going to night parties and clubs, drinking, enjoying themselves and hoping to sort out themselves either by hook or by crook during and after the exams. Indeed, Chukwuemeka belonged to the ‘Eficos’ class, which literary means efficient readers; he was reading seriously though he was reading alone, as he was an off campus student. It was a fight to finish to avoid being relegated, as this was like a real baptism of fire! But at the long run, the much dreaded examination had commenced. It was, however, bedevilled with confusions. To encapsulate it all, everything again was in total disorder, even worse than the taken of lectures in NSLT and NAT. To the authorities concerned, it was the real making of the graduates in Nigeria, especially the University of Calabar. Nevertheless, that was the tradition. Tears ran down the new students’ cheeks after each of the courses taken. This was because no one wanted to be relegated. Just a little glimpse of the eyes of any of the serious students, one would see his or her budged-out-red-eyes. They looked emaciated, haggard and depreciated on health. Questions were raised if actually, it was school education they were undergoing. It was so rough, crude, uncivilised, and painful way to be an educated man in the citadel. Indeed, in two weeks duration of the examination, Chukwuemeka and others lost sleep. In the interim, Chukwuemeka was entering from one trouble to another. He was caught teaching students in the exam, which was against the school rules and regulations, as it is regarded as examination malpractice. Albeit, he was forgiven, but however, he was warned. He had known that his actions were tantamount to the muchoutlined examination malpractice. 23

CHAPTER FOUR The school was in session again after three weeks of recess. The results of the first semester examination were out. There were a lot of failures. Myriad of intelligent students were crestfallen. In the same vein, many a ‘Jonesers’ were happy. They grinned at last with delight for making it. That was the bottom power in action. Some were ‘on bottom power’ in addition to money settlement. The giants had fallen apart, while the academic dwarfs triumphed. It was an irony and a startling revelation. Students were seen variously at sundry corners discussing about the released results. Questions were posed to the lecturers, respectively, about the mass failure by the aggrieved students. It remained unanswered. But they said variously at sundry times if the students were unsatisfied, they should pay in their money for remarking. However, remarking in itself was inimical to students. This was because on remarking, whether you pass or not in the course of time, you have questioned and challenged the authorities. You would be made to pay dearly for it, for your unreserved stubbornness, and henceforth, you have met your Waterloo till the end. However, tears rent the air. One jubilating student, who was a well-known ‘Joneser’- that is, an unserious student, who went from one party and club to another, and who had an excellent result by name Ekaette was asked how she passed by her close friend. Aptly, she replied vulgarly and unreservedly. “My very innermost played a very big role for me”. She continued, “So, use what you have to get what you want. I’m very, very happy that I made it at last. Where are the ‘Efficos’, the efficient readers? Yes, they said that we the ‘Jonesers’ have no place here and in history. Behold, you the giants and people looked upon have not only fallen apart, but are down to shreds! Look at the dwarfs – the never-do-wells triumphing exceedingly to the people’s astonishment! How the giants fallen! If you wouldn’t mind, I’ll help you out,” She laughed raucously at last. “But come, Ekaette, I don’t really understand!” Nkechi in surprise. “How did you make it, I am yet to understand you?” “Ha! Ha! Ha!” She burst again into laughter. You’re asking me again how I made it.” 24

“Yes, because it’s baffling me.” “Really?” “Please, explain to me very well how you made it so that probably I’ll follow your footsteps,” “But I have told you without mincing words. Or am I speaking in tongues? One aphorism says, ‘Use what you have to get what you want.’ I think that’s what you want to hear from me.’” “Meaning what?” “My dear, that is the use of bottom power in action. I can’t be poor and as well be a witch. So, since I have my thing, and I’m very beautiful to behold, as you can see; I use it wisely.” “Is that what you meant?” “Yes! Anything wrong with it?’ “But it’s too bad now!” “What’s bad?” asked Ekaette. “I mean, using your desecrated body to earn marks in order to pass very well.” “How I pity you! Your unconcerned attitude can’t help you. Rather, it’ll bring your dismal end. Remember the university rule on carryover.” “Wait a bit; do you remember the teachings of Saint Paul to the people of Corinth, in 1Corithians 6:19-20?” “What did he say?’ Ekaette jumped in. “Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and who was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourselves but to God; he bought you for a price. So use your bodies for God’s glory.’ ” “Hmm! Nkechi, It’s like you have entered.” “Entered what?” “Church.” “That’s not the matter.” “No, I can see it now, you’re a born again. Please, which church?” “What I’m telling you is that it’s against Christian ethics and moral values to do such degrading thing. Indeed, it doesn’t glorify God in any way.” 25

“Who cares to know that? Continue like that, you’ll soon see yourself out of this university. If to be moralistic and in the same vein, I am told to leave the school against the backdrop of poor academic record, it’s better to lose it. After all, no one knows that I’m doing it here. It can never prevent me from getting married to a good man. Again, use what you have to get what you want. Either you use your vagina or money or both. You, the efficient reader, you’ll be surprised when I will end up in second class upper degree or at least second class lower, and you may be dumped in third class - the class of never-do-wells, or even ordinary pass. I assure you that no establishment in Nigeria will be able to engage you. Thus, take your time; don’t spoil it! I’m quite sure that you don’t go to church more than I do. Remember, however, that in Nigeria it’s certificate that matters and not how you get it or whether you can defend it or not.” “But, it’s a risky venture.” “Hmm! Which type of risky venture?” “AIDS, the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is spreading like wildfire. Or are you no longer afraid of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, STD?” “Look, AIDS is a Whiteman’s disease!” “Not so! This is the greatest enemy of the black people of Africa. For over there, they have preventive measures. Go to Uganda and some other East African countries; you will see that the disease has spread and touched both the rich and the poor. They’ve been solemnly ravaged.” “Is that so? Tell me something, I don’t know O! Look, a stubborn fly goes to the grave with the deceased! I’ll leave you henceforth for you to die in your stubbornness and ignorance.” “Ekaette, no! Don’t leave me now! Advise me on how to solve this my academic malady.” “What else do you want me to do after ignoring my good advice. Look, all these fine girls carrying bible in this campus are doing it, but you wouldn’t know. It’s not written in their faces, respectively.” “But Ekaette, it’s prostitution in disguise. Is there no other means?”

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“The other means is money. A big money, indeed, for settlement. Can you afford it? And moreover, some lecturers after the money settlement would still insist on seeing your pants and doing that thing.” “I don’t have such financial capacity or having the guts to sell my precious body, my pride, my life to the wicked randy lecturers.” “Then, what else do you want me to do for you?” “If I may sound sincere again, I can’t lose my moral values in order to end up very well here! I am a Catholic from a serious Catholic background; I can’t do it! It’s not in our character. You can have a Machiavellian principle and let me believe in my principle. After all, there is no substitute to diligent studies even if I fail. Indeed, it’ll teach me a lesson to fight back like a wounded lion. Doing this type of hideous thing is tantamount to bringing my family to total disrepute. “Henceforth, I’ll desist from coming nearer to you because it is said in the scripture, in the book of Matthew 5:20, ‘So if your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose a part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell.’ “Again, Saint Paul said in 1Corintheans 15:33, ‘Do not be fooled. Bad companions ruin good character.’ This is my honest submission, period!” “Ha! Ha! Ha! Who cares about your friendship? You can go to hell!” Meanwhile, Chukwuemeka was seriously lamenting on his not too good performance. He had failed three courses out of the six courses. He was highly upset. He did not know what to do. He could not contain his tears. His hopes and aspirations of making it in order to switch over to Medicine and Surgery was becoming a mirage. He had boasted earlier and thumped his chest that he was a man to beat in his class. He had judged himself on the premise of his glorious moments in retrospect, starting from his primary school up to the secondary. It had dawned on him to realise that it was not so. It had opened his eyes again to realise that the brilliant and intelligent students are also not untouched, as far as it is university. Indeed, that was the beginning of his academic predicament. Could this be his anticlimax? His friends, both the male and female students were in open-mouthed bewilderment. In the interim, they were eager to know what he could get, as he was regarded as the first student that made things happen in the class. This was because they 27

saw him as the light that shined in the dark without hindrance. They revered him so much. He had broken the news to his brother two weeks after the release of the depressing result. His brother could not believe it. Later, Chukwuemeka went back to his mentor, Mr. Okoroafor, and unfolded his ordeal. He was irked. He was speechless for two minutes. Afterwards, he bluntly told him the implication of carrying three courses over to the next academic level. “Frankly speaking, you’re risking probation if you have to fail more than three courses at the end of the academic session.” Mr. Okoroafor quipped. “Then if you fail a certain number of courses you face withdrawal from the school. However, I’ll see your brother to discuss this serious issue with him.” This had triggered exceeding fear on Chukwuemeka. He had gone back home and, nevertheless, told his brother that Mr. Okoroafor wanted to see him unfailingly. Thus, it was two days afterwards, Ndubuishi, complied with the directive and visited Mr. Okoroafor. Without a mince of word he told him the implication of his brother’s problem. He advised him to promptly send him to live in the school hostel to enable him know how to read like other students. Ndubuishi obliged if that could resuscitate his brother and bring him out of the academic doldrums. In the meantime, Chukwuemeka had gone to one of the Physics’ lecturers, Dr. Emmanuel Etukudo, whom he failed his course. This was the course he hoped to get A, as his classmate he taught in the exam hall got B grade. “Eh, what can I do for you? Any problem?” “Sir, please, I came to see if I can lay my eyes on my answer script on Physics 1022.” “Why?” “This is the course which I hoped to get A grade, but rather you failed me.” “I failed you? What a rubbish thing is that! Why not say that you failed? Do I know you before or have I any problem with you before? “No, sir! I am quite sure that I got this course A grade. Perhaps, there was a mistake in recording it into the sheet or during typing.” “There’s nothing I cannot hear from you foolish and nitwit students in this university. Your thought is that I engineered your failure. Please, walk out of my office! If you’re not satisfied, you go for remarking, okay! But for me to show you the 28

manuscript, that’s what I can never do, even if my dead beloved father rose up and pleads on your behalf, I’ll never listen to him.” Consequently, Chukwuemeka had left in anger with tears running down his eyes. Soon, he reached his department to inquire about his failed course in one of the Chemistry courses tagged CHM 1120. There, he received the biggest embarrassment. “Why did you enter my office like this? asked Dr. Effiom. Don’t you have respect? It seems to me that you are not well-cultured. Perhaps, you’re from the bush tribe, aren’t you? “No, sir!” he answered calmly. “Look at you, saying no, sir! Okay, what do you want me to do for you?” “It’s about my Chemistry course, CHM 1120” Eh, what happened?” “I am quite convinced that I passed this course with a very good grade, but to my embarrassment, I failed it.” “And you think that I am responsible for it?” “No, sir! It seems to me that there was a mistake in recording it into the result sheet or a typographical error, if I may say.” “You failed, okay! Go back to the hostel and rethink the reason you came to this university. From there, you can rediscover yourself. This secret cult you are into will never help you; rather, it’ll destroy you.” Chukwumeka in open-mouthed bewilderment asked, “Sir, I don’t understand your misrepresentation? You’re very unkind to me in this your false accusation.” “What I’m telling you is that all of you who have refused to read just like other serious student burning the night oil will soon be flushed out of this very citadel of great learning due to your nocturnal activities. It’s you, the Igbos that are spoiling this university!” “Please, sir, I’m not a member. I am a serious student, who came here for a purpose. And there’s nothing that concerns Igbo people in this matter. What we are seeing or experiencing here is due to societal moral decadence and not a particular ethnic nationality. This is a big misnomer on your part. Igbo as a people are good, full

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of wisdom and knowledge, intelligent and hardworking people created with great specialty skills and talents by God.” “But let me tell you, I will never go to the answer script to look at your real score. Whether a mistake or not, I don’t care! It’s your luck! So, move out of this office now!” Chukwuemka stood still. Not wasting time, Dr. Effiong dragged him out of his office in a disgraceful way, and banged the door.

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CHAPTER FIVE Everything had apparently normalised. And virtually all the students who could not pass the first litmus test had put the dismal result behind them. The ignoble lecturer, Mr. Udoh Akpan had come to the fore again. He had capitalised on the students’ mass failure to intimidate the female students and even their male counterparts. Obviously, he had a great penchant for sex. Thus, he was ready to do anything, albeit ignoble to satisfy his sexual drive. He knew that the students must willy-nilly submit or come to him, as he was lecturing on the topic in English dealing with the research paper. The students had chosen their various topics they wanted to write on for their research paper popularly called Term Paper. Compulsorily, he made all the students to write first their sundry thesis statements before their commencement of their research paper. It was presumably the embodiment of their write-ups. The students had sent their various thesis statements, but he had rejected so many of them on the platform that it was not well-written. He had truly, a skeleton in his cupboard. It was one of the students, however, who twigged all his antics and pranks. Meantime, Ngozi had sent in her thesis statement, well-certified by a professor in the same English department to that inglorious lecturer; but just mere seeing her well-built stature coupled with the voluptuous curve of her body, he was roused exceedingly. He could not contain himself. In fact, he did not let his eyes set on the thesis statement not to talk of reading through it: he concluded that it was wrongly written. Some students were able to twig the melodrama. The lecturer looked pretentiously mien. He was ostensibly furious and abusing all and sundry. Some students feared. Ngozi was, nevertheless, undaunted and unfazed. Indeed, it was time for Ngozi to ignore his antics and gimmicks. Ngozi was solemnly soliloquizing afterwards. She wore a dismal look, as she was not happy with the lecturer. Soon, she was no longer interested in the lecture. Decisively, she stooped her head down on the desk. She thought at last. “What a stupid and unashamed lecturer is this! What does he take me for? A campus prostitute? Hmm, does he think that I am among the street girls and or students not well brought up? I know what to do! I’ll teach him how to behave so that others will take a cue from it. If he thinks that because he’s a lecturer and continues his pontifical attitude, then, I’ll show him how not to assume an air of infallibility.”

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On ending the lecture, he did not waste time to tell the students who wanted to consult him on how to write the said thesis statement and good research paper to see him at his sundry time of visitation and or consultation. Nevertheless, Ngozi, afterwards, went back to the English Professor, who certified her thesis statement. She narrated her ordeal with the lecturer. The professor was extremely piqued as a result, and he took her to Udoh Akpan’s office. On reaching his office, the professor had irately opened and slammed the door. Setting eyes on Ngozi and the professor he quivered, at last. “Udoh Akpan, who gave you the guts to say that the thesis statement I certified was wrong and as a result, disapproved it?” the professor queried. “Is something wrong with your head? How stupid you are!” “Di-i- i- i- id I do so, Ngozi?” Mr. Udoh Akpan stuttered. The professor continued. “From today going on, I’ll keep watch on you. You and other young lecturers want to make this department and this institution a mockery one and, however, in the end, bring down the standards we’ve set here and in the school in its entirety, for so many years. I’ve already got a full report about you in intimidating the new students under you, using your lecturer’s position. Listen to me, Ngozi, henceforward; report to me any antics, pranks or attitude of Mr. Udoh Akpan towards you that you found suspicious, resentful or nauseating! Then I’ll know how to treat the case,” he concluded. The lectures had ended for the day, and Ngozi had returned to the hostel amid happiness. For one thing, she had succeeded in achieving a feat. She would no longer dread the fiendish lecturer or being victimised in the end. She had got a godfather – a person who would come to her rescue when she envisaged difficulties with any of those kind of lecturers. Now, she had broken the happenings and ordeal with Mr. Udoh Akpan to her friends in other departments. They shared the same ordeal they had had with their respective randy lecturers. Meantime, Chukwuemeka’s thesis statement had been rejected several times. He was tired and frustrated. But later, the lecturer was tired of his doggedness and stubbornness as he kept on coming and knocking at his door every now and then; and in addition to the warning given to him by the professor, he yielded. However, 32

Chukwuemeka was always coming to his office anytime he wanted to be in a friendly discussion with his so-called girls’ friends to toast them for a meal. Against this backdrop, he quickly certified Chukwuemeka’s thesis statement. Both breathed, at last. But still, the struggle continued for his survival in the school. Frankly speaking, Chukwuemeka was looking for every means to resuscitate his dwindling academic performance. One of his friends in the same ethnic nationality with him was not oblivious of his plight. Obviously, he was ready to assist him. He had told him that the only way he would come out of the troubled waters was to get reconciled with his God and become born again. He told him unequivocally that it was only if he could surrender his life entirely to Christ that his problem could vanish. Chukwuemeka was in a fix. He was in a quandary about what next to do. For one thing, he was a true and ardent Catholic faithful to type. The students attending various fellowships in the campus were branded anti-Catholic. And in a moment you start worshipping with them, you would soon be brainwashed and made to desert your Catholic faith in preference to Pentecostalism way. Thus, he did not want to do the contrary. However, he had been invited to the Christian Union, CU, fellowship on one Sunday. He accepted the invitation. Soon afterwards, he began to attend the fellowship every Sunday without missing, but never lost his faith in Catholicism. This was against the backdrop of his previously avowed stand to live and die as a Catholic. Meanwhile, he had wondered why there was a lot of hypocrisy from the followers especially the female students. Indeed, he was unmindful of their sham. He was, however, purposeful. To get closer to God and forsake all things that could drag him into continuous academic abyss was all his thoughts and nothing more. The day marking all Night Vigil tagged “MALABOR FOR CHRIST” was fast approaching. The intention of the latter was to rid the Malabor Republic of the new wave of campus terrorism. Obviously, there was widespread of cultism in the campus. Secret cult was getting prominence in the campus unlike before. All and sundry were apprehensive about the nocturnal activities of them, maiming and killing of some innocent students. It was Friday - the D-day, the day set aside by the Christian Union members to cleanse Malabor Republic of its deadly evils surrounding her. This threatening evil was what no lecturer nor the authorities in the school ever sat down to think of its menace. The New Arts Theatre, NAT, was a little bit full to the brim. They had started with 33

songs and praise worships. It was like as if God was in their midst. They were praising God with shouts and tears of joy. All the faces were highly wreathed in smiles. Soon, prayers started. They prayed for too long and speaking in tongues. Emeka was praying, but not with tongues. He was a neophyte. He had not indeed mastered the arts of speaking in tongues and praying for too long. Thus, everything was boring him intensely. Some members had given testimonies, especially about their encounter with the campus hangmen or terrorists and malevolent variously. “Brothers and sisters in the Lord, let’s war against the marine spirits on the Calabar River,” the prayer coordinator requested from the members. “No one of us will say that he or she is oblivious of the fact that the beauty of Calabar is in this said river. This is the river where all the diabolic powers and strengths to unleash the innocent people emanate from. True, this is where some of our students – the cult members go to do initiations and obtain sundry powers. Oh God, set us free from their fiendish proclivity! Thus, brothers and sisters, let’s pray that God, with his infinite mercy should descend down from the mountain and answer us by means of fire and wipe away this evil in this very campus – the Malabor Republic, our own dear native land. As you are also praying to God to scatter and rout the enemies of destruction in this republic; pray also that the fiendish lecturers, including the sexual perverts and intimidators should stop unleashing their fury and terror on the students and that sexual intimidation should cease henceforth. Pray, pray, my brothers and sisters!” It was 2:00 am, a female student had sauntered, climbed the platform. She had come to share her experiences on the encounter with the campus marauders. “Brothers and sisters,” said the student, “I was walking towards the Malabor one day, a Malabite whom I don’t know graciously approached me. I was benignant enough to give him audience. Indeed, I was oblivious of his intentions. The next thing he did was to start praising and admiring my beauty. ‘Hmm!’ I said thoughtfully. ‘See me see trouble!’ Before I could open my mouth to talk he triggered off the bomb. He said that he loved me so dearly. He went further to tell me that he’d give me the greatest protection as far as he’s concerned in this campus. But I kept mum trying to weigh his speech. But eventually, I told him, no. He continued to press on me harder and harder. To scare him away from me, I told him bluntly that I am a born again.

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“However, I’d forgotten everything. But it was a week later that he amazingly appeared in my corner. Albeit, he didn’t find me inside at that moment, he was told by one of my roommates to wait for me that I was around. I was fetched from where I was, that a person was looking for me. I wondered whom he was at last. I sauntered in thinking that my unknown visitor was a good human being. To my utmost consternation and dismay, he was the guy who stopped and wooed me on my way to Malabor. Instantly, my face twisted and inundated with fury. I guessed him to be a cult member against the backdrop of his shabby way of dressing. He was in dirty jeans coupled with his nauseating T Shirt. I asked myself, if I am in the world and I want to have a boyfriend, how could I stoop too low and have this Malabite as my boyfriend? I was confused on how to get rid of him. In order not to feel insulted in front of my roommates and their friends, I spoke to him politely but bluntly, that I don’t keep the boys as lovers that I am a born again. Again, he told me that my comeliness, which is magnetizing was making him suffer insomnia. The more he talked, the more I got disgusted. “Indeed, I was in a fix and in a quandary on what next to do, as he’d refused going. Inasmuch as he didn’t want to respect himself, decisively, I went to one of my roommate’s bed and lied down. Fortunately, our corners were partitioned with curtains, and he never knew where I was. Unknowingly, I dozed off. When he saw that I was no longer coming out he buried himself in shame, and left afterwards. It’s since then I’ve been frequented with threats by him and his cohorts. Now, the more perturbing is my dreams in recent times. Whenever I sleep, whether in the day or night, it’s blood, blood and dangerous things I dream of! I am becoming tired and apprehensive . . .” Chika had not finished her testimony before tears inundated her eyes. She fell down, at last. However, they fervently prayed for her. Meantime, the day was dawning, all and sundry were on the line outside, waiting to sing, praise God and dance towards the male and female hostels. As they danced, reaching the seat of government, the Malabor Republic, where Malabites dwelled in their thousands, they sang joyously to the Lord. Malabites in their droves had rushed out to see what was happening. Interestingly, what really magnetized them out was their raucous repetition of the secret cult in the republic. However, some secret

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cult members were not left out in the inrush. It was like a revolutionary movement engulfing the campus for the first time in history. The spokesman of the CU, Brother Chinedu Ifeyirinna, had climbed the Malabor Republic rostrum and began to address the Malabites. He spoke boldly and undauntedly, and with transparent honesty. “Great Malabites and Malabresses, and fellow Nigerian students, the time is overdue for us all to join hands together to rid this our only country, our home, our dwelling place – the Malabor Republic touted as a country in a country out of this outlandish and devilish act of cultism. This cultism, as we know it had started growing in this campus at a tremendous speed. What can we do to stop completely this outlandish and evil act? Our only country, Malabor, is now solemnly sick looking for a rescuer and healer. We know for certainty that the members of the evil-inclined associations are here, as the scripture puts it succinctly in the book of Job 1:6, ‘When the day came for the heavenly beings to appear before the Lord, Satan was there among them.’ Again, the bible says in the book of Isaiah Chapter 54:15, ‘Whoever attacks you, does it without my consent; whoever fights against you will fall.’ ’And, however, verses 16 to 17 says, ‘I create the blacksmith, who builds a fire and forges weapons. I also create the soldier, who uses the weapons to kill. But no weapon will be able to hurt you; you will have an answer for all who accuse you. I will defend my servants and give them victory.’” A large ovation greeted it. “Amen! Amen! Amen!” And he continued; “As I said before, they are here, but we’re not afraid of them henceforth to speak. We know that everything that has a beginning must have an end. After all, it’s an imported phenomenon. It started somewhere else. And just as the human being and the world he lives in will have an end one day, that’s the way the imported phenomenon will have an end in this campus. So, let us not only allow this to tear us apart or send us

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to our untimely graves, but to prevent this from putting this enviable and amiable republic to desolation or derision. “Fellow Malabites and Malabresses, must we let ourselves to be destroyed in a twinkling of an eye by these cowards and malevolent people?” “No! No! No!” Echoed the CU members and the rest of the students’ watchers. He continued. “If we say no, what shall we do? Should we fold our arms and let the elimination of this much-orchestrated cultism to take its natural course? This latter question is quite impossible! Great Malabites and Malabresses, the only sure way for us all is to run to Jesus, who the bible says in the book of Hebrew Chapter 12:2, that he is ‘the author and finisher of our faith,’ to fight the ignoble and infamous organisation. We all must come out to reject it overtly and unreservedly. Happy are we the members of God’s people if this hideous crime and trend is completely solved and wiped out in this very campus! Happy are we if the dignity of mankind is restored here, in Jesus name!’ ” “Amen!” responded in unison. Afterwards, they marched to the club – the female hostel, as it is fondly called. So, after singing and much dancing, their spokesperson spoke in the same manner, as he had said lately. The CU warned several of the female students who were the agents of the secret cult members to desist from doing so because God was coming to fight them on behalf of his people to restore peace and sanity in the campus. Meantime, the female students who knew Chukwuemeka very well were very much surprised to see him in the midst of the self-acclaimed born again people. They wondered if he had abandoned his Catholic faith, as the so-called acclaimed born again people from the separated brethren have views contrary to the Catholic Church, and consequently, attack the teachings and everything of them they could not apprehend, and regard them as unbiblical and antichrist, as they believe only in Sola Scriptura. They asked: “So, Chukwuemeka is now abandoning his Catholic faith; how far would he go, as he’s a truly born and bred Catholic? Will he be able to stand the heat?” Secondly, they argued among themselves how he would be able to cope up, as they regarded him seemingly as a guy who was assumed to be rocking campus life with the way he dressed and easily socialized? 37

Nevertheless, a forth night afterwards, he had deserted CU. He had vowed solemnly never again to have anything to do with them. It was another twist of event and experience in his campus life and history. He had gone to a Sunday fellowship as usual, but he did not know why the speaker spoke that way he did. The speaker had descended heavily on the Catholic Church. It was an incisive criticism and ridicule. The speaker of the day, Brother Chinedu Ifeyirinna, out of crass ignorance and foolhardiness said that the Catholic Church was doomed to destruction by God, as they represent the much wrongly orchestrated Antichrist and the beast that are to come, as written in the book of Revelation 13 and 16. And, however, he said that “Hail Mary” is “Hell Mary” and that the so-called Mary was an instrument used to bring the child Jesus into the world, and nevertheless, like an envelope that shielded him. Chukwuemeka did not find it funny. “Our Mother Mary?” Chukwuemeka shouted unconsciously, as all eyes were fixed on him. “So, the mother of our Lord our God according to Luke 1:43 and the second person in Trinity is in hell! What a great blasphemy against God and against humanity is this! What a heresy! What a great unheard-of ridicule and taunting is this! Are you oblivious of what was said about this woman and her role in God’s plan of salvation of mankind when the first eve disappointed and rejected God’s call and plan, and she herself accepted it without hesitation, as in the book of Genesis 3:15, and Luke 1:26-49?. Or have you forgotten the role she played in intercession, as in the book of John 2:1-12? Again, have you forgotten that Jesus Christ gave her to us to be our Mother and for us to be her children, as in John 19:26-27? Are you aware that this woman was the spouse of the Holy Spirit, the third person in Trinity, who contributed one of her X - chromosones to bring the child God into the world? Or was your mother that brought you into this world a virgin? Indeed, the Bible says in the book of Galatians 1:8, ‘But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel that is different from the one we preach to you, may he be condemned to hell!’ “And I say in the same vein, may this mouth and or any mouth that says, ‘Our Blessed Mother Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ our God and Saviour, is like an envelope that shielded Jesus Christ or instrument or in hell, or that the Catholic Church is Antichrist or a beast, as recorded in the book of Apocalypse, may he or she be an 38

acurseed and be condemned to hell, for preaching a contrary gospel! And I say again, may he or she that calls this sinless woman ever been an instrument, an envelope or being in hell or that the Catholic Church being antichrist or the beast, may he or she be accursed forever and be condemned to hell in the end, for preaching a contrary gospel! And may what John, the beloved Apostle of Jesus Christ said in that book of Apocalypse, that is, the Book of Revelation 22:18-19 be his portion! Amen!” Indeed, the auditorium was shaken to its foundation by the sudden words like a fire that came out of his mouth. Soon, he burst into songs in praise of Blessed Mother Virgin Mary successively. The first song was a Magnificat or song of Mary from the book of Luke 1:47-40: ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Saviour. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. For He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.’ ‘We are honouring Mary, we are honouring her We are honouring Mary, never worshipping her But people say we worship her, not at all Everybody join the chorus to honour her Honour Mary!’” At last, he left in tears and regrets when the noise in the NAT auditorium was dying down. Obviously, it was against his philosophy to see an association or fellowship been highly regarded as a conglomeration of many churches or interdenominational to preach Church, rather than salvation, which he came for; and not only that, preaching and teaching heresy. His face was heavily twisted in anger. He wondered why such must be so. Thus, his prompt decision to bow out honorably was to

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keep faith with his belief. He at last regretted in the first place joining them. He questioned the devil that led him into joining it. However, during his short stay in the said fellowship, he saw to his utmost surprise that many of the members were befriending themselves as boy friends and girl friends in the name of doing it in the Lord, and the female friends respectively, preparing various dishes from the female hostel and sending them to them in the male hostel. However, the members,s including others from other fellowships other than the Catholics operated like cults, as they helped themselves solely and remained silent on the none born-again fellow students created in the same image and likeness of God like them. In the same vein, they tagged themselves believers while other Christian believers, especially those from the Catholic faith who were not their members as unbelievers. Truly, according to Chukwuemeka, it was against the teachings of Christ, the prophets of old and the Disciples of Christ, especially Saint Paul, the Apostle of Christ for the Gentiles. In the interim, his friend, who helped in seeing that he joined them saw the anger and frustration on his face and subsequent leaving the auditorium abruptly in tears came out to intervene. Unfortunately, before he could come out, Chukwuemeka was nowhere to be found. Nonetheless, he promised himself to get back to him and discuss issues with him gently about his hasty decision even though such unfortunate thing happened. All hopes of dissuading Emeka from his hasty decision by his friend, who was also his course mate, had failed. He was very adamant and honest in his reply. Consequently, a seed of hatred had cropped in between him and Chima, as he did not want to set his eyes again on Chukwuemeka. Indeed, things had fallen apart in not a small measure. Many a time when he saw Emeka, now an enemy, he taunted and despised him, telling him that he would be withdrawn or sent to probation very soon on the academic ground. However, Chukwumeka did not mind whether Chima, his friend detested him or not. He had so many students, both the female and male craving for his friendship. Nevertheless, second semester was fast approaching; everyone again was attached to his or her dear close friend. Emeka and his other friend, Chukwuka were sighted by Chima walking along the biology block with two female friends of theirs. One of the female students, Chizoba, a born again was walking and holding 40

Chukwuka’s hand, he grew in envy and jealousy. He moved promptly and forced Chukwuka’s hand out of her, saying that it was a sin for them to do so. Obviously, this was too embarrassing. He told them that born-again Christians do not have anything in common with the unbelievers. Sincerely, the reason of his statement was not far fetched. It was because of their wrong perceptions and others, in lack of wisdom, knowledge and proper understanding of the scriptural passage in the book of second Corinthians chapter six verses fourteen to seventeen, which says, “Do not try to work together as equals with unbelievers, for it cannot be done. How can right and wrong be partners? How can light and darkness live together? How can Christ and Devil agree? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? How can God’s temple come to terms with pagan idols? For we are the temple of the living God. . .” Chukwuka and others were at a loss for words. They could not think out why Chima, at his level should do and say such a sarcastic thing. Though, it was without purpose: they, nevertheless, let the affront not to perturb them. They ignored it; but sincerely speaking, it lingered for so long in Chukwuka’s mind. He was looking for another opportunity, perhaps he could avenge Chima’s affront.

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CHAPTER SIX The first year had come and gone with its attendant problems and traumatic experiences. In the second semester exam, the students generally performed better. It brought a glimmer of hope to several of them. Chukwuemeka only failed one course. But in both semesters, he got very low grades in English, but he was unfazed as far as he had escaped the hammer of this fiendish randy lecturer by name Udoh Akpan. Nevertheless, the students who could not perform very well in sundry departments were given probations, because their Grade Point Averages, GPA, were not up to one, while those who failed to pass at least a course in the last two semesters were withdrawn. But on checking the list of those sent on probation or repetition of the year, the so-called born-again Christians were at a higher number. This was because they were highly fanatical and so many were using the time they were supposed to read their books to go to fellowships between 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm, while on Fridays they went to Night Vigils. Some, especially the male students failed, because they used their time for diligent studies to preach the gospel during the day and even at night, while some would be at the ‘Love-Garden’ praying hypocritically for a long time. However, failure had thickened the skin of the students, including Emeka, to pay much more attention to their studies in order to avoid relegation of any kind. Obviously, Emeka was full of joy for not being relegated. To keep hope alive, he had, at last, packed into the hostel and vowed never again to experience such academic malady. Meanwhile, he was given only N30 to feed on with for one week as against the cost of the lowest profile feeding without meat or fish in the campus, which was N3 per meal. He was told in plain language that he would operate on one zero one level format feeding, that is, one meal in the morning and another at night by his brother, Ndubuishi. He was not given any other money, as a pocket money other than that. However, he was told to be coming home every Friday after lectures; then, to go back on Monday morning. How could he survive this? Time would tell. Indeed, as a courageous and determined young man he was progressing very well with his one zero one level profile and always coming to the house every weekend, as was agreed with his brother. He was more often than not coming with his very good friend, Chukwuka. However, he had become a well-developed high ‘jacker,’ that is, an efficient reader. He and his course mates in the department were reading as if they were about 42

taking the much used to be dreaded Cambridge University examination, the next day. Yes, they were told by the authorities in the department that Chemistry as a course was not something you leave unread till the exam time otherwise one would fail woefully. Now the department that admitted one hundred and fifty students had been reduced to ninety students after some of the students were sent on probation and the remaining others withdrawn. In the meantime, Emeka’s corner mate or rather, bed-mate was irritating him many a time. He sweated more often than not in an instant he had lied down on the bed. Consequently, he was spoiling the bed-sheet terribly with sweat from his body. And there was nothing he could do, as his bed-mate was the real owner of the corner. Chukwuemeka became a co-owner when he paid him the sum of N1000 to squat with him for the rest of the session. That in the same vein meant that he had bought a bed space from him and as well had an equal right with him. What irked him most was that since he paid him heavily, he was supposed to decorate the corner, covering the wall with wallpapers and partitioning the corner with long curtains. The bedspread he provided was very dirty, smelling and almost rending. So Emeka envied his other roommates, who had such things in their respective corner. In addition, this bed-mate of his snored heavily during sleep, especially at night. Nevertheless, Emmanuel could not twig the anger on Chukwuemeka’s face when he was around. At last, Emeka broke his long silence after seeing that keeping him silence could not solve the problem. “I’m greatly disappointed with you in your behavior,” he said irately. “I don’t understand what you meant,” Emmanuel replied. “What type of behavior, please?” “Are you oblivious of the fact that you’re supposed to decorate this corner and thereto, provide good bedspread after paying you heavily for this? Don’t you look at our other roommates’ corners in this room or don’t you visit other rooms and see how a corner is supposed to be? Why must ours be absolutely different?” “Thank you for this, I’ll try my possible best to see if I can get some of those things that make a good corner?” “How soon?’ “I don’t really know.” 43

Emeka heaved a sigh of relief soon afterwards. He had waited for a week and two days for a change to occur, but to no avail. He was running out of patience. To prevent clashing with his bed-mate since it was too early to do so, he had unilaterally gone to a supermarket and bought the wallpapers. Moreover, with the little money with him, he had bought a good bedspread. He, in addition, converted an expensive good 6 by a 6-bed bedspread given to him by his mum when he travelled home for the second semester holiday to a partition curtain. That demonstrated how neat he was. Sincerely, he loved and enjoyed living and studying in a cosy environment. This was a virtue he had cultivated right from his childhood. He was known for that at home. It was Saturday morning, his bed-mate was outside washing. He had prepared a starch solution to be used in pasting the elegant wallpapers to the wall. Emmanuel was oblivious of what he was doing inside. He did not bother to tell him about his intents of beautifying the corner. Surprisingly, Emmanuel had sauntered in to collect his hangers he saw his corner wearing a new outlook. He was beaming with smiles. “Hmm, master, well-done O!” he appreciated enthusiastically. Silent rent the air. “Accept my appreciation now, please, Emeka” “Aha,” he apparently responded cheerlessly. Afterwards, he put a chord through the opening on the sheet and hung the partition curtain. Later, his bed-mate came in to appreciate again, his efforts in beautifying the corner, which was regarded as the shabbiest. It was two weeks afterwards to the Emeka’s decoration of their corner, Emmanuel had brought in a friend of his from his country home, who was having an accommodation problem into the corner without letting Chukwuemeka know of it. This was like adding insult to an injury. The corner was not even big enough to contain two students not to talk of three students. Obviously, this was out of his selfishness and folly that he had demonstrated so. Thus, anger was set in. Chukwuemeka had mounted a lot of pressure on him, and then, at his friend too. It seemingly came to nought. He had taught deeply on what next to do, as he was at a loss for word. Fortunately enough, a course mate of his was having also an accommodation problem, as he was aggressively pushed out of the place he was squatting. Chukwuemeka, in sympathy, 44

saw it as unfair treatment. In the same vein, he grinned in delight. And since his bedmate would not remove his friend he saw reason why he should bring in his course mate in. “I’m very sorry for your pathetic story,” said Chukwuemeka. “Just, please, pack into my corner for the meantime.” “Won’t your corner mate be angry?” his course mate adduced. “For what reason? I’ve equal right with him. Since I bought a space from him and, however, decorated the corner, I have equal right with him. After all, he brought in his friend without my knowledge. You can put your things in our corner and be hanging from one corner to another in this room till you get a permanent place.” As Emeka helped his course mate packed into their corner, Emmanuel was not happy with him. He was short for words. And because of the overcrowding of the corner, Chumekameka was going to his friend, a course mate upstairs to rest every time. He was virtually scarce in his corner. Nonetheless, he had begun to have friends, especially those who share the same aspirations, views and problem with him. To all those of his friends, some are from his class and others from other departments. Each time they continued to share their problems together and how they could come out of the trouble they found themselves respectively. But Emeka’s problem was much more complicated than his new friend living in the same hostel with him. “Really, I don’t know how to go about this my problem causing me insomnia,” said Emeka “It’s now an incubus upon me.” “Which problem?” asked Uchenna. “This problem of ‘carryover’. How could I ‘carryover’ three courses simultaneously and succeed afterwards?” “Ha! Ha! Ha! Eh, is that what’s disturbing you?” “Yes” “Why do you disturb yourself? Are you alone in the carryover syndrome?” “No! But my problem is that I’m supposed to drop one of my new courses to give way for the failed courses, otherwise, I’ll exceed the credit loads for the semester.” “It does not matter. You can still make it in the end.” “How are you sure that I’ll be able to pass the dropped course in my third year?” 45

“Why not? If you read it very hard, you’ll make it.” “How possible that I’ll get the chance to receive the lectures simultaneously with the year two students when I’m supposed to be in third year?” “It’s a truism. But you must face the challenge by working extra miles. That makes you a man. You know there’s no substitute to hard-work.” “Hmm, I’m in for a big trouble!” “You can’t do otherwise.” “But what will happen if I register all my courses including the failed courses?” “Hmm, our department may likely expunge one of your new courses from the registered courses!” “But I’ve already done so by subterfuge.” “If you pass it, they’ll not enter one of the year two courses into the result sheet, since you’ve exceeded the credit loads for the semester. But, however, if you are fortunate enough, they may overlook it and enter it.” “I’m seriously praying, let it be so.” In the interim, the first-year students, who due to the late release of University Matriculation Examination results sequel to the closure of the universities were in their hundreds jostling for registrations. The older students were, however, on the move again. The normal October- rush, when the Jambites and Jambresses – the new students, male and female were admitted was on, but now in February. So, instead of the normal October-rush, as it was fondly tagged by the older students was now to be called February rush. It was the normal time some unfaithful Malabites, who were into infatuation abandoned their various Malabresses’ girlfriends. Obviously, they wanted the Jambresses because they easily got what they wanted from them, as they were neophytes and yet to know the environment very well. Some Malabites, indeed, were jostling for fleshy and flashy girlfriends, who were yet to know anything about campus life and who they could easily manoeuvre by subterfuge. True, all the nooks and crannies of the main campus and its environs where Jambresses were, you could see interested Malabites toasting them variously for friendship, and some offering some helps to any of them needing assistance in registration or the other. Interestingly, Chukwuemeka was unperturbed. He had got married to his books to the extreme. He did not want history to repeat itself. As the saying goes, “Once 46

beaten, twice shy;” His friends were busying themselves going after jambresses. For myriad of times, they had made futile attempts to trick him to do the contrary, but he gave them an absolute no. However, things were getting tougher and tougher in contrast to the geographical expression, “The higher you go, the cooler it becomes.” Confusion reigned and reigned. Lecturers taught with hubris, and however, prided and raised themselves to the status of God, who cannot make mistakes. You dare not challenge or argue with any of them. The worst part of it all was that they did refuse anything outside what they had taught you notwithstanding their correctness. Mandatorily, their handouts, irrespective of their scantiness and indecipherable nature of many of them were foisted on the students even if one has a very good textbook or having no money to buy them. In the first place, they would tell you that it was not compulsory to buy the handouts, but at the same time telling the class Representatives to write down all the names of the students that bought the handouts and forward them to them respectively. It was a really a pathetic story for some students! It was the obstacles and albatrosses Chukwuemeka must surmount if he must pass a particular course or graduate ats the end with a good class honours should he be allowed to graduate. Sincerely, he was from a very poor home. Thus, buying of the handouts was a very big handicap for him. Even when he bought the handouts it contained nothing, and in the same vein, indecipherable and which could not give him the desired results. This was something no student who wanted to know even after graduation could rely on otherwise he would end up being a half-baked graduate. To give notes were a big problem for the lecturers. Indeed, he was philosophically stoic and in his nature, had a character trait of “never-say-die attitude.” He had believed that his diligent studies would never be farcical and, nevertheless, been in vain. He believed in God exceedingly in rewarding respectively, the just - the diligent persons and the oppressors accordingly. Thus, he was unremitting. One day, he had gone to his course mate of his in the same hostel to assist him in the area of chemistry course he could not comprehend when they were being lectured in the class. That course-mate of his was a product of Remedial Intake, directly from the department and not from JME; and if his year-one result was anything to go by, he 47

was indeed in the position of first-class. However, he taught Chukwuemeka as if he was a dunce. Ekong, an Efik by ethnic nationality, had vomited all things he crammed thereby confusing Chukwuemeka the more. Unreservedly, he challenged him. The atmosphere that greeted the lecture was waning away. Consequently, there was a solemn exchange of words. “If you know it, why did you come to me to be taught,” Ekong said indignantly. “Yes, I don’t know, that was why I called you to put me through. But I’m disillusioned to understand why you should teach me as if I’m a mediocre and unintelligent. Why do you want me to consume your crammed work? How would I extend the teaching to anyone in need? The way you’re going about it is wrong. Your teaching is supposed to be natural and flowing. Or do you think I am a fool and dullard?” “That’s why you’re always failing in your exams,” Ekong ridiculed and abused Chukwuemeka. “Yes, it’s good that I’m failing, but however, the little thing I know I can take it anywhere without it escaping my memory, and in the same vein, defending it when the situation arises. Nevertheless, look, though I am having this problem, I am more brilliant and intelligent than you only that I don’t really know what is wrong with me! I know it’s not an easy road, as it is too rough and bumpy, but the Lord I serve and worship will see me through. And don’t worry; history will vindicate me in the end. But, however, I pity the generation of this institution of ours and Nigeria in its entirety if people like you are found in the field of academia. You’ll make the students bunch of handout crammers and left them, in the end, empty-headed. You’ve the temerity to ridicule me when you came into this highest citadel of learning through a remedial programme of the school. Did you get up to three credits from West African School Certificate, WASC? Or did you pass JME? Show me your WASC result and I’ll show you mine? You’re absolutely a nitwit and a nonentity!” “Okay, don’t come to me again for anything whatsoever.” “Thank you very much!” Obviously, it was a great disappointment on the side of Emeka, who thought he could be put through, not knowing that his colleague was a mere handouts and note crammer and not natural. Emeka was highly apprehensive, as he was trying to avoid 48

anything that would make him derail in the forthcoming exam. Alternatively, he moved to Malabor, where the majority of the students domiciled. It was a little bit far away from Hall 2, where he lived. It was Chukwuka’s place he went to so that he would put him through. However, his experiences with Ekong had made him to discover one thing, that all the students thought of being brilliant were not. They were bunches of handouts and notes crammers, vomiting everything verbatim in the exams. After that, their brains became empty. In the meantime, he had vowed to be cramming his handouts like others if that would prevent his relegation. But in the same vein, as he was brooding over it deeply and seriously, one mind told him never to compromise retention and comprehension for the development of the brain, which would help him in the future in preference to cramming, which would end up in making him half-baked graduate. Two days later, Chukwuemeka had gone to the Old Library to bind his physics 2291 handout. There, he was met by two female students, Adaobi and Thelma, who came to the old library to collect their bound physics 2291 handouts. Adaobi approached. “I don’t know whether you really understand how I feel about you,” Adaobi confessed, unreservedly. “Is that so?” replied Emeka. “What have I done to you that you don’t want to reciprocate my advancement?” “Have you forgotten easily what you did to me in retrospect? If I’m told that you would refuse blatantly to give me your CHM 1120 notebook to copy the lesson I did not have with you at the preparation of last semester examination when it mattered most, I wouldn’t believe it. And now you’re asking for my hand in erotic relationship. You can’t have it at all! Unknown to Emeka, Adaobi had surged forward, gripped and kissed him affectionately on the lips. Her friend, Thelma was not oblivious of what she intended doing. “Why are you so unforgiving?” Anger was wreathed on Emeka’s face; he responded. “Yes, I don’t know that you know.” Soon, Emeka burst up with a popular American pop star song by name Rose Royce. 49

“You abandoned me Love don’t live here anymore Just a vacancy Love don’t live here anymore . . .” “Please, forgive me now my sin against you, for I’ll never do it again.” “I’m very sorry; I’m no longer interested in all these things. I’m seriously preoccupied with many things. They’re bogging me down solemnly like an incubus. I can’t do contrariwise, please! Thus, I don’t think that I’ll budge in this my decision. Sorry! The expression of our people says, ‘When an elderly woman falls two times, the contents of her basket are counted.’ “But I want to amend my ways right-off here if you’ll change your constancy of mind.” Frankly, Emeka was unyielding. He was very adamant. To this end, Adaobi left him dejected and disappointed.

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CHAPTER SEVEN The School had closed for the semester after the examination, but the newly admitted year-one students were not yet through with their lectures, in order take their first degree examination for the semester, against the backdrop of their late admission and registration into the school. However, Chukwuemeka was to stay behind to enable him to study seriously and sit for his three failed courses, which he carried over. Meantime, his first semester examination was very good and interesting according to him. Hope was on the horizon for him, as he regarded it as better than others. Indeed, he was attending lectures alongside his friend, Uchenna, who had a lesser failed courses than him. That gave him the impetus to join the February-rush like others. He was pressurizing Emeka to join him as well, but he was unremitting. He did not want anything that would cause him to fumble again. Afterwards, as a result of persistent pressure he bowed, shortly. But, nevertheless, as he lacked the patience, zeal and will, eventually he relapsed to his former ways of nonchalant attitude. In the meantime, it was quite pitiable and unfortunate that many of the Jambresses had started messing around. Some of them had more often than not went out to sleep overnight in hotels. Some, respectively, invited commercial motorcycle riders popularly called “Okada or Akawuke”, who carried them away at sundry times from the hostel to their homes to sleep overnight after which they would be given deliciously prepared fresh fish-pepper-soup and in the end, part good sum of money to them. Notwithstanding that, as fresh students as they were, they easily penetrated the lecturers, and started fraternizing and prostituting themselves with them if it would be the only sure way or short cut to succeed. Indeed, this was disheartening and disgraceful, as some of those newly admitted female students were from affluent homes. Any of them interviewed said, “It is a way of life. If you know how to pound, you pound in the mortar; and if you don’t know how to pound, you pound on the ground.” However, it was two days to the first semester examination for the freshers, Uchenna had dissuaded Emeka from taking one of the failed courses against the backdrop of the rumour making the round that the department may likely cancel one of the best students’ passed courses, as a penalty for registering more than the required credit loads he was supposed to register. Indeed, Emeka was afraid, perplexed and in a 51

quandary of what next thing to do. If he decisively took all the courses his best passed fresh course would be withheld and consequently, cancelled. Moreover, if he would not sit for one of the failed courses the story would still be the same, as he was supposed to register all the failed courses, and if there was credit loads remaining, he would use it to register the fresh courses. After much thought, decisively, he took the risk by refusing to take one of the failed registered courses. Some students who had the same problem with him took more than the credit units required. However, Chukwuemeka did not come to the examination hall with his I.D Card or fee clearance card for identification, for the Chemistry course examination he resat. The lecturer supervisor mistook him to be a mercenary. This was because some students had formed the habits of taking exams for their fellow students for money. So, Emeka’s script was written ‘exhibit.’ He and others were told to report to the department as soon as the examination ended with either their ID cards or the fee clearance cards, otherwise, the course would be cancelled. Immediately Emeka submitted his script, he rushed to the hostel to bring his fee clearance card. As he entered into the lecturer’s office as he came back, he was thoroughly quizzed and harassed. “Good afternoon, sir,” he greeted. The lecturer responded, but growled at him; “Eh, can I help you?” “Yes, sir! A bad remark was made on my answer script, and I was told by Dr. Nsikan, that unless I bring either my fee Clearance card or Identification Card the course I sat for would be cancelled.” “O you hired a mercenary to take the exam for you. Today, nemesis has caught up with you.” “No, Sir, I wrote the exam! I’ve already seen Dr. Nsikan, your co-lecturer and explained everything. He was the one who even directed me to you.” “Is that all?” “Yes, sir.” “Please, leave my office!”

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“Please, Sir, erase the remark indicating ostensibly that I aren’t the one who sat for the examination.” “I’ll not shift my position. You hired a mercenary, who took the examination for you.” “How could I have done that?’ It’s an insult that a mercenary sat for the examination on my behalf. “After all, I know my academic position prior to entering this university.” “If you know according to your claim, why did you fail in the first place?” “I failed against the backdrop of the condition I’ve found myself here, which is really not my own making; and, however, examination in this country called Nigeria, especially in this citadel, is never a true test of knowledge. It’s a test of one’s cramming and reproducing ability. I read and failed not because I don’t know, but because I failed to cram and produce exactly like others what you taught and perhaps, due to mysterious unseen hand. My failure indeed had taught me a lesson of my life. I feel and think that I’ll perform better in the subsequent examinations. And I know sincerely also that I’d be vindicated in the end.” After seeing that his intimidation could not work nor daunt Chukwuemeka, Dr. Effiom, had no other option than to expunge the ugly remark made in his script, which was an index of examination malpractice. In the interim, his course-mate, he went with, albeit, was outside, stood aghast, seeing Emeka wrangled words and challenging the lecturer, whom all the students in the faculty of science dreaded. He wondered who gave him the effrontery. As he came out afterwards, Uchenna shook hands with him and praised him for standing firm during the lecturer’s intimidation. However, the news of the challenge pervaded the department like wildfire. All and sundry were in doubt and surprised. Indeed, this was not the first time he had done that. He did it with the dreaded English lecturer, Mr. Udoh Akpan. For Emeka, he had no any jot of fear in his bosom. He could take on anyone without fear and intimidation. Nonetheless, school had finally closed and everyone was on holidays. It was a cool Saturday morning; Chukwuemeka had finished doing his chores, and afterwards, took his bath and was reading a newspaper with rapt attention in-front of their apartment. A team of policemen armed to the teeth arrived with a jeep vehicle, entered their compound. People outside were filled with

consternation and dismay on who 53

the notorious men in black came to apprehend. They had fervidly, thought that there was a theft outside and a suspect was living in the compound. The armed policemen had tramped into the compound and a young wizened lady, a nurse, had pointed at Emeka. The policemen rushed him swiftly with a handcuff. He was perplexed, at last. He shouted; “What’s that? What’s that? What have I done?” There was no response from the mien-looking irresponsible men in black. Instead, they squinted at him. Soon, a mammoth crowd of people clustered. Still, the irresponsible policemen insisted on handcuffing him. “Please, don’t do that!” Chukwuemeka charged. “Am I an armed robber or a murderer that you come to me with guns and handcuffs? It’s a great discomfiture to my personality. If I may ask again, what have I done to warrant and suffer this affront?” “Stand up and follow us, please! We’ll tell you in due course, maybe, in the station what you’ve done. “My arrest is baseless. Thus, I wouldn’t be foolhardy to follow you.” “What?” one of the policemen irately asked. “Do you think we’re here to entertain joke?” he continued. “Look, if you resist we’ll deal with you severely!” “Is that so?” Emeka called off their bluff. “You can do as you wish if you persist in not telling me my offence.” In the meantime, it was quite fortunate that Ndubuishi, Emeka’s elder brother was at home. He had rushed out in open-mouthed bewilderment. He exceedingly scolded the armed men. “How can you apprehend a person without any warrant and even a rationale,” Ndubuishi reprehended. He continued: “Look, I was once like you; thus, you can’t tell an old soldier that you’re coming to arrest a person in his house without any offence committed! You’re supposed to be the protector of individuals in the society and not his undoing or grave, by letting these unscrupulous people make stupid of you and doing the contrary. That is why you people ran away from armed robbers. Are your hands clean?” As the reproach and battle following the uncalled-for apprehension of Chukwuemeka ensued, people murmured and murmured. They had known Emeka as a quiet and responsible boy. He was not a trouble maker. Soon, a noise had just filtered 54

in. It was that Emeka with others according to the policemen outside the compound played football on the road in front of the compound, then, the ball more often than not entered into a woman’s house and after been ceased, he and his colleagues would go ravaging the poor defenceless woman’s house by pelting stones on her zinc, and in the same vein, thumping her door ceaselessly. “Is that all?” Ndubuishi in anger shouted immediately, and scowling at the men in black. He continued; “Your apprehension with this reason is uncalled-for and without reason. Look, people like this lady that called you are wickedly making derisory and caricature of you, the policemen and, however, rubbing the image of policemen black. The end result of all this is the hatred of policemen by the public! You’re supposed to be the friends of people in the society, but now you’re turning out to be their enemy and grave. Nevertheless, Emeka had gone inside the house to dress properly before moving out with them. Meanwhile, the policemen had gone to the inner back of the compound and rounded off some small underage children, as was instructed by that old wizened and frustrated looking woman, that they were among the people. The crowds watching the scenario were irked exceedingly. They wondered why the small, but underage children should be picked up by the policemen on the behest of the said lady. They called it a sheer madness on the part of the policemen on one hand and to the lady on the other hand. Indeed, they had entered into the police jeep moving straight to the Atakpa Police Station. But Ndubuishi trailed them behind with his car. Reaching the police station, they all alighted. Afterwards, Ndubuishi exhorted his brother to be straight to the point if asked the cause of his apprehension by the police boss and never to answer a question with a question or speak with high sounding words. “Please Emeka, speak volubly in simple but flawless English,” he advised. Emeka and others had been marched into the Criminal Investigation Department, C.I.D office at the behest of the officer in charge to make a statement. However, the parents of the underage children wrote the statements for their children/wards. Eventually, they were told to go back home and to come back at a later date they would fix for the hearing of the case after the people arrested were bailed. But, however, the C.I.D officer in charge of the case took them to ransom, as he 55

insisted that the innocent people brought to the station must be released on bail with money. He was demanding two hundred Naira each from the seven individuals apprehended. And Ndubuishi being a former police officer argued that it was a civil case in which no dime is supposed to be used to bail anyone. He had even vowed never to bail his brother who did not do anything with money. He decided to bear the consequence it would bring forward. Since Mr. Atim had become so stubborn and unyielding, Mr. Ndubuishi decisively took the matter to the Divisional Police Officer, DPO. In the end, the DPO told Mr. Atim to let them go after hearing the case. But on reaching his office, he was begging to be given a small amount of money, as a compensation for his suffering. Out of magnanimity, Ndubuishi gave him fifty Naira. Other ones gave as little as they could afford. It was early in the morning just after the latter week, the C.I.D officer came to Ndubuishi’s residence, telling him to appear with his brother on Monday, three days after the notice, to hear properly the case preferred against Chukwuemeka and others. Rather than conducting himself appropriately and send his message across and leave, he engaged his host on exchange of words. He was grumbling why Ndubuishi firmly refused to give him some amount of money to end the case. “You said you’ve no money, but the way your parlour is, says the contrary,” said the police officer. He continued; “You don’t look like a person who has no money. As you work in a big office, you are supposed to be in affluence.” “I’ll never again try to give you a dime no matter what you do,” Ndubuishi sharply and irately said. “Just look at how you are messing up the police image by this your hideous attitude, deviating from your course to another. Doesn’t this suffice to say that my brother is innocent of what he was accused of by this lady you’re working for? It’s really a pity! “Willy-nilly, let your brother appear before us on Monday, otherwise he would have himself to blame,” the C.I.D Officer threatened. “Do whatever you wish to do. Even, you can prosecute the case; and you and your employer would be put to shame. You are the greatest idiot I’ve ever seen.” “I’m going. I’ll never fail to deal with you severely in the end.”

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“Leave my house, empty-headed idiot like you! Do as you wish! You think I’m bothered about your empty threats and vaunts.” “We’ll see then.” “Yes, till then.” Mr. Atim, meantime, slept with that ugly wizened lady over the night. He went there more often than not, collecting money and having an unrestrained sexual relationship with her, and getting his sweetest satisfaction. The nurse had two female children, but a divorcee. She was put to asunder by the husband for about ten years now against the backdrop of extra-marital affairs with young men. Thus, Mr. Atim, the unscrupulous police officer and malevolent man took the advantage of the fact that the woman seemed frustrated and forsaken by people to do this act. The woman, however, had narrated to him how they were always calling her witch when she had never cannibalised or bewitched any of them or their relations. So against this background, he took offence and vowed to fight the matter to its conclusive end. Indeed, before Mr. Atim visited Mr. Ndubuishi’s house, Mr. Ndubuishi was on the verge of attending a course in Enugu. Nevertheless, he visited his townsman, a soldier living in the barracks and appealed to him solemnly to accompany his brother to the police station on his case to avoid him being manhandled by the barbaric illiterate Nigerian policemen. Onyekachi, the soldier accepted to deputise him. It was nine o’clock on Monday morning, Onyekachi accompanied Emeka to the police station, but however, he was in mufti. They had waited for two hours, thirty minutes; and Mr. Atim was hesitant to unfold the case file. At a time, he started pretending as if he was opening the file. Indeed, the defendants and their parents/guardians had murmured and murmured, hissed and hissed for many a time and nothing seemed to happen. They were running out of patience. It was undoubted that Mr. Atim was playing on the intelligence of everyone. It was the delay tactics to frustrate all of them present and make them to do what he wished. The lady nurse who brought the case was, however, not even present. This was how it had been since that case started, as it was the third time they had gone to the station for the case. Chukwuemeka was not happy with the unfolding dramatic scenario. He could not figure out why the complainant should absent herself while the defendants were all

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present. He was perplexed to an exceeding rate. Thus, he thought and thought deeply, but copiously. “No, no!” Emeka grumbled thoughtfully. He continued; “There’s no fair play at all in this. Is this, how we live in a just, true and egalitarian society? With this, can we build a nation where peace and justice shall reign? What type of country are we sojourning in, where there’s lawlessness and disorder, especially from the illiterate scavengers in uniform? When shall our country know and practice justice and fair-play in its totality? Eh, we’re absolutely ill, needing a great physician to cure us of this big sickness! Everything is in a mess in this land. There must be a total purge-out if we’re to succeed in this new millennium. True, Onyekachi had captured what the C.I.D officer was up to. His antics, pranks, delay tactics were no longer in doubt. However, on noticing the mood of everyone, he finally unfolded the case file, ostensibly, rooting for the defendants’ names. He was again about procrastinating and adjourning the matter. Tempers were high, as trouble was looming in the air. There were vexations on everyone’s face. Onyekachi was until now fraught with great anger and fury. It had manifested on his face so glaringly. To say the least, he was rearing to go. But, indeed, it was Emeka, who took the first shot, as he burst out of anger against the police officer. “Stop cross-examining me!” he fumed up, calling off his bluff. “Do you think we here are fools by being kept in suspense since morning?” Emeka asked. “By the way, where’s the complainant? I say, where’s she or…?” “Don’t be silly!” Atim reacted to Emeka’s remarks. “Please, don’t attempt to rouse my temper; otherwise, I’ll deal sternly with you!” “What nonsense is this!” retorted Emeka. “Being a policeman or uniformed person, does it guarantee you to lawlessness and disorder? Do you think you people have the unstinted power over the ordinary citizen of this multinational country? Bluntly and simply put, look, as far as we exist your power is a stinted one! And no person should be made a slave.” As if it was not enough, Onyekachi jumped in. He had charged up, as he could no longer contain Mr. Atim’s attitude. “My friend, do something tangible and hastily to close this lingering, but a nonsensical and weightless case. Don’t you know that this boy is an undergraduate and 58

is earnestly supposed to be in school by now, as his school has resumed a new academic session?” “And so what?” Atim retorted. “Shut up that your dirty, stinking mouth now before it’ll land you into trouble!” “You say what?” Onyekachi asked, as he was irked. “Do you know me?” he continued. “Who’re you? Do you want me to deal with you sternly,” the C.I.D officer vaunted his ego. Immediately, the C.I.D officer sprung up from his seat ferociously to meet Onyekachi, held him on the neck and afterwards, pushed him down the pavement. People’s eyebrows were raised. Indeed, there was an impending brawl. In an instant this occurred, the civilians present were uncertain on how the yet to be identified soldier could cope up in the police dragnet. They were very skeptical about the impending scenario. Undoubtedly, the police sergeant would presumably come out as the victor as this incident was truly in their den. And in this their den, there is immunity covering every policeman and they can pontificate arrogantly unstinted. Meantime, as Onyekachi was on the ground, the police sergeant came down mightily and violently on him. He hooked him on the neck steadfastly, but Onyekachi being a disciplined man was not in a haste to hit him. Not yet complacent with his ugly doings, Mr. Atim, abrasively, hit him on the chin; but as a strong man, he did not slip down. He hit him again with great vehemence, and nothing happened. But now, Onyekachi responded by giving him a heavy headbutt on his face. Subsequently, there was a little gush of blood. The policemen in the vicinity had made a mad rush into the scene to rescue their fellow policeman and to give a thorough beating to his opponent. But, however, a truce was afterwards made. The brawlers were beating their chest, talking rapidly and vaunting their egos. Chukwuemeka had gone to his brother to appeal and beg him to forsake the brawl. Some policemen who were good and some of the common people there were begging and dragging Onyekachi out of the scene. Soon, Atim abrasively rushed Chukwuemeka. “You’re the root cause of this trouble!” he grumbled. “I’ll never leave you to go home unscathed.”

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Without wasting time, he slid him down and struck him on the chin harshly with a great vigour. Other policemen who thought that having the power as uniformed men meant being at the peak of the world, rushed Emeka suddenly like a thief. They pounced on him mercilessly. And not only that, he was booted and stroked on the head with the rifle-butts. It could unequivocally stated that their actions were like the proverbial fowl that refused to bend its neck for the knife that killed it, but instead, bent its neck to the pot that was used to cook it. “Hit him, hit him! Hit him strongly!” Said Mr. Atim with drippings of spittle, dropping from his mouth.. “He thought that he’s the only undergraduate. He does not know that there are so many graduates here in this police force.” Prior to Onyekachi’s intervention, Chukwuemeka had been left alone. However, the Atakpa Police Station was thrown into the state of pandemonium and chaos. Afterwards, Onyekachi was outside the gate ruminating on what next to do. True, he was planning to go back to the army barracks to bring his colleagues, so that they would raid the police station. So as he was about kicking his motorbike to go that an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, in mufti had sighted him and recognised him to be a person he knew. Promptly, he marched towards him with heavy steps and drew closer. He was no longer in qualms indeed. The ASP was in open-mouthed bewilderment. He had already visualised what was going to happen subsequently should he reach the barracks. It would in the end be soldiers versus policemen. Nevertheless, he humbly begged and begged Onyekachi for a quick settlement. His persistent begging and appeal to the soldier yielded fruit eventually. Meanwhile, after Emeka was let go, he was saying something unconsciously to himself. “What a barbarity is this! What sort of absurdity are all these all about! Eh, the police-force? The supposed protector of the lives and properties of the citizens? O we’re doomed in this very reckless artificial creation. Police brutality? Ah, experience is the best teacher indeed O. Truly, I’ve seen it all myself. Hmm, this incident would have spelt doom for me if I came alone! Glory be to God in the highest! No wonder people die at the hands of uncivilised and illiterate policemen unabated! Uncivil attitude coupled with bribery and corruption and thievery had become the making of the police. Who’ll purge them away of these sins? O we’re in great trouble in this our 60

country! This land has become a place where there is no respect for human right. . . .”

A week later, they had gone to the police station again, but this time, Emeka was with his blood brother. Unashamed Mr. Atim wanted to monstrously pose his antics, pranks and behaviour, but Ndubuishi did not give him the slightest chance again. To avoid history from repeating itself, he went straight to the D.P.O and reported him. He was furious with the police sergeant, who had been instructed previously to dismiss the case for lack of merit. He summoned the idiotic police officer and reproached him severely. He delegated a policewoman forthwith with the case to do away with it. Meantime, Chukwuemeka had not been in the school since the school reopened. The University of Calabar, again, was seething with discontent, as the students were aggrieved. In the same vein, the immediate cause of the demonstration was yet to be known. But indeed, the government did not want to sit on the fence this time around and probably let people’s property be looted by the miscreants among the students in reckless abandon, as they were used to do during demonstrations or riots. Angry policemen and soldiers were drafted in, and had barricaded and put siege round the campus. Meanwhile, an expose escaped within the university environs from perhaps the illegal occupants or saboteurs among the students unmasking that Malabites and Malabresses were not yet on campus in full swing. Consequently, the armed soldiers and mobile policemen confidently entered unceremoniously into the campus unchallenged. The students were scanty and they could not pose any menace to them. Tear gas canisters and other artilleries for war were ready to detonate. Thus, they were highly combative ready. One could see them moving with their armoured vehicle round the school compound, including the Staff Quarters. They had been previously apprised of the students’ phenomenal aggression against the men in black. However, the students - the Malabites and Malabresses had a great hatred on them. They hated even sighting them. To this end, the would-be-conquerors did not want to take chances. On reaching the entrance to the Malabor Republic – the seat of government, the police blared and blared the bugle. It blared to the confusion and threat to the great Malabites and Malabresses on campus. Obviously, there was no longer any place to run to, for refuge or to organise themselves even to fight as guerillas. They were taken unawares. In the twinkling of an eye, the allied forces of the army and ‘kill and go 61

people,’ the mobile policemen in terrifying ease jump out of their various jeeps and with their artilleries, and some from the armoured vehicle surrounding the campus, making sure that there was no escape. In surrendering to the allied forces, the students raised their hands up. The question left unanswered in the people’s mouth was, why did the Nigerian Military Government from Cross River State Governor’s office drafted the army and the ‘kill and go and nothing will happen policemen,’ with heavy artilleries to maim and kill the students, the hope and future of the nation? Was the University of Calabar at war in the first place with Nigeria nation? Does it mean that students can’t voice out again on any vexing issue concerning them? That means again that the students have no right and must be subjugated. There is no place in the world where students’ demonstrations and protests are barred or threatened with such heavy artilleries. That meant that the Military Government in Nigeria took Nigerian students as perceived number one enemy, who must be hunted and eliminated to enable them achieve or foist their evil aim on the people of the country. However, undaunted Malabites were seen irrespective of the threats to their lives photographing all and sundry, the movements, and the happenings in the campus. On seeing them, the armed men allowed them to do their jobs. Perhaps, they thought they were journalists from Newspaper and Electronic media, as in the university environment no one knows who is who. Indeed, several of the Malabites and Malabresses - the chicken-hearted ones, were seen out of fear of being shot, weeping. Some who were adherents of the Malabor Republic wept bitterly for the fall of the great, but revered and much-vaunted Malabor Republic. The belief of everyone is that there is no place like the University of Calabar, where Malabor is situated, as they regard it to be a country in a country and the beginning and the end of everything good, and however, where relationships can easily be established notwithstanding one’s ethnic nationality. “Eh, so we’ve been conquered by the enemy!” Lamented one of the students. “How did this happen? How did these scavengers managed to infiltrate into the campus unnoticed and unchallenged. O, Malabor wouldn’t be the same again! It’s unthinkable and unheard-of that Malabor was overwhelmed easily devoid of students’ resistance. I can’t believe this! Is this a dream or what? That our much-revered republic was 62

conquered by the enemy forces. O God, may you help us rebuild this republic later and make it a stronger, united republic with great zeal and unheard-of patriotism!” The campus journalist, Chinedu Orjiako from Echo Press Organisation wept and lamented, at last.

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CHAPTER EIGHT Indeed, Chukwuemeka was unaware of the crisis in the campus since he had not packed into the campus before the imbroglio. He heard it over the radio and television later in the day, as they repeated it over and over. The students had been ordered out of the campus by the Vice Chancellor before twenty-four hours elapses. The school was to resume fully one month later. Chukwuemeka’s course-mate, an Edo born nationality, who was also an off-campus student, but witnessed the fall of the great republic, had rushed to his house later in the day to narrate to him the happenings in Malabor and its antecedent fall that rocked the boat. Chukwuemeka stood calm and speechless, as the story was being told by Ebhodaghe. For two minutes, he did not speak a word, as he was in dismay. He thought with deep regret over the fall of the once-revered republic. As an adherent, copious tears bathed his eyes and rolled down his cheeks. There was no surprise over Chukwuemeka’s emotional behaviour. He was so passionate and a patriot of the so-called Malabor. However, one month later, normal activities resumed again. One could see the students in clusters at sundry places, including lecture rooms, discussing the fall of Malabor Republic. Photographs of Malabites and Malabresses raising their hands up in total surrender to the superior allied forces were hung and adorned in every department of the school, in their respective press organisation’s notice board. One could see many articles with very beautiful and admiring captions at the various press-boards, especially at the students’ solidarity point at Malabor. Malabites and Malabresses read and read with great enthusiasm and contentment. Meantime, Chukwuemeka had grown in courage and strength day-by-day, as he faced financial and academic challenges, stoically and bravely. However, his students’ friends, both male and female were oblivious of his financial handicap. Conversely, their thoughts and feelings were that he was living in affluence, not knowing that he was living a life of gentility. One could mistake him to be a rich man’s son. Indeed, he more often than not adorned gorgeously with clothes fit for the nobles. Students, lecturers and ordinary people, especially from where he resided with his brother outside the campus wondered and wondered, for several times who gave him money to buy such expensive wears. His brother too could not understand how he got the money to dress so splendidly forasmuch as he knew the amount of money he gave him to go back 64

to school and also on going to the market when he came back to the house during weekends and holidays. Thus, where he got the money to don himself was a mystery. At his country home, neither of his parents nor his relations gave him money; yet he clothed himself so beautifully like an average worker. The truth of the whole matter was that when he went to the market as his brother sent him to buy things he always went about searching for places he could get something, however, quality things at a cheaper rate. He could romp and stay in the market for too long as far he would succeed in his mission. He priced things even more than women in the market. However, as he got some money from the money given to him to buy things he saved them for future use. Chukwuemeka neither smoked nor drank nor had any friend he infatuated with, in the campus or outside that could drain off his lean pocket. He was indeed meticulous in spending if not only on wears and maintenance of himself to look good. Obviously, his gorgeous dressings to some extent excited and attracted the female ones. Every female student wanted to befriend him or to be given attention by him. At least, that would make them complacent. Though Chukwuemeka was not alone in the academic doldrums, he thought it every now and then so deeply and regarded it as the worst thing that could ever happen to his life. It was a truism that he loved education and wanted to attain a great academic height; he believed that education should mirror the image of his real-life as much as possible. Nevertheless, he believed that there was nothing education would not bring to him in the future. But lately, his manifold problems were a great blow and dent in his chosen career. Against this backdrop, irrespective of the encomiums and a lot of love advancements from everywhere from the campus girls he was absolutely unconcerned. He pessimistically believed that accepting them might worsen his present pathetic situation. Uchenna, one of his admirers and friends, who lived in the same hostel with him was so prodigal and indeed, a nuisance. In his year one, he was spending and throwing money away like water. He had a lot of friends, and virtually everyone knew him and his spending spree. He even did not mind giving money freely to any female students he desired and wished to have as a girlfriend. Sincerely, he behaved like buffoons and like a prodigal son as in the Bible. For the fact that he was well-known by the two Medicine and Surgery students in the spending spree, he was cheated by them 65

to an enormous extent when they sold a room space. A small room fit to be a closet just adjoining their room was sold to the stupid profligate at the sum of three thousand Naira when a full room in the hostel was costing between two thousand Naira and three thousand Naira. However, Uchenna always told Emeka many pathetic stories. He went further demonstrating his fake stories and identity by telling him about his parents’ divorce situation. Obviously, he had owed Emeka a lot of money. It was from the small amount of money given to him for feeding he was giving to Uchenna out of pity, and at last, inconveniencing himself. This attenuated Emeka so immensely. One could be poised to thinking that his emaciation was only due to his too much emphasis on reading to escape relegation. Indeed, the first time he encountered him in his deceptive tongue, just like the advanced fee fraudsters, he thought he had hit a gold-mine. In his mind, he thought again that a messiah, who would help him whenever he had a financial problem had arrived, and not knowing that Uchenna was the one who would take the little he had. He regarded him to have come from a rich home as he said. However, Emeka’s thought was the normal thing an average student from a poor family in the campus would think that he would help him sometimes to pay for his meals. Meantime, Chukwuemeka had been pressurising him to pay up all his debts to him, but to no avail. He was procrastinating and procrastinating. Now, Uchenna had noticed one weak point of him that he was benign and compassionate to a fault. Whenever he said that he would not help him again, but after appealing to him solemnly, he would drop his earlier decision. Consequently, he capitalised on this to his undue advantage. Indeed, Uchenna had come one day, looking too famished, as it was discernible on his face. But Chukwuemeka did not have any money again to give. He was absolutely restless. Emeka had thought deeply concerning it. He had remembered that he was with the spare keys to their house outside the school. Thus, he took him down quickly to their house by trekking, unmindful of the distance. On reaching, he ransacked the whole house, looking for something edible to eat. Fortunately, there were beverages, and he quickly prepared tea and brought out a lot of Cabin biscuits in the fridge. This was for the interim, to hold their belly since they were hungry, especially the friend. There was no already made soup, but fish and cassava flakes popularly 66

known as ‘Garri’, which was yet to be prepared into a meal, were plenty in the house. He took some fish and prepared a quick soup only fit for the people in the prison to eat. As they were eating, Uchenna was talking like a person whose eyeballs were sprinkled with medicinal herbs. Afterwards, came his pathetic story of his. “True, my daddy is a medical doctor, residing at Amakaohia-Owerri,” Uchenna talked now with confidence and vigour, “and he’s very rich. The biggest problem I have is that he divorced my mum. Afterwards, she found herself out of the country to the United States of America. She sends me some good amount of money, but right now, I don’t really know what is preventing her. Coming to my dad, I’m no more in good terms with him. That’s why things are appearing bleak like this. Since I’m yet to get something from my mum’s hand, I’ve been forced to source money from my uncle residing in Kaduna. Now my problem is that I don’t have any money to go there and get something from him.” Crocodile tears rolled down his eyes profusely and Emeka pitied him the more. He had some good amount of money in the house. He unlocked his drawer and gave him three hundred Naira. Now, Uchenna was owing him nine hundred Naira. He promised to pay him when he had come back from Kaduna. He was wreathed with smiles at last. Though three hundred Naira was not enough for his journey to Kaduna, but he would borrow money to supplement it. A week later, Uchenna had come back. Chukwuemeka was happy and highly optimistic that good things were with him, but at last, he was greatly disappointed. Indeed, he had drawn his ire. His face looked like an angry leopard. He no longer wanted to be his friend anymore. Uchenna’s talks seemed like poison to him now since he had helped in no small measure in pauperizing him, and then coming up with so many excuses. Obviously, things might not be the same again. Now Chukwuemeka had started thinking how to recover the huge amount of money he had owed him. Undoubtedly, trouble was in the offing. Evil had come into the mind of Chukwuemeka. He had thought of many ways to recover his money either by hook or by crook since all things Uchenna had been telling him were all deceptions. He was a big fraudster. But Chukwuemeka had to weigh the option of using crude means to recover his money, which was not good, especially as it was a big dent on his Catholic virtue and morals in

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which he had vowed to live and to die for. Quickly, he had thought of another option, that is, to take possession of his KDK fan until he paid the money in full. Indeed, it was afterwards that Emeka’s eyes opened widely, as he had come to know the person he called a friend. Now there was nothing he could say again that Emeka would listen to. He had detested even to see him. Uchenna was now like a big potent poison to him that must be avoided completely. Obviously, following this boy might lead him astray exceedingly. On meeting him again, Uchenna, clownishly brandished two dollars on Emeka’s face, but he was unconcerned. He had got the lion’s type of heart. Thus, he was unperturbed by all his antics and tricks. However, Uchenna did not know again how to win his friend’s heart back to himself. All his attempts had failed to yield any fruit. Emeka, again, after weighing the cost of his friend’s wrist watch refused blatantly to take possession of it other than the fan, as it was not up to the amount he owed him. Now, Uchenna was restless and in a quandary of what next to do. “Look!’ said Chukwuemeka irritably, “I can only accept your fan and no other thing else.” Uchenna looked at this demand; he shook his head in disgust, and then, begged persistently. It was really too late, as Chukwmeka had turned off his ears from listening. “But I know that your help to me is too immense to forget so easily like that,” Uchenna said. “Our people that a fowl does not forget the person who plucks its feathers during the rainy season. I’m telling you right from my bosom that things will turn around for me and both of us will enjoy it, at last. Share this teething problem of mine with me, please.” ”Which type of problem are you talking about?” Emeka cut in. “Please, please, temper justice with mercy! Haven’t you read or heard about Antonio and Shylock in the book titled, ‘Merchant of Venice’ – a Shakespearean novel, on the need to forgive and show mercy?’ This was like vitriol poured on Emeka. It irritated him badly “So, you mean I’m now a Shylock, a hard-hearted moneylender and you are Antonio! That’s beautiful, indeed! All I want from you now is only but the fan or my money and nothing else,” said Emeka vigorously. “Will I chop your fan if it’s under my care? If you’re sincere in paying up as you are saying, then, drop it with me and nothing would happen to it in the end.” 68

“Listen, Emeka, it’ll pay you no dividend if you decisively seize this fan! I plead again, temper justice with mercy.” “Mercy? The mother of Mercy is dead, and there’s no way mercy would be tempered in this.” For five minutes, Uchenna, indeed, was in deep thought, as his appeals had yielded no fruit. Soon, his silence was broken. “Okay, how am I sure that my fan will be safe?” “I’m giving you hundred percent assurance that nothing will ever happen to it.” “If given you the fan would broker peace and restore our friendship, which is now on the precipice of collapse, I would do it. Here’s the fan; take it!” “Thank you very much for your good compliance.” Right off Chukwuemeka sent the fan to his off-campus home. Now, it had dawned on Uchenna to realise truly that his friend he had been using to his advantage was not a fool, but indeed a-no-nonsense man. He could not easily figure out the type of being he was. Initially, he thought that he was too weak to a fault and, nevertheless, a cheerful giver. Decisively, Uchenna made an impromptu travel to Kaduna without coming back to the campus again. However, Chukwuemeka did not want to know his whereabouts. He had known him afterwards to be a profligate, liar, trickster and nonserious student, who could have put his academic pursuit into jeopardy if God did not open his eyes early enough to sever the nexus holding them together. In the same vein, as the relationship got soured, he had had a cause to go back to his old reliable friend, Chukwuka, at Malabor and narrated to him everything. Chukwuka was not in doubt and perplexed about the questionable character of Uchenna. He had known him in the first year as a liar and profligate. “I’m quite surprised to hear from you that you never knew him in our first year,” said Chukwuka. “Look, this boy is a prodigal son indeed! In our year one, he was spending his money on his friends like water. He could go to a hotel with friends and leisured for days before coming back to the campus. He has a sweet-coated tongue, and even, can deceive a wise person at tremendous ease. This character of his is innately ingrained in him. To God be the glory that He opened your eyes quickly to know him before he ruined you!”

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“But he told me that his father is a medical doctor and that the mummy is in the USA, and I thought, however, that a messiah had come finally,” Emeka cut in. “Now my eyes are truly opened to realise that the apple I thought that was good is full of worms. I’ll never fall prey again! And never will I be deceived again!” “How much did he swindle you of?” “My friend, a sum of N900.” Chukwuka was in open-mouthed bewilderment, carrying his hands on his head. “Eh, you had this kind of money to give out freely like father-Christmas? Anyway, you’ve the money to do so.” “Don’t blame me because I didn’t know who he was. I thought he was a good fellow. It was out of God’s mercy that I decisively deprived myself of sundry things; food and joy, in order to save his soul, not knowing that he was a real criminal and accursed child by God. And I’ve learned a lot from this. You see, it’s good for such things to happen to learn a lesson from it! It’s only an idiot that can be fooled two times.” Nevertheless, it was a month into the close of the semester and two weeks remaining for the commencement of the second-semester examination, lecturers were busy giving out tests, and on the other hand, the students were anxious studying and preparing themselves for the tests and the forthcoming examination. However, the first semester examination results had been released. It was a big disaster in the science faculty, especially the Chemistry Department. Many students were warming themselves out of the department due to their very poor performances. Indeed, Chukwuemeka had heard about the release of the last semester examination results and the concomitant massive failure of some of his course-mates. In an instant, he developed cold feet; having a reflection on the first-semester examination, he had taken, which he was quite convinced in his mind that he would perform very well, but he would not predict the outcome with precision, even though he knew what he wrote. In fact, he had thought of having A grades and B grades and nothing less. Courageously, he moved to the department just towards the twilight of the day. After a short distance was covered, his heart began to throb exceedingly like a person who had just escaped from a lion or leopard menace on meeting it suddenly. Afterwards, he started walking calmly with fright with his hands folded, heading to the department. 70

There was no person in the department other than him. He was endeavouring to see clearly his monstrous result. “This is an incredible result! It can’t be mine at all!” he fumed in disbelief. He pictured the result again and again, making sure it was his number. He was completely startled at what he was seeing. He counted the number of failed courses; it was in the ratio of 5:4 – five failed courses and four passed courses. Goose pimples developed over his body. Suddenly, he was overwhelmed with tears. It was as if he was about to urinate in his trousers like a baby. This was followed with fright and headache. It ached him as if in the next minute the head would fall off from his body. As some minutes had ticked away, he got the vigour to move, even though he was highly depressed. He was moving, stumbling and falling, kicking the earth like a drunk, who had lost his senses, and now under delirium. Reaching the bush path to the medical school, he could not move again; he had looked up and down, gazing around and brooding what was amiss. He shook his head in distraught, sat down on the top edge of a stone with his left hand placed on his chin and the right hand on his chest. He was solemnly brooding over the tragedy that had befallen him, his quest for knowledge and also things ahead of him. Tears again rolled down his handsome face profusely. He was there murmuring and later soliloquising. He was, however, murmuring like the way madmen do. Sincerely, he had heavily thinned down instantly. He was no longer aware of his environment. He was subconscious to say the least. Nevertheless, the night was coming faster and faster and about to overtake him. Suddenly, he started regaining his total consciousness. He shouted in excitement; “O what’s happening? What’s happening to me? I, Chukwuemeka, suffering this trauma? When shall this be over? In the twinkling of an eye, I metamorphosed into a never-do-well? Is there anything I could do to bring myself to resuscitation and or resilience that I’ve not endeavoured to do? He gazed up to the sky, raising and spreading his hands, with palms opened like priests in the church celebrating Mass. He asked; “God, what have I done? Is it because of my sins? Please, O Lord, cease to pour out your anger upon me, a poor sinner, for in sin I was born, a sinner was I conceived! Now, what am I going to tell my elder brother? And what am I going to tell the people at home – my parents, siblings, who have trust and faith in me for liberation. So I’ve 71

fallen down like an Iroko tree, truly! No, no! Something is cooking somewhere! This is an incredible story! A story I’ll never believe even in the dream has come to me. This is a story that has befuddled my senses to think and reason, and closes my ears for hearing. When shall I come back to what I used to be? This is an anticlimax and a hope betrayed, indeed! The sudden downfall of a mighty Iroko tree that had shown a glorious meteoric beginning. Can he come back to life again and eventually end up very well? “I think something is hunting me subtly. Maybe my wrangling with the lecturers at various occasions might be the cause. They believed I’ve insulted and challenged them. If it’s so, I don’t regret my exchanging words with them. “I unshakably believe that this isn’t my result. Where are the A grades and B grades I thought of getting? I knew I never wrote off-points like the nits do. I know myself and proud of my abilities. In terms of reading and concentration, I do it even better than an average student. The question now is, can I be the same again? It’s now very difficult if not impossible to comport myself and return to good performing ways. “Maybe, I’ll go to the sundry lecturers to see my marked scripts in the various courses, and if possible go for remarking. But, is this not going to worsen my pathetic situation and, however, earn me an abysmal ending? I don’t really have the long leg here in this place. O Lord, help me and let your will be done in my life, for I know that you created me for a purpose! For it is written in the book of Hebrew 6:17, ‘To those who were to receive what he promised, God wanted to make it very clear that he would never change his purpose; so he added a vow to the promise.’ God will indeed fulfill his promise in my life.” On totally regaining consciousness, he calmly stood up, cleaned his tearsscattered face with his finger knuckles and left to the hostel. On reaching the hostel, no one knew what was happening, as he failed to open up on his ordeal, even to his coursemate squatting with him. Gently and unnoticed, he packed some of his clothes in his travelling bag and headed to his brother’s off-campus home. Albeit, one of his roommates saw him but declined to ask him where he was going to since he thought he was going to his brother’s house outside the school as he was used to doing. Ndubuishi was at home and Emeka had stayed quietly for thirty minutes ruminating about his trauma, and afterwards, could no longer bear stoically the pain,

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burst into weeping and sobbing to the surprise of his brother who was busy watching a video movie “What’s amiss with you?” Ndubuishi asked perplexedly. “Is there no food in the house to eat?” “No, brother, I’m not hungry, but something too painful is disturbing and dragging me to the grave!” “What’s that?” “I don’t really know how to narrate it to you.” “Is there anything the eyes will see to start dripping out blood?” “But you’ll feel bad if I apprise you of it.” “Tell me, please!” Chukwuemeka, nevertheless, unfolded his pathetic story. Rather than his brother being angry with him, he encouraged him a lot not to give up to diligent studies, that it would be okay and that it was the type of experience brilliant and intelligent people do have especially in the university. He dissuaded him from his attempt to change his course to any of the courses in the Management/Social Sciences. However, every edible thing had appeared nauseating to him. To eat and drink was a big problem. He was still thinking himself to the grave despite the advice and encouragement given to him by his elder brother. Notwithstanding that, he had suffered insomnia for two days. Three days afterwards, he debated within himself whether to go for the test in one of his courses, but indeed he had not prepared for it adequately unless he would be banking on his foreknowledge. Albeit, he had been reading before the tragedy struck him, but the problem had had an overwhelming effect on him. Thus, if he must sit for the test, he must get rid of the problem as quickly as possible and forge ahead, looking forward toward the future. Decidedly, he had opted to go for the test, but hesitantly. Reaching school, the New Science Lecture Theatre, NSLT, was filled to the brim with students, since the course was like a general course for all the science students in the faculty. He entered unceremoniously, took the test and left, avoiding his friends’ and other course-mates’ knowledge. After the test, it was the released-results that were in students lips. However, Chukwuemeka’s result had entered into so many students’ ears. Rumours had 73

made the round that he had finally withdrawn his going to school. And they felt sorry for him. The rumour had also gone into Chukwuka’s ears, and he was greatly shocked and apprehensive about this. He was at a loss for words. Thus, as the sun was loosing its brightness and intensity, twilight was coming faster and faster and the shadows of people were scarcely seen, Chukwuka left the campus to Chukwuemeka’s residence outside the school to confirm the rumour that swept his feet out of the earth surface and spreading like wildfire amongst their coursemates in the class, that he had withdrawn himself. Chukwuka went together with Nse, who was also Chukwuemeka’s friend. Chukwuka thumped the door and Emeka instructed them to come in. They greeted Ndubuishi and shook hands with him. Soon, Ndubuishi left the house, leaving Chukwuemeka and his friends. “We heard what happened to you and we decidedly came to have some talks with you,” Nse said. “My brothers, what I’ve experienced and undergoing presently had discomfited my sense of reasoning and thinking.” Emeka replied. “Don’t let it linger in your mind, otherwise you’ll have yourself to blame in the end.” Chukwuka advised. “Chukwuka and Nse, it isn’t easy to have such an experience without brooding over it unless you’re not a human being.” “We know, but our advice is that you shouldn’t let it perturb you so much to the extent of letting it cause you heartbreak,” said Chukwuka. “I’d have preferred dying than having this excruciating experience, which had trumatised me so greatly.” “Please, don’t talk like that. Do you think you’re the only one in this problem? Don’t just kill yourself because of the little problem of yours. After all, some intellectuals and other eminent men in this society of ours suffered the same fate as you are undergoing. And now, what are their positions in the society? They’re the best brains and eminent men we have today. Don’t lose hope! Your problem is a test of how strong you are and how you are to face much more serious problems in the macro society and the ability to conquer them. Indeed, if there’s no cross, there’s no crown.

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God can never test you beyond your power to remain firm. So, this is also the test of your faith in God.” Nse exhorted. “Haven’t you heard that one of the two popular girls who were too fanatic and laying too much emphasis on being born again, leaving their academic studies to suffer had fallen apart like a house of cards,” Chukwuka said. “Both of them failed all their courses. That’s to say, no matter how they struggle in this forthcoming examination, they’re already in the list of probationary or withdrawal students. However, so many others failed like the way breadfruits fall down from a tree. Though, theirs cannot be compared with yours because you are very potent hardworking, proficient, but stupendous student even more than Nse and I. But, however, don’t bemoan yourself. You have to thank your God for letting you perform very well in those courses you passed and not having too many bad scores, which would have put you in the danger list.” Here Chukwuemeka hissed and sighed with distraught. “But my unceasing failure has become an index of a nitwit.” “No, no, no!” Nse and Chukwuka simultaneously chorused. “Your ability to overcome the problem in the end would be evidence of strong character, perseverance, and radicalism in you,” Said Nse in conviction. “Don’t you think so?” Chukwuka cut in. “After all, there are some of your mates who’re still battling with their GCE examination not to talk of the JME,” said Nse. “Look, if you think and die, no living head would be put in your casket! This suffices to say that your parents and siblings had lost an illustrious personality,” exhorted Chukwuka. “Please, don’t give up or kill yourself! Look, there is always light at the end of the tunnel! That means, there’s a great hope on the horizon for you. Unshakably, I believe there’s a miracle on the way. The way to heaven or success is never an easy road. You stumble and fall, but Jesus is always there with you. He smoothens the rough path for you. After all, Jesus Christ himself fell down three times on the way to the Cross and stood up, and continued the journey to Calvary: and it is a lesson for us all not to give up hope when things are not moving well as we have expected it. So, you must stand up and move. Jesus said in the book of Matthew 16:24,

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‘If anyone wants to come with me, he must forget self, carry his

cross,

and

follow me.’ “Thus, keep calm and wait for the Lord to act on your case. Just as the books of Psalms 37 verses 7-9 says, ‘Be patient and wait for the Lord to act; don’t be worried about those who prosper or those who succeed in their evil plans. Don’t give in to worry or anger; it only leads to trouble. Those who trust in the Lord will possess the land, but the wicked will be driven out.’ ” “Okay, let me tell you a story to narrow down our points,” said Nse. “There was one boy, a graduate student of this citadel of learning. He was very brilliant and intelligent in all ramifications. His brilliance and intelligence manifested in his behaviour, way of talking, reading and writing and virtually in all things he did. This was inherent character in him, which he exhibited for many a time, starting from his day one at primary before he entered the university. Right from his first year to the final year he was confronted with so many problems unabated, such as financial, academic, etc including having problems with lecturers, just like you. But his struggle for survival continued. The more he failed, the more he became more aggressive, hardworking, persevering and radical. His problem even came to the worst, as the lecturers detested him, and nothing he did and wrote in the examination they liked or proclaimed good enough. They oppressed him so badly that towards the twilight of his academic career they wanted to push him villainously out of the department, ostensibly, against the background of his poor performances. But with the intervention of the Almighty God, they reneged their evil machinations they conceived against him. The authorities made sure that he repeated his final year when he didn’t merit it. At last, he was graduated with an ordinary third-class degree also known as a gentleman’s certificate honours. But do you know what? When he came into the macro world, he became a genius. However, at a later part of his life, he got first class in a foreign university. “Emeka, you see what hard work and perseverance can do. You’re not alone in this type of problem. Many had passed through it before you, and some are still passing through it, and it goes on like that. I believe unshakably that you have such innate character like the person I narrated to you above, though your GPA is high and there’s 76

no way you’ll get a gentleman’s certificate at the end. So, as I have said, you could do the same as the man if you can combine that inside you with that man’s own. Thus, don’t withdraw yourself! There’s hope on the horizon, and there is always light at the end of the tunnel. Remember what Thomas Babington Macaulay said, “Half knowledge is worse than ignorance.”s Remember also the story of Abraham Lincoln and how he failed in the senate election in 1854. And what happened in the end? Not only that, he won a presidential election, but he is remembered so greatly in the history, as one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, especially on the issue of slave abolition and among the presidents, who made America what it is today. The destiny of a man is in his hands. ‘However, Psalm 30 verse 5 summed it up, ‘His anger lasts only a moment, his goodness for a life time. Tears may flow in the night, but joy comes in the morning.’ “Soon, God will see you through in this your predicament, and you’ll become a happy man again, and all this will become history. Nevertheless, never you forget the suffering of Job, and how his friends came up, laughing and taunting him: and behold what he told three of them, ‘There is hope for a tree that has been cut down; it can come back to life and sprout. Even though its roots grow old, and its stump dies in the ground, with water it will sprout like a young plant.’ “Thus, the suffering and rising of Job back to life is a lesson for you and us. It’s only when you die that every hope has ended.” Nse and Chukwuka left back to the campus after eating the food prepared for them by Chukwuemeka with the promise of visiting him the next day at least to share more word of God with him.

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CHAPTER NINE Chukwuemeka had started alienating himself from some of his fellow students. He was now shy to walk and discuss freely with them. Perhaps, it might be an attempt to run away from the students whose results were good, as they would ceaselessly discuss the released results, which on listening to it would irritate him the more and he would start thinking himself to the grave and would make him to perform abysmally in the forthcoming second semester exam. Besides, he was endeavouring to run away from them to avoid insinuation, which would be a derision in disguise since he was known by all to be intelligent and brilliant in his behavioural pattern, speeches and discussions. Against this backdrop, he had now unprecedentedly sitting at the back bench in the class and always in the state of quietude. But as John Donne said, ‘No man is an island, entire of itself,’ this had, however, offered him the opportunity to start sharing aspirations with like-minds. One female student who was also a brilliant student in Higher School days and at primary, but had been unable to find her bearing had begun to move closer to Chukwuemeka, admiring and craving for his relationship. He was reading at night in the New Arts Theatre, NAT, where Ofonime was burning away all her strength against the approaching second semester examination. On the recently released results, Ofonime performed abysmally. Both were sitting close to each other. When they were tired they began to talk, sharing views and aspirations together. Nevertheless, this was a new development, as they were not doing so before right from the first-year at the school. Indeed, Chukwuemeka had read to the extent of losing so many calories. He was very weak. He did not have any option than to close his book and go back to the hostel. But Ofonime drew him closer, asking him why he was going. “It’s like you’ve not learnt a lesson from the previous failures?” Ofonime asked. Silence rent the air. She continued, “Sit down and read; it’s too early to go!” “But I’m too weak to continue.” Jokingly, he asked, “Did I tear anybody’s certificate, that I should read like that and die on top of a book, in order to pay back the certificate torn?” Both of them burst simultaneously into laughter. Both their faces were encapsulated in smiles. 78

“Thus, I can say that the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” “I know that truly; but can’t you exercise patience and stay with me for a while. Aren’t you happy that you’re with me?” “I know that’s what you’re looking for.” Chukwuemeka being so magnetised by the attractive and good flashy-look of hers, had decidedly succumbed to her whims and caprices. That was the power of women in action. They can make a powerful man to do what he intends not to do. However, Ofonime on her own, had stopped reading; after all, she was already saturated. Not wasting much time, she had started sharing views with Emeka, the newly found reliable companion. True, the optimism of both becoming very intimate was on the horizon. “You’re from Ugwunta,” Ofonime drew the first blood. “Yes,” he replied. “But do you know one Ogonim Ogbonna?” “Not precisely.” “I knew her from my school. Anyway, she was my junior.” “You know it’s scarcely easy to know all the people from the same area with one unless one started at the same time with the person, albeit my town isn’t all that densely populated.” “Now, let’s talk another thing. Are your parents living?” “Yes of course. What of you?” “Yes,” she smiled. “How many are you in the family?” “Ah, too many O!” “Don’t hide it now! Tell me, please! My ears are open to hear.” “A dozen minus one.” Ofonime in open-mouthed bewilderment. “It’s like your dad disturbed your mum so much and never let her rest. Hmm, that woman must be a powerful and strong one, indeed,” both laughed raucously. “You’re too funny indeed. How many are you then?” “Four. And it’s an ideal.” “As you think so.”

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“Let’s move to another topic. I think at this juncture, I’ll like to be frank with you. You’re fresh and sweet.” Emeka was mute for about fifteen seconds on the praise and admiring words of Ofonime showered on to him. Ofonime gently pushed him, but glamorously with demure smiles. “Thank you for your good admiration and praise of me,” he pretended. “Do you have a relation here?” “Yes.” “How related?” “My elder brother.” “Wow! No wonder! I’m sure you’re off-campus student?” “Partially. I go back to the house every Friday evening and return to the school either Sunday evening or Monday morning.” “No wonder! You’re enjoying a lot, and that is why you’re having a rosy cheeks. I feel jealous of you.” Both laughed. Soon, both stood up to go. Chukwuemeka saw Ofonime off up to the school commercial Bus Terminal. On mounting the top of motorbike they bade each other farewell, and then, he went back to the hostel through the bush path. Meantime, Chukwuemeka had gone to the sundry lecturers to see for himself, his true results from the marked scripts. But he left them variously in disillusionment. He was shouted at, rebuffed, reproved and pilloried variously for having the temerity to approach them. They told him that if he was not satisfied with any of his failed courses he got lower grades so far, that he should go to the Senate of the school and call for remarking, and that would be the time they would answer him. As he was ruminating on what next to do, he thought of ordering for the remarking of his failed courses. However, there was a great hurdle and an albatross on his way. He did not have the wherewithal to bring this to a physical realisation. But even if he had it, and went straight for it, it would on the long run spell doom to his academic pursuit, as he had heard about the stories of the students who had done that and how they ended up. Few succeeded partially and others met their Waterloo. The lecturers would in the end become too vindictive on him. Against this backdrop, he decidedly piped down and put 80

everything that had happened to him, to God Almighty, who is the only judge, and who will judge and reward the just and the wicked. It was five days remaining for the examination to start; Chukwuemeka had gone to his course-mate, Nnamdi, who out of benignity brought him to squat with him when he was without provocation thrown out of his former room, where he was squatting to solve a chemistry tutorial and past questions papers with him. He was left aghast and with disenchantment. Indeed, what he was teaching was not comprehensible enough to him, and he was confusing him the more. The Chemistry questions actually needed a simple solution. Against this backdrop, Chukwuemeka disagreed with him, telling him the proper way to getting rightly the solution to their problems. Nnamdi was angry about this. He reproached and pilloried him. “How do you know that I’m wrong?” Nnamdi rebuked angrily. “Am I a nitwit that a simple Chemistry problem like this, that I can’t proffer a solution or add anything towards it in order to get the problem solved?” Emeka replied “Don’t be silly! That’s why you’re failing your examinations. When you don’t know rather than keeping quiet and listen to your master, you just out of your foolhardiness challenged me.” “What?” That I don’t know? O all your thoughts are that since I’ve not been able to find my feet since I came into this citadel of learning and, at the same time, coming to you to help me solve this little problem makes me a rattlebrained individual?” Emeka hissed and cried out within himself, as tears rolled down his cheeks in succession. “O God, what shall I do to bounce back to my former glory, so that people will know that I know.” In an instant this occurred, Nnamdi left Chukwuemeka in exasperation, telling his roommates with disdain at the next corner about Emeka’s emptiness of head, which had caused his fumbling in various examinations. In the meantime, it was this same Nnamdi, who went about telling their course-mates that Chukwuemeka had withdrawn himself from school when he never told him anything like that. Obviously, it could be put forward that Nnamdi was confusing Chukwuemeka, as he did not have a clear solution to the Chemistry problem; he was doing trial and error method. Nonetheless,

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Chukwuemeka had the idea about the solution to the problem, but a little thing was missing, which he needed a little explanation to get to it. Nevertheless, this Nnamdi’s behaviour had caused Chukwuemeka to be in great deep thought, bewailing his academic doldrums. He prayed to God to see his agony he was undergoing and to assist him in obviating the problems beclouding him so that in the end, He would be glorified; and however, his detractors and all those who had ridiculed and taunted him would be put to shame when they had seen what He had done for him to set him free. A general saying among the people goes like this that a fowl does not forget the person who plucks its feathers during the raining season. But Nnamdi had forgotten so soon when he did not have a place to lay his head, not to talk of a place to keep his loads. No wonder his people, the Ugwuta say, “Kindness and goodness is good when you do it for a man with good conscience and who can remember!” Nnamdi had never thought it wise that if Chukwuemeka out of vengeance sent him out of his corner that he would be sleeping from one place to another without having a base. Perhaps, he had the confidence that should he send him out of his corner, his other roommates whom he had got familiarised with would squat him. That was a wrong way of paying good with evil, which Nnamdi, had done. With his wry face, he left the school unnoticed to his off-campus home since it was Friday. In the interim, he had thought of expelling him from his corner, but he reneged on the thought that it would not be good in the sight of God. However, it would tantamount to vindictiveness on his part. Nevertheless, it was Saturday, as he had finished his routine chores and sweating out with his books, that his good-for-nothing friend arrived. Soon, he embarked on his usual banters and jokes, maybe, to win back his friend’s heart. If what he was thinking was so, he was absolutely making a mistake, as Chukwuemeka had known him fully well and made a stand and conclusion about him. And to his utmost bewilderment, Chukwuemeka, incisively without hiding the whole gamut of his feelings said; “Please, right now, I don’t need much noise, as I’m preparing for my examination, which is not later than three days ahead. Don’t be offended with this blunt

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my remark, but you should understand why my action is like this! However, can I help you now?” True, this was sufficient reason to warn Uchenna that he was no longer in the good books of his friend, that he should do everything hastily to leave his house to avoid a great discomfiture. “Yes,” replied Uchenna. “I came to carry my fan in your possession.” “Okay, that’s very fine. But where’s my money?” He thrust his right hand into his right pocket, brought out some money and gave it to him. Emeka collected the money, counted it without making any mistake. “My friend, my money isn’t complete. It’s N300 here.” “Take it from me, for I’ll pay the remaining very soon.” “Very soon means what? Please, be precise: when?” Silence rent the air. “Can’t you talk again?” “I’m thinking of the day.” “You’re not serious!” “Okay, before the end of this second semester exam.” “Is that so?” Emeka went back to his reading after putting the money in his pocket with happiness. “Now, give me the fan, as I’ve given you some part of the money!” “My friend, don’t disturb my peace, for I’m reading diligently for my examinations.” “But I’ve promised you now of giving you the rest soon. Don’t you understand?” “Understand what? Please, for your own interest, leave my house for now, until you’re ready! Your fan is here and nothing will ever happen to it.” Uchenna murmured, and murmured, and eventually left Emeka’s house in shame, thinking about the type of heartless person Emeka was, as he was unyielding and unforgiving. The eve of the second semester examination was full of problems. Members of the secret gangs from various confraternities were sailing and fighting for supremacy. There was no sleeping amongst the students. And neither was there any meaningful 83

reading by the students. Everyone was highly frightened. Gunshots boomed and boomed disquieting the serenity of the nights. All and sundry were wary about opening their books, let alone stepping out to urinate in the lavatory. Students who had the urge for excretion got stuck with it. Indeed, the brawl was between the Black Axe Confraternity and Vikings Confraternity. The fighting was spread across all the nooks and crannies of the school, including the Club, also known as the Female hostel. There was no retreat and there was no surrender from either side in the struggle for supremacy. Indeed, four days of serious fighting had left some students maimed, wounded and some sent to their untimely grave. Still, the authorities of the University of Calabar were unperturbed and unmindful of the unfolding, but unforgettable event. Perhaps, some of them were not oblivious of the dangerous situation posing the students since after all, several of them were behind the nefarious gang’s activities. They were the master-minders, initiators and sponsors of the campus restiveness and disquietude. However, on the fifth day, when Chukwuemeka was with Chukwuka coming from the department and heading towards Malabor, the male hostel, probably to do some revisions together, they saw a cluster of students just at the threshold of Malabor: they were mistaken to be students, waiting for the arrival of the School buses to send them to their sundry destinations within the campus. Obviously, they were the bad boys, the hydra-headaches in the campus. Nearing them, there were screeching shouts from them. “We’ll kill him! We’ll kill him!” Their victim was coming in front of them. He saw them and recognised them to be the opponent terrorist group. Immediately, he made a fast dash. He was running towards the Club as his legs would carry him. Perhaps, he was a member of the Vikings confraternity, the group that had some conflicts with them the previous night. The Black-axe Confraternity members went after him in vehemence. Sounds of gun rent the air. Poor him, he did not have a saviour, as his colleagues were not around. As he ran, he had some heartthrobs, reminding him that it was the end of his life. Alas, they had overwhelmed him. They were chopping and stabbing him in succession at all parts of his body, including the head. The victim screeched and screeched without any helper coming up to the rescue. He was badly axed in the head, just as his body was badly 84

disfigured. He was on his pool of blood. As the bad boys left in the twinkle of an eye like meteors, a Malabite, maybe, his brother by ties of consanguinity had hastened up, hired a waiting motorbike and sent the dying victim to the school Medical Centre at the main campus of the university. Alas, the said student died eventually in the evening of the same day. On the heels of the unfortunate death, pandemonium and chaos overwhelmed everywhere. Members of the Vikings confraternity were absolutely irked, as they had vowed by oath to take vengeance from the BlackAxe confraternity. Nevertheless, a fresh hostility kicked off afterwards.

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CHAPTER TEN Chukwuemeka was spending his second semester holidays at his country home. Meanwhile, out of naivety he had narrated to the mother his unprecedented traumatic academic experiences since his inception at year one. Without containment, the mother profusely shaded tears. She lamented about his son who had shown a good erudition and scholarship right from the first day at school, fumbling like the never-do-wells in the society. She cursed the very fellow who had caused her son’s problem, whether physical, perhaps from the lecturers or spiritually from the unseen demonic powers. “My son,” the mother called, “My only exhortation is that you must work extra hard and leave the other sones to God! He’ll judge the wicked accordingly. Jesus said in John 8:12, ‘Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.’ “Continue to pray to God and struggle hard, because very soon those your evil inclined lecturers, I mean those of your oppressors will change gear, as it’ll begin to dawn on them that no matter how a man is oppressed and suppressed, and if God is with him, he shall stumble and fall, but he shall be raised up at the end by Him. My beloved son, I’m the one who brought you up into this very world, and I know you very well more than any other person. You’re more than intelligent and brilliant, and I unshakably believe that there’s always light at the end of the tunnel. That light at the end of the tunnel is the light of God in you, which is ingrained and cannot be taken away from you. It’s the light that’ll make you shine anywhere you go, no matter the opposition; the light that’ll make you shine even in the dark! There’s a song like this; ‘The Light must shine! The light of God must shine! No matter what the devil does, the light of God must shine!’ “Undoubtedly, what has been given to you has been given to you; it can never be taken away from you. That’s why the bible says in the book of Romans 11:29, ‘For God does not change his mind about whom he chooses and blesses.’ “So, do not be afraid, my son! Be courageous! Be determined! You’re going to conquer in the end!”

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Two months later, the gate of the university was opened again after a long semester holidays, and normal activities resumed. Chukwuemeka, nevertheless, had not packed into the campus, as he was yet to see a student who would either squat him or buy a bed-space with. Thus, he was coming to school from his brother’s house. Meantime, he had finished everything about registration and differing three of his year two failed courses to final year, as was mistakenly advised by the academic adviser. However, Ofonime had returned to the campus too, but was yet to set her eyes on Chukwuemeka, because the lectures were still to commence. Shortly after two weeks of the resumption, it expectantly began; and the venue was New Science Lecture Theatre, NSLT, Hall 3. The hall was filled to the brim by the year-three students of Chemistry, as it was what they had been hoping for at least to see the beloved friends whom they had missed variously for three months running. Albeit, the lecture was still to commence, Chukwuemeka arrived with his usual beautiful outfits. He was in blackstriped pair of trousers upon an elegant white long sleeve shirt and black-pair of marching shoes. He donned a floral red-striped silk tie. Coupled with his good haircut, his face was glittering like a diamond; and he was radiating with amorous smiles and handsomeness. Sighting Emeka coming, Ofonime was highly intrigued and fraught with amorous love. As he was coming to sit where she and her friend Chinyere were, Ofonime fixed her radiating eyes on him and blinked it afterwards. That Ofonime’s behaviour jerked up Chukwuemeka’s male organ and rousing him exceedingly. He managed to control himself; however, he smiled at last in reciprocation. Earlier on before the arrival of Emeka, Ofonime had confessed her love for him to Chinyere: and where Emeka was sitting beside Chinyere she told him that Ofonime was wearing skimpy-skirt which he was averse to. As if it was not enough, suddenly, she stood up for him to see it and admire the beauty of God’s creation in her. True, her flattering figure and voluptuous curves of her bodies were unfolded, eliciting Chukwuemeka to excitement again. He was absolutely roused; and consequently, he pretentiously bent down his head on the desk. Ofonime knew what had transpired. She was happy because that was what she had been desiring, to get him roused. No sooner he had raised his head up than Chinyere and Ofonime swapped positions to make a provision for Chukwuemeka to sit in between for easy conversation devoid of other students having the slightest knowledge of their discourse. 87

“I love your dressing,” said Ofonime in enthusiastic admiration, but in a low voice. “Thank you so much for that.” Chukwuemeka beamed with smiles. “Don’t you like my dressing?” “Hmm, no!” he nodded. “Why?” “You know why.” “I don’t know really, but tell me.” “I’m averse to your skimpy wear. Don’t you know that you can draw one to craze and make him crave for something he doesn’t want to?” “Really?” “Yes.” “But this doesn’t mean anything, my darling. At least, you can see the work of God’s creation in me. He made me very beautiful, and I wanted to expose it to you, to see it and admire what He has bestowed on me. Be happy and cheerful with it! Please, lift up your head with boldness and be proud of me, for I can’t do this for anyone else if not the likes of you.” “I’ve said what I’ve said, stop donning all these clothes! I don’t like it. You know this doesn’t portray one as a disciplined fellow from home.” “Ok, I’ve heard what you’ve said. Thank you very much for your concern. But let’s talk another thing. You’re looking too fresh and your cheeks very rosy; where did you spend your holidays?’ “At my country home.” “How are your parents and siblings?” “O very fine! How about yours?” “Very fine too.” “Then, where did you spend your holidays?” Emeka asked. “Garden City of Port Harcourt.” However, soon, the lecture commenced, and finally ended in a very good note, and as many a student had left the class to their sundry destinations, Chukwuemeka, Ofonime and Chinyere stayed behind and eventually resumed their discourse.

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“When are you taking me to your house and when are you taking me out?” Ofonime solicited He kept mum. “Tell me now!” “Okay, very soon.” “Hmm, it’s like it didn’t come out from your bosom.” “Why not! It really came out from my bosom.” “But when are you making good your promise? The former statement is indefinite, as it’s fraught with uncertainty.” “Don’t you trust me?” “Hmm, Malabites? They’re full of lies and can’t keep promise.” “So, you don’t trust and believe me?” “I’m very sorry, please,” she pleaded at last. “I believe all your words. You’re not among the Malabites I’m referring to. I was in the same vein trying to pull your legs.” She chuckled. “Sorry to ask you, who’s your boy. . . ?” “Boyfriend?” “I don’t have any, other than you O.” Both laughed shortly. And Ofonime stroked Chukwuemeka “True? How can I believe this? A big girl like you.” “Do you think that every girl you’re seeing in this campus have a boyfriend?” “But you look so comely, attractive and expensive. How come?” “Eh, I don’t want any of them.” “You want to tell me that no one comes to disturb you about it. Look at how comely and attractive you are! You can’t be serious!” “Honestly, they do, but I always give them a blunt answer.” “Does it mean that they’re not up to or that they’re not appealing or they can’t offer anything?” “Hmm, what do you think an average Malabite will do for me? Do they have a dime? There’s nothing any Malabite or a man will do for me that my parents can’t afford to do, okay.” “That’s good! But I hope you’re not a hater of men.” 89

“If I am, do you think I’ll hold you in discussion, even for a long time like this? This depicts my good upbringing. But in any case, I have someone in my innermost part of me.” “Eh, I’ll like to know that person O!” “Not now. Perhaps, the emerging scenario will unearth that special person in my heart.” “But this is the first time I’m hearing this that . . . However, some girls from affluent homes still do mess up here unmindful of their sundry backgrounds.” “Yes, this is very true! It’s due to their upbringing. Remember the scriptural passage in the book of Proverbs 22:6, ‘Teach a child how he should live and he will remember it all his life.’ “However, here the majority of the prostitutes we have on this campus are from the affluent homes. All things the so-called big and sharp girls are doing here started right from their respective homes; regrettably, under the nose of their parents. They aren’t complacent with what they have. They’re the ‘jonsers’ and never-do-wells around us, and they still pass their exams either by hook or by crook.” “That’s true O! But, nevertheless, who’s that guy in your innermost part of you. I want to know, please.” “Why do you want to know now?” She burst into laughter. “Please, tell me now! Am I not your friend? Why do you hide it from me?” “Okay, since you want to know. The person is Chukwuemeka Okechukwu,” she whispered into his ear. “Ha. . . ! Me? Unbelievable!” “Yes, now. Are you not up to?” Three of them laughed and laughed. “Aren’t you happy that a big, attractive and elegant girl like Ofonime is interested in you and even confessing it to you, which is unlike a real African woman?” Chinyere cut in. Chukwuemeka smiled and nodded his head in equanimity. “Okay, I’m happy about this; but, let’s see how it’ll work out.” Shortly, three of them stood up to go. Then, Chukwuemeka appealed to Ofonime and Chinyere to have patience till the girl whom she told to bring his new 90

pictures he snapped at his country home during the holidays had returned. This was against the background of the request made by both of them from Chukwuemeka to give them his pictures. “Hmm, I hope she isn’t your babe?” Chinyere questioned. “No! How could she be?” “Who knows,” replied Chinyere. “Don’t you trust me, Ofonime?” “I do.” The three raucously laughed gaily as they left.

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CHAPTER ELEVEN Chinyere had visited Chukwuemeka’s house and she grinned with delight. After staying with him for three good hours enjoying his good sense of humour and watching video movies she opted to go back to the campus. Reaching the hostel, she had gone to Ofonime, and unfolded her unplanned visit to Chukwuemeka’s residence outside the school. Without mincing words, she told her that in their house there was this and there was that. Ofonime was delighted, and on the heels of it, she developed an enthusiastic interest to visit her friend whom she admired so much and confessed love towards to. Indeed, this was an opportunity she had been looking for. Ofonime had come to school the next day and engaged Chukwuemeka in a conversation as no lecture was yet to commence. “Hmm, I heard that Chinyere visited you yesterday and you entertained her!” She felt jealous. “Ah! Who told you?” He asked in surprise. “You’re asking me who told me.” “Yes, now.” “In fact, it’s Chinyere herself, who told me everything. Are you now satisfied?” “What did she tell you?” “She told me how she visited you and you entertained her heavily. She, in the same vein, told me you have virtually everything such as video cassette Recorder, VCD, big coloured television, fridge, well-furnished parlour, and so on.” Chukwuemeka chuckled. “Have you replaced me with her?” “How possible?” “But I hope you did not do anything with her?” “How possible could this type of nonsense thing happen? Don’t you trust me anymore?” “Let me say so o! I feared, truly, when I heard about it. And I told myself, so soon, so quick? Thank God, my fear is contrary. So, what kind of film did both of you watch?’ “Two Moon Junction and Close My Eyes.”

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“Indeed, I’ve watched the former, but yet to watch the latter. Nevertheless, tell me now what’s it all about?” He chuckled. “Eh, it’s all about a boy who loved her blood sister so exceedingly, and later on, this love led both of them into having sexual intercourse. However, this made the boy so close to her that he couldn’t live without her been always close to him all the time. “Unarguably, this is incest, something that is forbidden or taboo, and a grievous sin before God.” “I’d like to watch the movie. Again, when are you taking me to your house and when are you taking me out. You know I’m proud of you,” she confessed again. “Don’t worry, very soon. Sooner, very soon! “In the same vein, I want to frankly tell you that I’m always out of balance whenever I see you, especially on donning your skimpy outfits, which exposes the voluptuous curves of your bodies. You know very well that your face and in fact, almost everything about your appearance look abstract. The chemistry of your creation is so superb. True, you’re beautiful, wellmolded and wonderfully made by the Creator. Great is thy faithfulness, O Lord!’ Emeka laughed and laughed. Ofonime giggled, however, beat Emeka amorously by a stroke of the hand. However, she was very happy for that praise coming from Chukwuemeka. “You’re mad!” she pretended. “But, don’t you realise that you’re elegant, attractive, just like a magnet and an epitome; and a diadem of beauty to cap it all? Is it because I’m telling you bluntly?” She chuckled and appreciated. “Thank you for admiring and praising me. You’ve made me proud and happy today. It’s as if I’ll go gaga in this your wonderful eulogies. Thank God, it’s not a mistake having you as a guy, who’ll always appreciate me and be at my side all the time!” “But do you know what?” he continued in eulogising her, “you’re created by the Creator on Sunday, while I was created on Friday – the day of suffering.” Both laughed and laughed delightfully and afterwards, moved into the lab to receive their lectures.

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Two days later, Chukwuemeka fulfilled his promise by taking Ofonime to their house. She was highly delighted. After sipping the Guinness Malt drink given to her and watching of his collections, she opted to watch a movie called ‘The Guardian Angel’. Indeed, as both of them stayed and watched movies for hours she was full of smiles and gay. “Is your brother married?” She asked. “No!” “Why?” “He’ll soon do that.” “When?” “I can’t precisely say. Perhaps, when the breadfruit reaches its time it’ll fall.” “Do you mean that he’s not reached the time?” “No, you just don’t understand me!” “Please, Emmy, let’s talk another thing. I hope you still realise that I’m really proud of you.” “I do know that. You’ve outlined it a litany of times.” What of you, are you not proud of me?” “Hmm, you’re very funny! So, if I don’t tell you, won’t you know that?” “I know that; I just wanted to pull your legs.” Eventually, Chukwuemeka saw Ofonime off, where she picked a motorcycle and returned to the hostel with gladness of heart. Nevertheless, it was almost a month the semester began, Chukwuemeka had finally packed into the hostel with his cousin, as both of them contributed money and bought the bed space. He got the space with the help of his good friend Chukwuka. It was Hall IV at Malabor. His friend was living on the first floor while he was living on the second floor of the same hall. So, both enjoyed their closeness. It was really the first time both of them were enjoying that kind of closeness to each other. Chukwuemeka had come to the school the next day, and afterwards, announced to Chinyere and Ofonime that he had finally packed to the campus. He was in a suit with a white long sleeve shirt he wore inside and then, a floral-silk tie to match. Meantime, when he was seen by Ofonime, he was looked at amorously with 94

admirations. True, she could not cease looking at him. She was highly jealous, as she was not the only girl in the class jostling for him. Other girls beforehand had developed an enthusiastic interest in him. They loved his dressing habits and cleanliness. In fact, he had almost every quality a woman of his contemporary needed. Thus, as he was discussing with Uduak, she prayed fervently for him to turn to her. Fortunately, soon, Emeka turned to her to give her attention. Consequently, Uduak had to dismiss him with a wave of the hand, calling him woman wrapper and woman escort. This displeased Ofonime, as she was annoyed with Uduak’s attitude towards him, especially on referring him to as a silly person. “Please, it’s not Chukwuemeka; he’s a very nice and sincere guy. Don’t cast aspersions on him again, otherwise I won’t be pleased with you! I don’t joke with him; he’s a good friend, indeed,” Ofonime warned with sternness. Shortly, Uduak out of shame decisively left both of them unceremoniously. “Today,” said Emeka in surprise to Ofonime, “I’d be taking you out as I had promised. I hope you’re now satisfied.” “Yes, now! You know that I don’t go to any Malabite demanding this kind of thing at all if not you. There’s nothing they can offer me. So be happy and rejoice that I accepted you. I’m very proud of you.” Nevertheless, as lectures had ended for the day, Ofonime and Chukwuemeka quickly left the lab without attracting notice. Without wasting time they boarded motorcycle respectively to a popular restaurant well-known to students at Goldie Street not too far from the campus. Indeed, both of them were at last, respectively, enjoying themselves under an air-conditioned room with a plate of rice topped with some sliced plantains. This was served distinctly with a rich stew containing three pieces of meat respectively. In the same vein, Guinness Malt to wash down the rich, sweet food was served to them each. After eating and washing down the food with the drink, it was time for the two friends to hobnob. Obviously, it was Ofonime who was always kicking off discussions between both of them on each occasion; but now it was Emeka, who had taken the lead. “Eh, I’ve remembered,” said Chukwuemeka “why is it that you got angry with me when I stroked you in the class two days ago? Does it mean that I’m not up to the person that can do that to you?” 95

“No, I wasn’t angry!” Ofonime denied. “I was only simulating. If you don’t do it, who else could have the temerity to do it. You’re mine; and I’m yours.” “Let me think so. You know I felt terribly embarrassed when it happened in the presence of our course-mates.” “But Emmy, you’re supposed by now to understand how girls or ladies behave as the case may be. Look, there are certain things you men will do to us in the public, we will react, but not in a negative way! Conversely, we’ll be full of joy inside us. You see, that makes women what they are. It’s ingrained in our character. But, however, when a woman reacts strongly with a stern warning after being stroked, you should realise instantly that she meant it. The repetition of that act could lead to an affront from the girl or lady.” “But let me ask, why is it that you people behave like that?” Chukwuemeka asked with smiles wreathed in his face. “I’ve told you that that’s our make-up by the Creator. It’s innate in us. Thus, it’s a natural phenomenon, indeed. You see, I feel if we behave contrariwise it’ll seem that we can easily fall in love, and in the same vein, selling ourselves easily to men or prostitution! Can’t you guess up what men could do if we’re always in affirmative? They’ll use us to play football.” “Hmm, that’s a great feminine question!” “Ha! Ha! Ha!” Both hysterically laughed. “Perhaps,” said Ofonime. After all the enjoyment, coupled with their exchange of jokes, so as they stood up to go, Ofonime reminded Chukwuemeka that she had no longer any money with her to board a cyclist to the hostel. He dipped his hand into the breast pocket and brought out a clean twenty Naira note and gave it to her. Nevertheless, as they were outside waiting for cyclists, Chukwuemeka was ceaselessly looking at the sexual figure of his friend and nodding his head like a lizard. “True, this is the type of girl one could proudly and happily bring to the house as a wife,” he thought. “Igbo, Ibibio, Annang or any other race, it doesn’t matter. We’re all human beings created equally in the likeness of God. Indeed, discrimination in marriage has become an outworn shibboleth of the past. And we of this contemporary

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period should rubbish this into the garbage of history, whether our parents like it or not.” However, on reaching the hostel, Chukwuemeka did not waste time in going to the second floor to meet his bosom friend. He had not settled down, as Chukwuka fired the first shot. “I saw you and Ofonime not quite long endeavouring to board a cyclist to somewhere,” said Chukwuka out of jealousy. “You’re right indeed,” replied Emeka. “What were you people doing before that time?” “Do you want to know?” “Yes.” “I took her out,” he boldly told him. On hearing this, Chukwuka was in open-mouthed bewilderment. “Eh! So you mean you took her out really?” “Of course! What’s wrong with it?” “So, you’ve that kind of money to waste? Anyway, I hope she’s not your girlfriend.” He was saying this against the background that Ofonime had an intimidating height and was too beautiful to behold, and as a result, some Malabites were always scared to talk to her and or woo her for a friendship. Thus, he was surprised to see her being taken out by his friend. “She isn’t my girlfriend, as you’re alleging. But, however, if she is, what’s amiss in having her? Is she not beautiful to behold or does she not match me?” “What are you doing with her?” “I beg, let’s close the topic.” “Why should I do so?” You’ve not fed well and you have that kind of money to waste for some stupid Malabresses, who prey on us, the Malabites, even when they have money. Look, they’re parasites! “What’s your concern over this?” I’ve the coat and I burnt it. Why should anyone hit his head on the wall as a result? Please, change your topic and don’t be jealous! And for your information, Ofonime is never a parasite like other Malabresses. She’s a good girl, who has a good home upbringing.”

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“Yes, I’m jealous; but I’ll be there when you’ll run out of cash; and I hope you’ll lean on her.” “Forget about that thing. Let’s talk something better, please.” “Obviously, I want to put this thing forward and clear to you. You know quite well that you’ve been studying diligently, which I’m not oblivious of, and you’re yet to succeed, perhaps due to your unseen enemies, both physical and spiritual. Then, how do you cope up on combining your fraternity with her and your academic loads confronting you solemnly? So then, choose between life and death. That’s the question God posed to the people of Israel of old through Moses in the book of Deuteronomy 30 verse 19.” ‘I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessing and God's curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life’ “Don’t worry Chukwuka. Thank you for your concern and advice. I’ll handle the situation very well. It’s good that I know that I’ve a problem, but in the same vein, I’ll never give up to diligent studies no matter what. Nevertheless, I’ll like to seize this opportunity to tell you the truth that, Ofonime, is my friend undoubtedly, but not a sexual partner as you may think. You know it is against our faith as Catholics, to do such abominable thing. However, we love each other so tenderly, and we’re serious.

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CHAPTER TWELVE Chukwuemeka was not happy being in total obscurity. He was someone who always wanted to be heard, especially on political activism. True, his academic doldrums, coupled with the operation and suppression by the lecturers from his department contributed immensely to it. For his department, they never wanted anyone to be heard or any student challenging the authority, otherwise one would be frustrated. To them, students have no right. They must take whatever they were given to devoid of any complaint. However, the lecturers were looking for avenues to throw out many of them like confetti, in disguise for abysmal performance. But indeed, Chukwuemeka had shrugged it off and trying to respond to the call of nature. He felt that he could only be liberated and or liberate people through activism and joining a press organisation in the school under the umbrella of Nigeria Union of Campus Journalist, NUCJ, which would afford him the opportunity to readdress some anomalies and also, to fight for the rights of the students, no matter the consequences therein. This was a good dream, but only the emerging scenarios could say if he would succeed. To him, it would be a fait accompli. Soon, he had joined a Press Organisation in the school, and writing for the most vibrant press organisation, which was also known as the heartbeat of Malabor Republic called Echo Press Organisation. Meantime, a condition was given to him under which he would finally be admitted as a bona fide member. He was told to write two articles which would enable the editorial members to assess his ability in writing. Obviously, his articles dwelled on global politics. However, reading through the two articles which dwelled on politics alone, the Chief Editor and other executive members of the Echo Press Organisation found it very interesting; and in the course of time, nodding their heads in agreement that their problem in political writing had come to an end. And to Chukwuemeka, he was happy to have joined the militant organisation in the campus. Soon, many students had begun to admire his writings. In his write-ups, he was very aggressive, irrepressible and blunt to issues devoid of any fright of being taken away to Diamond Hill, Calabar, by the men of the State Security Service, SSS. The Echo Press executive members and his colleagues wondered about his writings since he was not a student of politics. True, this was innately ingrained in him. He spoke it out and, in the same vein wrote it. 99

In the interim, members of the KK Confraternity were gyrating around 10:00 pm towards the stadium, and they were met by the members of the Christian Union, CU fellowship of the school, as they also fellowship there. Instead of giving the devil a gap and leave that place totally for them, as there is no union between darkness and light, and no agreement between the pagan altar and God’s temple, since they are averse to each other, and as the word of God says in the book of 2 Corinthians 6:14-15. But they went on telling the KK secret cult members gyrating repeatedly that they must repent of their evil ways and come to Christ otherwise they would perish. The devil incarnates were pleading that they should leave them alone since they have decided to follow Satan and worship him, but the CU members would not let them go. CU members continued their hypocritical preaching; “Give your life to Christ, otherwise you’ll die shameful deaths, and go to hell! Come out of this secret cult you belong to so that God will be happy with you and forgive your sins and not destroy you! The Bible says in the book of John 3:3, ‘No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.’ Therefore, repent now or you perish! And the word of God says again in the book of Hebrew 9:27 that it is appointed for men to once die and after this judgement. All you workers of iniquity, come out, embrace salvation given to you now by the Holy Spirit so that you shall live for ever! The Lord is calling you now! Come and receive his deliverance now so that this evil will not fall on your children and generation to come from you!’ As it was getting too much, and the Christian Union, CU, members refused to leave them alone and to do their gyrations, one of the Klansmen Konfraternity members shot in the air repeatedly. And amazingly, the people who said they had faith and was trying to rub shoulders with the devil started running helter-skelter, as their legs could carry them. The funniest thing was that they flung their Bibles away, as they were running, and thereby denying and disgracing God, they pretended to worship. All the male students amongst them ran and abandoned their sisters in the Lord, leaving them at the mercy of the KK Confraternity members. It was a field day, as they were heavily descended upon. They were raped seriously in a hard way, as many received serious vaginal injuries. Indeed, some of them were deflowered by the members of the notorious evil gang. However, they wept and wept bitterly and helplessly until the

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school security and police were alerted. They were rushed to the School Medical Centre for thorough examination and treatment. In the meantime, Brother Chinedu Ifeyirinna was found haplessly dead. Was it the curse from chukwuemeka, one-time member of the Christian Union, and an ardent Catholic faithful, in the issue of heresy from him, the deceased, that the Blessed Mother Virgin Mary, the Mother of our Lord God is an instrument and in hell, and that the Catholic Church is an Antichrist that is to come, as stated in the book of Apocalypse? No one knew why this happened. Perhaps, he was caught up with what he had said, because there is power in the word that one speaks. So it was just like what he had said against Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God and the Catholic Church boomeranged back to him, as the Bible says in Galatians 6:7-8 that everyone will reap whatever he had sown. Indeed, he was the only casualty in that imbroglio. In the morning of the following day, it was the topical issue. Myriad of students asked, who was the cause of the incident never heard of in the history of the school? Eventually, they lampooned the CU members for their foolhardiness and attempting in the first place to wrestle with the devil, which Jesus Christ himself never did when he was on earth. He only rebuked and cast him out, as it is written in Luke 4:35 and Matthew 17:18. Indeed, these people out of crass ignorance and fanaticism always did what they were not supposed to do. Consequently, some students more often than not referred to them as hypocrites, who pretended to be born again when they were nothing but the Pharisees, whom the Lord Jesus Christ, our God rebuked and rejected their ways.

They compared the incidence with a man who out of his complete

foolhardiness, ignorance and idiocy decided to walk on the River, just as Christ did, to prove his faith in God, thinking that that his faith could save him. Succinctly and sincerely put, this episode was against St. Paul’s epistle to the people of Ephesus in the book of Ephesians 6:11-12, which he stated, “Put on all the armour that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against the Devil’s evil tricks. For we are not fighting against human beings, but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers of this dark age.”

Again, in the book of 1Peter 5:8-9, it says, 101

“Be alert, be on the watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Be firm in your faith and resist him, because you know that other believers in all the world are going through the same kind of sufferings.”

That meant, however, they deserved what they received from the evil gang, as they put their hand into the fire when they were aware that fire would hurt them. Indeed, anyone that stirs the beehive, it is he that bees will sting. Again, this adage applies to them also, “He that brought the ants-infested woods should not blame the lizard for coming to play. Truly, it was better to fall into the hand of the Almighty God than to fall into the hand of the enemy, Satan, who will without mercy deal with you, as he likes through his agents. Two days later, the members of Buccaneers Confraternity were all gyrating within the Malabor environment between the hour of one o’clock and two o’clock in the morning, shouting their songs and renting the air with gunshots. No student had the effrontery to step out of the hostel at that time as some used to do. One of the KK members, who hailed from Chukwuemeka’s town, and who resided in Chukwuka’s room was afraid, thinking that their enemy gang was coming to capture him. He went and hid himself under the bed. It was a disgraceful thing for a person who always vaunted his ego that he was strong, shivering on hearing the gunshots of the opposing terrorist group. Perhaps, he was amongst them that did that evil thing the previous time. Obviously, it could be deduced from this that these notorious gangs in the campuses are not even strong individually, but only depended on group strength. One week later, the third-year students gathered in the Lab for a practical class; Chukwuemeka was also present. And this course was part of the second-semester examination, though it was called a test. It was a three-credit unit-loads. So any attempt by any of the students to mess up with it, it would bring his or her GPA down. However, the practical course had been done; it was not all that difficult, according to Chukwuemeka and Chukwuka and some other students. Two days after the practical test, the two most powerful students in the class, Uyi, an Edo State-born student and her friend, Chinelo, an Igbo girl from Anambra State had gone to the lecturer and appealed 102

to be given a high mark in the practical test. The Lecturer accepted, but with a condition. He demanded for money and sexual intercourse in which the two female students accepted as far as they would be passed with A or B grades. This was a disgraceful thing indeed! One, the lecturer always appeared as being strict in almost all things. Two, Chinelo was married and she was desecrating the marriage vow and prostituting herself with lecturers in order to come out in the end with good class honours. It was quite unfortunate that when the practical scripts were released to the students, there were so many failures, as none of them got up to four over ten, while Uyi and Chinelo scored seven over ten each. Many a student were highly surprised and indignant with this development. In fact, they reacted very badly. The reason was that they knew both students very well and their capabilities; so it was unthinkable and incredible to hear that they had such an impressive performance. Meanwhile, in the practical test that day, they were not all that serious. They wrote it anyhow, believing within themselves that no matter what would happen, they would succeed in the end. Chukwuemeka and Chukwuka, both got three over ten, which is below Passmark. It was really quite unfortunate, as the entire students excluding Uyi and Chinelo, murmured repeatedly, pointing fingers at the wicked lecturer.

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CHAPTER THIRTEEN Meantime, political agitations had started becoming too intense in the Chemistry department and in other departments in the school. It was the period the final-year students were supposed to hands-off everything pertaining to the department’s politics and face their studies for the final degree examination. Chukwuemeka had begun to nurture the ambition of being the president of the Students Chemical Society of Nigeria, SCSN, Unical branch. Firstly, he started consulting all his friends and wellwishers about his intentions to become the headman of the association in order to change things in the department, as everything in the department was in the state of disorder. Obviously, he had made a big step forward by meeting top Igbo Students in the executive of the SCSN and the final-year class, in case his would-be challenger in the race turned it into a tribal affair. In the department, Igbo students were in a greater number than any other ethnic group. For two weeks, he was the only unchallenged contestant in the race. Soon, political intrigues and manoeuvres had started unfolding itself, as the incumbent president wanted an Akwa Ibom State person to replace him when he finally bowed out. Since Chukwuemeka’s intentions and ambitions had spread to all the nooks and crannies of the department, Essien Joseph, the incumbent president had started looking for ways of edging him out either by hook or by crook since Chukwuemeka was a great powerhouse who could not easily be pushed or intimidated out of the limelight. In the course of time, Essien Joseph had finally convinced Emeka’s good friend, Nse Edem, to run for the race of the SCSN president. Not wasting time at all, Nse Edem had called his friend and told him his new ambition to become the president and also for him to step-down. This was highly embarrassing to him. It was an act of betrayal, as he had often times told him that he was not interested in the departmental politics. In fact, Nse was among Chukwuemeka’s friends who gave him the nod to contest for the position since he had the will and zeal to steer the instrument of politics in the department. And not only that, he was a fearless and uncompromising student notwithstanding him being an orator, who would be able to hobnob with the authorities undaunted. Thus, there was no way Chukwuemeka could give up in the struggle for the liberation of the oppressed and suppressed students. But Nse had approached and appealed solemnly to him to contest for the Editor-in-Chief, since he was a prolific 104

writer and already a member of the Nigeria Union of Campus Journalist, NUCJ. Indeed, his appeals and begging was not heeded to. Nse’s deceitful acts and propaganda had begun to tear apart his friendship with Chukwuemeka. Since he was very popular, Nse had had a cause to resort to political mudslinging against him. He had gone ahead, telling their course-mates why his friend was not qualified to steer the instrument of political leadership. He constantly hinged on Chukwuemeka’s not-too-good result. This was what he had disclosed to the outgoing president. Now crisis had started brewing up in the class, as Nse wanted to destroy his friend politically so that he would opt out of the race, whether he liked it or not. There was a division in the class between him and his friend. Obviously, Chukwuemeka’s friends from the Akwa Ibom States had withdrawn their support for him, telling him, respectively, without mincing words that they were not going to support him and that they would do everything within their power to make Nse the eventual winner. One Igbo female student, Chinaelo, whom Nse had been sitting for her failed courses during examination, on her year-one and year-two failed courses had also approached Chukwuemeka and told him point-blank virtually the same thing. But to Ofonime, an Annang girl from Akwa Ibom State, who also was the same ethnic nationality as Nse, had avowedly predicated her unshakable and unreserved support for her friend, Chukwuemeka. She had not seen anything bad with him. Though he had poor results, that should not be a yardstick to judge his knowledgeable ability or ability to perform in that leadership position. However, she was angry when she heard some of her state’s students discussing about his friend and tried to ridicule his entrance into the race. In the meantime, she could not understand why his brother from the same ethnic nationality with her should play not only a tribal politics but a politics of mudslinging, blackmail and intimidation. She regarded Chukwuemeka as a person who had all the qualities needed, especially, being an activist, which would make him be the avantgarde of the association. Now, whenever the former best friends met, it was the meeting of two bedfellows. Indeed, their course-mates had begun to observe this and, nevertheless, that had prompted some of them to interview them individually on the friction. To Chukwuemeka, a politician by birth and a politician by inclination, when asked to comment on the recent event, he rhetorically and unequivocally said and quoted 105

William Clay, “This is quite a game, politics. There are no permanent enemies and no permanent friends, only permanent interest.” But Nse, more often than not said, “My relation with Chukwuemeka is still cordial and no crack had dented it even though I’ve told him to opt-out of the race since he is not qualified to steer the instrument of leadership.” Essien Joseph with his cohorts, including Nse, had started thinking how to tinker with the constitution of the Association for the political terrain to favour his tribal-man and edge Chukwuemeka out completely. Meantime, Chukwuemeka had gone far and wide to other junior classes in the department, endeavouring to drum support from them, on his bid for the political headship. Indeed, their course-mates were eagerly waiting for the day they would variously come to confront them with their manifestos. However, Emeka had begun to twig what Essien, his friend in the race, Nse and the rest of their cohort were about doing. Their political calculations, antics, subterfuge, manoeuvres and tactics were very glaring and discernible. Chukwuemeka, knowing fully well the rough road, as it was, had fully girded his loins to shore up anything that could bring about losing out in the struggle shamefully. Nevertheless, a meeting of SCSN members had been called up by the outgoing president to discuss on the way forward. The two political strange bedfellows were present. Meantime, the constitution of the association stipulated that before anyone could contest for the exalted position of the presidency, he/she must have attended the meeting of the SCSN for at least two times in a year. In the same vein, one of the agenda of the meeting was the setting aside of he constitution for constitutional amendment. There Chukwuemka was, he was with the copy of the constitution of the association, as he had a preconceived notion of what would happen in the course of the meeting. Thus, after the prayers which he was directed to say, Essien kicked off the meeting. He had started to enumerate all his achievements as the headman of the association since he was inaugurated and ushered into the office. Indeed, nothing Essien outlined that Chukwuemeka regarded as a good achievement. To him, the incumbent was not only controversial, but he was exceedingly corrupt. He was feigning excuses and attempting to shield his epileptic, non transparency and non accountability of his administration.

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Meantime, Chukwuemeka had had a cause to query the industrial trip the president led the students to which he mentioned as achievement, as he overtly dipped his hands into the treasury of the association and took some money, which he was not supposed to, as students contributed money for the venture, and in the end, about sixty students attended it. To Chukwuemeka, there was no reason whatsoever to use the students’ money in the Association without consultation and approval, from the Association’s Staff Adviser. He had vowed that the president must spew out the money if he became the president of the Association, because the students’ money was not only misapplied, but misappropriated. Now the president had put up a hard-line posture on the fate of the Staff Adviser’s continuous stay and interference at the goings-on of the Association. He had accused him of being the albatross to the Association’s progress during his tenure because he was averse to his unnecessary and rampant withdrawal of money from the Association’s treasury. Against this background, he must be changed with a lecturer he preferred. The controversial issue was tabled and raised before the members of the Association. This time around Chukwuemeka decidedly voiced himself out, especially on the mere mentioning that a communiqué would be passed, telling Dr. Effiom to resign his advisory role. “Look, if I may sound sincere,” said Chukwuemeka, “I’ll never be a party to the communiqué that would soon be passed! All of us here know the oppressive and suppressive characters of our lecturers in this ];.department, and you the outgoing president is galvanising us into rebelling and or removing the Staff Adviser under false premises. Please, let’s drop this hard-line posture in order not to bring trouble to ourselves, which would be very difficult to come out of. Indeed, it would be an effort in futility and which may land us, especially the third- year students in trouble in the end. I wouldn’t be surprised that in the end, we’d be greatly victimised and punished academically. To me, I’ll suggest, let’s tackle the serious problems confronting the Association rather than this witch-hunting, which would in the course of time yield no dividend. Sincerely, that’s the whole gamut of my feeling.” On the heels of Emeka’s aversion speech, Nse, who had become a stooge to Essien Joseph and ready to carry out all he said to the latter without hesitation, had

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stood up to talk. He had vigorously given an unflinching support to the removal of the staff adviser. This was, obviously, his master’s voice. “I feel since Dr. Effiom has become our bane, it’s better we discontinue his advisory role,” Nse extremely said without knowing the implication therein. He continued, “It’s not mandatory that he must be our staff adviser. I think we’re mature enough to manage our resources/funds. It’ll be tantamount to insulting us, by letting us believing that we can’t do so. However, what’s the need having the executives in the Association in the first place? Thus, I say unreservedly, if passing the communiqué to remove Dr. Effiom will bring sanity and progress in the Association, I give my unceasing support to it. That’s all my feelings!” Undoubtedly, Nse would be thinking in the deepest part of him that he had known how to talk. All things he suggested and said was nothing but gibberish. He was trying to put his hand into the hot fire which in the end would leave him with scars if it actually healed. This was not being ambitious, but inanity. However, these Igbo words applied to him; one, “When a child does not know what her mother took to the market he comes to embrace her on returning home.” Two, “If a rat follows the lizard to bath under the rain, the sun that dried the lizard will not dry the rat.” Three, “A stubborn fly always follow the corpse to the grave.” Nevertheless, as the controversial issue was raging on and on, the president vetoed it eventually by saying that it had been set aside, but not forgotten and abandoned. Then, afterwards, came another controversial one on the agenda, “The Constitutional Amendment.” Here, Emeka gave it a little support. “I support any move for the amendment of the constitution to rectify some little irregularities, but I don’t support any move to rewrite the constitution in any guise And besides, before this much-touted suggestion would be put into action if I may say, we should do it according to the dictates of the constitution on the amendment. Thus, can you please permit me to outline what the constitution says on the matter in the debate? ‘... subject to any constitutional amendment two-thirds majority of the members of the Association must be in support of it.’ “But I think that not half of the students, not to talk of the two-third of the students of Chemistry Department who are the members of the Association are right 108

here to vote for the constitutional amendment. I suggest that this issue should be put for a later day so that students should be aware of this. This is to avoid arbitrariness which could lead to political upheaval in the department if this is carried out without consultation.” This was like spoiling their concerted evil machination. But indeed, there were strong reactions. “Look, Chukwuemeka,” irately said Essien, “we’ve observed here that you’re an obstacle to the progress of this Association! With the power vested in me as the president of the Students’ Chemical Society of Nigeria, SCSN, University of Calabar branch, I hereby ban you henceforth from talking till the end of this meeting. This statement is irrevocable, and any attempt to do contrariwise will attract you a penalty according to the constitutional stipulation.” Sincerely, this was a show of shame. “Power”, as they say, “corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” This was what Essien Joseph was demonstrating. This was absolutely and blatant display of power, as well as naked politics, to say the least! “Why?” Chukwuemeka queried. “You and your cohort must be joking! I can’t be cowed or do conversely against my will. That’s what I can say for now!” Now, Nse and Emeka were endeavouring to outwit each other in speeches. Nse had stood up again and made a terse statement supporting the immediate amendment of the constitution. Indeed, that was the beginning and the emergence of the political imbroglio in the Association and the department in its entirety, as Chukwuemeka could go more than a mile to stop any constitutional amendment not based on merit or stipulated in the constitution. Trouble had begun to brew up in the department. He was seething with indignation against the anti-social and anti-democratic behaviours of his colleagues. However, the meeting was adjourned in the process. Not leaving anyone in doubt, the meeting was called up again in an interval of one week by the so-called adamant and the obdurate outgoing president, who had a hidden agenda and who was bent in twisting the constitution of the Association into his favour, rather than sitting in his closet to prepare for his final degree examination, which was indeed not later than two weeks. Soon, the meeting had commenced in earnest, and Essien inaugurated the constitutional amendment committee. They were 109

authorised by him to overhaul all parts of the constitution they felt repugnant. This was just rendering the people who put forward the constitution as fools and/or rattlebrained who did not know their worth. Not wasting much time, Emeka, who knew the meaning of the politics being displayed, had faulted the committee set up, as it was devoid of constitutional terms of reference. However, three of the five members were the executive members of the SCSN, which, according to him was an aberration and not in consonance with the rule of law, as the executive members cannot be lawmakers as well. He told them that as far as he was concerned, it was undemocratic, as there was supposed to be separation of powers between the executive members and the so-called lawmakers or the Constitutional Amendment/Review Committee. His opinion was that members of the constitutional amendment committee should be elected or appointed from the outside the executive members, that is, ordinary members of SCSN. “Keep quiet! Keep quiet!” Echoed simultaneously some executive members, led by Essien. “Do you think you’re the only one here or that you’re the only student with the best brain?” the president queried. “I can’t keep my mouth shut because it seems to me that none of you at the high-table knows anything, especially on the rules governing democratic principle in a society, even ours! Thus, since you don’t know, I must not fail to teach you what and how democracy is supposed to be practised. That’s what I’m saying, and I’m very unshakable and irrepressible towards good enthronement, and therefore, wouldn’t accept this naked politics on display.” Chukwuemeka’s obduracy was putting his fellow students to wrath and frustrations to exceeding rate. They did not know how to get rid of him. He was still arguing that the amendment was untimely and yet to meet its constitutional requirements, especially on the vote, by the two-third (2/3) majority of the members of the association. Just like before, the meeting ended abruptly and in an impasse. Now, the outgoing president and his cohorts had pooh-poohed Chukwuemeka’s good ideas and told him in another meeting to go anywhere he wanted to go if he felt aggrieved. He was seething with anger, as the constitution was not only amended, but rewritten devoid of any consultation and much-thoughts. He had threatened his colleagues of going to court of law to stop the implementation of the constitution. They 110

gave him the go-ahead to do it if he thought he could do so. Obviously, he thought wisely that prior to going to court that he must let the controversial staff adviser know of the wrongdoings lately in the department and his intentions. Obviously, trouble was in the offing. “Good afternoon, sir,’ greeted Emeka in Dr. Effiom’s office. “Good morning,” replied Dr. Effiom. “It behooves me that I should unfold to you a little out of the many things that had been happening since over two weeks in the department, which, if left unresolved instantly, would tear the students and our association apart, and in the end affect the entirety of the department.” “Eh, you’re free to say it all,” curiously replied Dr. Effiom. “I’ve been fighting my colleagues since fortnight ago on the untimely and hasty amendment of the SCSN Constitution in one day. The Outgoing president, Essien Joseph, and his evil colleagues adduced that there was a great need that the constitution should be amended to meet up some exigencies and to correct some irregularities and inadequacies therein in the constitution. One, I’m against the amendment against the backdrop that it hadn’t met the constitutional amendment procedures and rules, especially on the none voting on it, by the two-third majority of the students. Two, I’ve never seen or heard anywhere in the world were the executive members of any government undertook and/or partook in the amendment of a constitution. The three members of the executives were among the members of the Constitution Amendment Committee. That’s a great absurdity! It is an aberration and total negation of democratic principles! Thus, I want to inform you duly on my intention to head to the law court to stop its passage and implementation since Essien Joseph’s intention was to stop the people of great integrity and good intention in the Association from being enthroned and taking the mantle of leadership from him. He wants to hand over power to a ramshackle, who is as well his stooge so that all his deeds in the Association wouldn’t be looked into. Sir, I must unshakably and unreservedly resist him even at the point of death. Moreover, the shameless and corrupt out-going president had finally removed you as a staff adviser unbeknownst to you ostensibly that you’re a great stumbling block and a bane of the Association.”

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“Look, if you’re going to court I’ll support and furnish you with all the details, detailing Essien Joseph’s corruptness since ascending the throne!” said Dr. Effiong. “I’m very happy that there’s a person like you who knows in your class and the department in its entirety. Indeed, you’re a man of great wisdom and knowledge. Hold on to it; don’t lose it, for it’ll surely find you out, out of the multitudes one day! All other students are fools, who can easily be beguiled and maneuvered by that idiot and his cohorts in the Association. Thank God for your fighting spirit and resisting of oppression and suppression and, nevertheless, political prostitution in this Association. However, there’s something I’ll like you to do for me before heading to the law court. Please, write a letter to the Head of the Department, HOD, first detailing the wrangling and the goings-on in the SCSN and the entire department. Indeed, I’ll give you an unflinching support. Again, thank you for your information, for I’ll never fail to act on it as promptly as possible.”

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CHAPTER FOURTEEN The undaunted Emeka, being complacent of his meeting with Dr. Effiom and his acceptance of his ideas, went further and wrote to the departmental Head and copied the SCSN staff adviser as was well-advised. Eagerly, he waited for the upshot of it all. It was three days later, a meeting was scheduled during the day for the Constitutional Amendment Committee to read out finally the newly drafted constitution, erroneously called the amended constitution. In the meantime, Essien had hired one of the members of a popular secret cult in the campus to come and intimidate and/or deal badly with the recalcitrant Chukwuemeka. Fortunately, as God may have it, he had not come to school when the bad-boy was looking for him, asking people, “Where’s that guy by name Chukwuemeka, who is known for trouble-making?” Some students who bore witness to it were baffled at the rate and manner he was being looked for. They knew in an instant that something sinister against Chukwuemeka was in the offing. They hissed respectively, refusing to disclose anything about him. As God may have it again, just as the bad-boy was setting his foot out of the department that he arrived corporately dressed. Walking into the laboratory lecture majestically and his face wreathed with smiles, he was hailed exceedingly by his admirers and by some of the students who did not like his extreme views, as a hero. His enemies who always saw him in the negative side, all shouted, “Here comes the rebel and great spoiler of our transition `and enthronement!” Afterwards, he was taken outside by a friend and every plot against his downfall was unravelled to him. Later, he was encouraged by friends and admirers never to fear, and for him to embrace everything that comes his way bravely like an unconquerable soldier. Besides, he was entreated never to fail to attend the meeting scheduled during the day so that they would prevent the passing into law the newly drafted constitution and in the end, spoil their plans. As usual the meeting had commenced, the stubborn but shameless outgoing dictatorial president had started reading the supposed amended constitution. Nonetheless, reaching the place, it seemed now that Chukwuemeka had become politically irrelevant and handicapped. He shouted to the consternation of all and sundry, “What! It’s quite impossible!’ 113

“Emeka,” Essien Joseph cut in, “if you don’t like it, you can go to hell! And thus, don’t attempt to disturb the meeting proceedings today, for I’m quite prepared and ready to confront you squarely any how you want it!” Then he continued reading the constitution despite Emeka’s obstruction. Nevertheless, in the end, Chukwuemeka and his colleagues left the scene to think out the next line of action to take to spoil their evil plan. In the meeting, Essien had set up the Electoral Committee that would take charge of the forthcoming election. In the meantime, Chukwuemeka had been disqualified from contesting the election through the orchestrated constitutional amendment, which they had concocted. It was a week afterwards, sequel to the Chukwuemeka’s letter to the HOD, Professor Ekpo Etim, after much consultation with the various lecturers released his long-awaited sledgehammer. He had irately ordered for the probe to look into the immediate problem of the president and his executive members in the SCSN on one hand and between them and the rest of the students in the Students Chemical Society of Nigeria, Unical branch, on the other hand, since according to Chukwuemeka’s letter the president and his executive members were severely accused of corruption which was, however, ratified by the staff adviser. In one of the laboratories, where the third-year students were supposed to take their lectures, it was full of reactions, just as when cations and anions meet together. A female student had risen up to the defence of the president and others, and accusing Chukwuemeka of conniving with a lecturer virtually loathed by all the students due to his overbearing attitude, oppression and suppression of the students academically, to deal with his fellow students. To her, Chukwuemeka had become the enemy of the students, as he was being used against them by one of the oppressors. The lady was excessively blabbing and calling for the head of Chukwuemeka. This was indeed esprit de corps amongst students, which she exhibited. And to some of the students, they were very happy, and welcoming the emerging scenario as a good development, as much as the disrobed and shameless outgoing president was becoming intensively inept, overbearing, lacking the qualities of a leader, and moreover, endeavouring to tear SCSN into pieces like rags and disjointed association, with his monstrous intentions. Outside the very laboratory lecture at the long open passageway, the SCSN executive members sighted at a cheerful Emeka with askance, menacing him greatly 114

with mayhem should they be punished or victimised academically, especially on stopping some of them in the final-year from taking their forthcoming final degree examination. Obviously, he was unfazed by their blabbing and menace. He was looking forward with optimism that in the course of time something tangible would come out of the probe, which, he himself was involved, albeit he was not among the executive members of the association and targeted students. He also hoped that if the election was organised free and fair devoid of stringent measures and restrictions that would bar him, he would be the victor, and his opponents that let the shameless, disrobed outgoing president to use them would be the vanquished. Meantime, Essien Joseph, with his foolhardiness had criminally used the meeting attendance paper with the students’ signatories at the first meeting when the constitutional amendment was mooted to pass a communiqué by stealth, forcing Dr. Effiom to resign his position of an advisory role at the Students’ Chemical Society of Nigeria, University of Calabar branch. Thus, Chukwuemeka had gone to face the four lecturers’ probe panel set up by the HOD to investigate the activities of the Students’ Chemical Society of Nigeria, SCSN, since the inception of Essien Joseph’s regime and coupled with the recent political imbroglio. He was confronted firstly with the photocopied paper, bearing the SCSN letterhead, where the communiqué was written in pen and with the students’ signatories. Sincerely, he was baffled. His mouth was wideagape. But courageously, he spoke without mincing words. “Sirs, if I may sound sincere, there was no time I was a signatory to any communiqué,” said Chukwuiemeka. “But, how come your name and signature appeared fully here,” asked Dr. Khan, an expatriate Senior lecturer from India. “I think that Essien Joseph, the inglorious sacked president and the executive members by subterfuge criminally used the attendance lists to pass the communiqué unbeknownst to some of us. The whole thing seems laughable, but serious. If I may unravel the circumstances unreservedly, leading to this incidence, I can say, vividly that the suggestion about the passing of the communiqué was wholly mooted by the sacked president. However, I was a lonely man in the group who rejected totally his demagogic thoughts, whims and caprices, by arguing fervidly against the said communiqué, and some of his stooges argued in the same line with him. In fact, I was the person who 115

revealed to Dr. Effiom the fracas in the Association when the burning issue reached its apex. “Who’re those who toed the same line with him? Please, we want you to mention variously their names.” Said Mr. Ekong. “Precisely, I don’t know their names,” he denied and dodged telling the whole truth in order not to implicate his friend, Nse, who was blabbing that day like a person strong liquid medicinal herbs were dropped into his eyes. “Several of them were from year-two and year-one, whom I’d never seen before and then, the few were from his members of the executive. That’s all I can say about this. Eventually, as the argument was about generating crisis, he instantly vetoed it, by setting it aside, perhaps, to be discussed in a full house next time. None of my colleagues in the year three toed the same line with them,” he lied and prevaricated again in order to save his friend, who was mounting and raising political blackmail and tirade against him.” “Are you sure of what you’re saying?” asked Mr. Ekong. “From my bosom, this is the whole truth and only, but the truth.” “What if we found your statements false?” continued Mr. Ekong “Then, deal with me in the manner you want.” “Eh, my friend, look, you’re not talking the truth!” Dr. Ewang, one of the biggest sadists in the department, intimidated and harassed Chukwuemeka, in order to get something out of him that would implicate him and others. “All your assertions are full of lies and prevarications. He continued, “Come on, tell the truth and don’t prevaricate and lie! “I’m not lying, please, sirs. This is the only truth you can get from me,” irately and aggressively said Emeka. “Yes, how do you think we could believe these your words?’ Continued Dr, Ewang in his cross-examination, “we can only set you free if you can unravel more of what you know about the vexing communiqué passed.” “Then, what do you think I can say again after all I’ve said? I’ve unreservedly, ordered you to penalise me accordingly if later I was found guilty of lying or deviating from the truth. Just like what I’ve said before, I was the one who approached Dr, Effiom and informed him about the conspiracy of silence against him and the 116

impending political imbroglio about to hit the Association and the Department in its entirety. “That’s true!” cut in Dr. Effiom, who was silently sitting down and watching Emeka, defending himself and unravelling the truth about the whole political imbroglio, especially the passing of the communiqué, for him to leave the seat of the SCSN as the Staff Adviser. Indeed, the intervention of Dr. Effiom had finally removed the hangman’s noose around the neck of Chukwuemeka, which was almost dragging him to the abyss. He suffered this in order to save his friend, Nse and some other third-year students, who did not know how to talk and understand the in-depth knowledge of things. Nevertheless, trouble had started when the SCSN executive members were being probed. In the course of time, they were told without mincing words to willingly or unwillingly refund some money taken from the treasury, whether judiciously used or not, but not well-accounted for, otherwise they would be confronted with great difficulties. And again, for the final-year students in the executive, especially the disgraced and sacked president, they were solemnly warned. They were threatened that should they do contrariwise, they would be missing their final degree examination, which was postponed for two weeks due to certain logistics. Afterwards, came another threat from the shameless, unrobed president and his cohort on Emeka’s life, that if, however, they were dismissed from the Department or told not take their final examination that they would make life very difficult for him and or he would be sought out for in this citadel without being found. When Chukwuemeka heard all this, he laughed at their stupid menaces and said in his mind, “This is like a proverbial fowl bending its neck to the pot on being cooked, instead of the knife that killed it.” In fact, confusion reigned throughout the week. In the interim, three days after the probe, the head of the department released a communiqué, disqualifying all the third-year students from contesting any election in the Association. He, however, restored the democratic structures which Essien Joseph and some of his cabal attempted to destroy, and replaced the sacked executive by six students to serve in the interim until an election was conducted. To this end, Chukwuemeka’s optimism had been sent to its untimely death in a twinkling of an eye. But indeed, he did not give up. He had 117

gone to his loyalists galvanising them into rejecting the communiqué and to obtest it wholly; or perhaps, going to the HOD to discuss about the disqualification. All his attempts were rebuffed by his followers and students generally because of fear of victimisation. Indeed, for Chukwuemeka, he had not any iota of fear in his bosom. He could go extra miles if given an opportunity, as he was unsubduable activist. Nevertheless, one was not supposed to blame the poor, but timid students, because of their refusal to heed to the call because of what the department was known for. No one would like to be frustrated in the end, as the lecturers were well-known for their ‘academic terrorism.’ And as far as the University of Calabar is concerned, students have no right. Indeed, Chukwuemeka had already called off their bluff and developing indomitable attitude towards everything coming towards his way on the road to educational freedom. Meantime, first semester-examination results were released a week to the second semester-examination, Emeka had problems in two courses, but the result was better than others. However, he was furious for failing two of the courses he thought as being his best he had ever offered and also, a course he thought of having A grade, he got D grade. He would not let it lie low. And against this backdrop, he stormed into the office of the examinations officer, protesting the two courses he failed and the course he thought of having A which he got D, in the end. But Dr. Muoma, an Igbo lecturer, refuted his claim. Truly, Chukwuemeka persisted and insisted that the result should be cross-checked respectively from the scripts. Finally, Dr. Muoma succumbed and accepted his entreaty by writing down his name, and telling him to come back two days later. He did as Dr. Muoma promised and came back as he told him, but his efforts ended in futility, as Dr. Muoma reneged his promise and told him falsely that the result was correct. He was even angry with Emeka and walked him out, as he insisted on seeing the marked scripts and the recorded results’ worksheet. Nevertheless, Chukwuemeka was shocked at his behaviour. He could not believe that the examinations officer actually cross-checked the scripts. He screamed unconsciously, “O my God, this is another hope betrayed! Indeed, the journey and struggle continues!” He wiped out the tears with his knuckles and quickly disappeared from the scene. 118

But poor him, after being angry for a while he calmed down his frayed nerves since he could not challenge any of the authorities by asking for a remark.

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CHAPTER FIFTEEN Happily, Chukwuemeka had cruised into the final-year with all his numerous problems, both academically and outside. Ofonime too succeeded like him. Both of them had a similar academic problem and must be carrying heavy academic loads if they would graduate with their mates in the academic session. In the same vein, they were determined to succeed through dint of hard work. In the meantime, prior to the close of the second-semester of the third-year they were told to choose by themselves Project Supervisors so that no one would say in the end that he or she was forced to have a lecturer supervisor who was a real enemy. That had made Chukwuka and Emeka to look for a particular lecturer who would take both of them. The first pot of call was Dr. Ewang. It was really unfortunate that he would not take both of them because they were not women. However, for him to take a male student, you must come from Annang or Ibibio ethnic group, and be able to speak it to him fluently. Both were surprised that such a thing was happening in the department and in such a big citadel of learning. Indeed, on mere saying that they wanted him to be their project supervisor, he hissed heavily against the backdrop that they were not women or from his tribe. Dr. Ewang had a great penchant for sex; and as a result, he preferred the female folk, no matter the ethnicity as far as he would be satisfied as and when due in the course of the project supervision. Nevertheless, both of them had gone to several lecturers without any success. They were told that the number of the students they needed were already complete. Consequently, they did not have any other option than to go to the Head of the Department and laid the complaint. In prompt reaction, the HOD gave them a junior lecturer, who was doing his PhD to handle them. They were happy eventually. As Ofonime went to Dr. Ewang, he accepted her as quickly as possible. Obviously, he was exceedingly happy that he had captured a beautiful prey. However, seeing her beauty and well-built physical structure, including her stature and voluptuous curves of her bodies alone roused him greatly. He was nodding his head like a lizard fallen from a height, saying in his mind that he had seen a bitch, who would be rubbing him in the office and outside office at his will. That she was with him was like he had started doing it already with her, as his body began to shake. Seeing what was

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happening to his bodily emotion, he quickly dismissed her, telling her to come back the next day so that they would discuss in details how it would go. Just as Dr. Ewang said, Ofonime came back the next day. When he saw that she had entered his office, he looked askance at her and quickly discharged other students, who came to have one thing or the other with him. Soon, the advice from Dr. Ewang on how the project would be carried out successfully metamorphosed to pornographic tale. Obviously, Dr. Ewang’s character temperaments were easily discernible. He talked at random without hiding anything, as he was a loquacious but difficult lecturer to deal with. He was also a shameless immoral person, who can do anything immoral with impunity and would never say anything indeed in front of the female students without talking obscenities. However, it could be understood that he was very wicked and revengeful besides other characters found in him. That also made him to be a melancholy person in addition to his sanguine blended nature of talking randomly, even to the extent of beguiling his students’ listeners, especially the female folks. Ofonime, for one thing, was not the type who could easily be deceived into doing something wrong. She was a well-groomed girl from home. Consequently, she did not want to brook nonsense from anyone; and as soon as Dr. Ewang detonated the bomb from his mouth, she knew where he was going “There’s a tradition in this department that anyone who must be under a lecturer for a final-year project supervision mustn’t fail to do something good to him, either by cash or by kind,” said Dr. Ewang unashamedly. “You know,” he continued, “If I scratch your back, you too must scratch mine. Just like the Igbo people would say, ‘If the left- hand washes the right hand, the right-hand will also wash the left-hand too.’ That’s it!” “I don’t really understand what you mean, sir, by that. Please elucidate it in the way I’ll understand it,” Ofonime cunningly and pretentiously replied him that way to enable him vomit all things he wanted to say. “Hmm, don’t you know that you’re beautiful from head to the toe? You’re just an epitome and embodiment of beauty. I can liken you to a priceless pearl. In fact, your extreme beauty, voluptuous curves of your bodies and soft body are too good to behold and good to be stroked by men, who know the worth.” “Is that what I wanted you to explain to me?” 121

“No, no, no, I’m very sorry, please!’ he anxiously said with a trembling mouth. “What I mean is that if you’re a male student, you must give out something very meaningful to your supervisor and then, if you’re a female student, you give out your body freely. That’s our tradition, so that you’ll have a smooth journey to the macro world devoid of any problem. You know I love you. This upholstery is long and wide enough for you and me to lie and do some little exercises.” “What! To lie with you in this office? God will never let the lizard grow hairs! You must be joking! Is that your tradition? Damn shit with it! You can’t get me, period!’ “Don’t shout now to burke publicity.” Dr. Ewang appealed. “What do you mean? Do you think I resemble such people? Or am I a dog, who has no shame? And in the first place, what do you take me for? Eh! I’m crestfallen with this your queer character. Is that what you people are doing here and calling it a tradition? No wonder many of us here that are brilliant and intelligent from our various respective high schools are fumbling and failing without any hope of rising up upon all the efforts we put in!” “Please, please! It’s okay,” he pleaded at last. “Bye! You can’t get me! It’s better I die and go to the grave to meet my ancestors or I fail and repeat the year rather than opening my legs to you and sharing my precious body with an old man like you, who is fit to be my dad, in the name of doing a final-year project and getting a good grade. Damn shit!” With a face wreathed in anger, Ofonime slammed the door heavily in such a way that it could deafen one’s sense of hearing. Students waiting outside were perplexed and wondered what was amiss. Some were quick to twig the melodrama, especially on seeing some tears trickling down her eyes. Some guessed maybe, Dr. Ewang had done something funny with her, while some others assumed, perhaps he had failed her in one of her courses, as all her appeals could not stand. Soon, Ofonime opened up to her confidants, including her best friend, Chukwuemeka of what she went through with that randy-old-man called Dr. Ewang. Everyone of them was, indeed, gripped with fear, as any one of them could be a victim one day. Frankly, one might guess correctly that Dr. Ewang might be suffering from the mania for lechery. 122

As if it was not enough with the experience he had with Ofonime, another female student, an Ibibio girl had also come to him in the interval of three days, this time for academic advice, and he disgracefully behaved in the same manner. Idong turned down blatantly his sexual overtures. However, according to the students who had got the bitter experience in the sexual intimidation, had more often than not revealed the wickedness of the sadist, Dr. Ewang. The worst part of it all was that, this man would sleep with his victims in the office and in the end not helping them to overcome their academic trauma respectively. When asked by some of his victims, who were bold enough to approach him for failing to assist them, as he promised, he would shut the door on them. The same thing he did to male students who offered him some good amount of money. However, anytime Dr. Ewang walked along in the department, he did so majestically and arrogantly like a king, who could not be faulted. Albeit, not only him was doing this hideous act, but his own was too open and violent. In discussing with a female student whom he was supposed to father, he always spoke unashamedly with vulgarity even in the presence of the male students. Dr. Ewang was extremely desperate in trying to achieve his fiendish aim. Probably, he might be an accursed person or that if he did not do it he would not be complete. Behold, this word of God from Saint Paul in the book of Romans Chapter two verses six to nine applies to him and others who do like him, “For God will reward every person according to what he has done. Some people keep on doing good, and seek glory, honour, and immortal life; to them God will give eternal life. Other people are selfish and reject what is right, in order to follow what is wrong; on them God will pour out his anger and fury. There will be suffering and pain for all those who do what is evil.” One of the Cameroonian female students two weeks after the Ofonime and Idong’s saga with him had walked into his office, though, was not her project supervisor, but Industrial Training, IT, supervisor to ask him for direction on how she was going to present and report her Industrial training programme, which was a three 123

credit unit course. Soon, the entreaties turned to a pornographic tale, where Dr. Ewang, overtly told her in the presence of the other students that a dog’s play is like, “If you fall to me, I will fall for you,’ and now, if you help me, I will help you too.” Just as he did all the time: shortly, he discharged all other students with the reason that he had finished every other consultation with them till another day. Then he told Clementina without mincing words that he would help her to have a smooth ride out of the university if he would satisfy his sexual cravenness. “So accept it or leave it!” “But, sir, I’m afraid,” said Clementina. “Afraid of what?” replied Dr. Ewang. “It’s too dirty and hideous.” “What’s dirty and hideous about it? Don’t you know that it’s very sweet and interesting thing to do? It’ll not even take long we finish the show, and you’ll see the result of it all later.” “But, it’s very painful.” “No, it isn’t! I’ll make it a sweet and an interesting thing for you! Forget about what you hear about me from the students, they’re all figment of imagination.” “But, how will I feel if after doing it and opening the door to go out? Don’t you think that some students would suspect that we did something quite bizarre here? And I will be terribly ashamed of myself.” “Is there anything in this world so ugly or have never seen or heard of? Please, don’t even cast your mind there, for no one will afterwards, know what we’ve done. Thus, disturb not your mind about this or that. I’ll make you feel happy and good today and thereafter.” “But, sir, how am I sure that after this naughty and absurd thing we want to do shortly that you’d help me in the end?” anxiously said Clementina, who had almost been convinced and succumbed to Dr Ewang’s lecherousness. “Just believe me; everything would be taken care of at the end. If you want to trust any lecturer in this department, trust me, for I’ll never disappoint.” “But something vexing had been credited to you from the sundry students who’d got this type of experience from you.” 124

“That what happened to them?” “That after responding to your sexual overtures, in the end, you would renege your promises and refuse assisting. Also, they said that you’re a tribal man.” “Hmm, that’s a cancerous rumour! Don’t listen to all this! I am not what they’re crediting me with. So, forget about all what you hear, they’re all figment of imagination. Thus, let’s enter into the fun and be happy with ourselves now and always. It’s heaven like, on this planet!” Tears copiously bathed her eyes. But poor, helpless and hapless Clementina, finally yielded to Dr. Ewang’s unstinted sexual overtures. As she was putting off her clothes, he sauntered to the door, put a tag outside, which read, “Dr. Ewang, out of the office now, come later!” He afterwards, bolted and locked the door very hard. Shortly, Clementina lied on the long cushion and the coitus took off in earnest. They really stayed very long contrary to expectation that it would be very brief. The Cameroonian girl really gave him an unexpected thing contrary to what he had got from others. On top of her, he promised her heaven and earth. However, Dr. Ewang nearly fainted after the show of shame in his office. He was really very weak and tired. Just something close to seven o’clock, when the twilight of the day had disappeared, and students and lecturers gone home, he at last opened the door after thirty minutes rest and regaining of his strength. He then dropped Clementina with his car at the junction going to Female hostel and Staff Quarters. Meantime, a secret meeting was held by the academic staff of the Department where the issue of the graduation of the present final-year students was muted and discussed. It was unanimously and wickedly agreed by them that not many of the students would be graduated in the end, forasmuch as, according to their imputations, that majority of the students were not only recalcitrant but not cooperating. They vowed to pass the would-be repeating students amongst them with third class and ordinary pass honours, especially the obdurate ones amongst them. However, they promised to assist their successors to overcome their difficulties against the backdrop that they were obedient to the constituted authorities and cooperated with them in all ramifications.

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Obviously, that was what Dr. Ewang, more often than not confronted his victims with, which always left some timid ones among them giving in easily to his entreaties. It was not more than a month and two weeks after the resumption, the interim leader of the Students Chemical Society of Nigeria, SCSN, through the advice of the Head of the Department, had quickly organised election for the third-year students and other Junior levels, as all the present final-year students had been banned, to enable them assume full control of the affairs of the Association. And meanwhile, because of the fiendishness and the refusal of the authorities’ assistance, the very many of the current final-year students had, spontaneously, divided themselves into groups and cliques. One group was the self-acclaimed “born again”, who helped themselves academically and otherwise only, and refusing to help non-members. All day the students were burning themselves out, either in the laboratory or in their sundry hostels. They had vowed to succeed no matter the harsh realities and conditions cruelly subjected to. The students in other departments wondered every day why the Chemistry students should even be reading and studying more than the medicine and Surgery students, who have more syllabi and curriculum to cover in any particular semester than they have. Indeed, there was a great war and reign of terror in the Department. Presently, Emeka and Nse had finally reconciled their differences after the election war between them, and became friends again proving rightly the political axiom that in politics, there are no permanent enemies, there are no permanent friends and only permanent interests matter. Now, all the students were busy; either you find them in their sundry project supervisors’ lab, reading or doing their practical part of their thesis work. No one was found idling away, even some of them that were in the secret cult. However, Chukwuemeka and Ofonime had started walking freely together, even with the knowledge of virtually all the students. If Ofonime came to the lab where Chukwuemeka was supposed to be working on his practical project without seeing him, she would be perturbed and Chukwuemeka felt them same thing too.. They were always together and doing things together. When Ofonime wanted to eat, she would like Chukwuemeka to accompany her. One day, as they sat down, discussing the reign of terror in the department, Chukwuemeka unearthed how two of their course-mates he 126

did Industrial Attachment with, in the same company performed abysmally, as they knew next to nothing there. According to Chukwuemeka, the utmost surprise of it all was that both the students were having impressive results, and one of them if she struggled very hard in the way she had been doing, although he could not vouch for her, for anything good or bad, would be ending up having a first-class or second-class upper division. However, at last, they disregarded their respective performances, as more than two-thirds of the students had become a bunch of handout and note crammers, ready to vomit everything verbatim in the examination hall, and some female students, selling their precious bodies to the lecturers for marks; and no one knew who was who. And consequently, they became empty-headed after any semester examination. Eventually, the end product of it all is half-baked graduates pervading the whole society. A day had almost gone half-way; Ofonime and Chukwuemeka were sitting together in the laboratory lecture-room and with some other students sitting on their left and right hands. An extrovert, loquacious and unwanted guest, Chima, who more often than not jumped into people’s discussions unnoticed cut in. “Hmm, it’s like something great is happening between both of you.” Ofonime smiled delightedly. He continued; “Take your time!” he warned Chukwuemeka. Emeka was baffled and ruffled about Chima’s utterances. He stood up where he was, approached him to unravel what he meant. “No, I don’t mean anything O!” he denied. “I was only echoing what my sister, Chinaelo observed and I decided to tell you. “Is that so?” “Yes.” “Anyway, I don’t blame you. Continue with your gossip peddling! It’ll lead you to nowhere. I’m hundred per cent quite sure that it’s all jealousy. Your jealousy is as a result of an inferiority complex. You said that you’re a born-again, but I don’t even see any iota of it in you. No wonder the Bible records in the book of 1Peter 4:17 that judgment will start from the household of God!” Afterwards, Chukwuemeka moved downstairs to meet Chinaelo to hear her own version. 127

“What did you tell Chima?” He queried. “What do you think I told him?” “That concerning Ofonime and I.” “Don’t you love it? Do you think it’s easy to move with such a big babe with such a stature as her? She’s exceedingly pretty to behold! However, have you dropped Adaobi?” “Was there anytime I’d something to do with her?” he retorted. “Ha! Ha! Ha!” she laughed raucously. “I’m quite disappointed in your denial.” Uyi, Chinaelo’s friend reacted. “Ah! What do you mean, Chinaelo? How do you think that Emeka should descend too low to befriend Adaobi? Please, stop that! It’s derogatory! True, it’s only Ofonime who appropriately suits Chukwuemeka in this our class, and the department in its entirety. That’s my verdict!” Then Chinaelo turned to Emeka and advised him in Igbo to avoid her good friend, Uyi from understanding what she had said to him. “Please, take your time with Ofonime, otherwise. . . You’re my brother, from the same nationality with me; therefore, I can’t deceive you. Watch out very well, so that you wouldn’t be frustrated in this department! That’s all I want to tell you. A stubborn fly always goes down to the grave with the decease ” Chinaelo’s strong words were enshrouded with meaning and he was at a loss for words on hearing this. However, her statement was not unconnected with Ofonime, being at loggerhead with Dr. Ewang, who asked her for sexual overtures, which she turned down blatantly. c and thereby compounding his problems. Many, indeed, in the school had suffered the fate against the backdrop mentioned above.

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CHAPTER SIXTEEN The first semester was fast approaching to a close. Indeed, it just remained three weeks. There was a political rumpus in the school. It was blossoming in the Students’ Union Government, SUG, as a cold war. The trouble was between SUG President and the parliamentarians. They were accusing the SUG President and his cohort of breaking the law by going to the Military Governor of Cross River State to dine and wine with him which was against the constitution of Malabor Republic, that the SUG executives should never parley with the military men in power, who were regarded by the students as “the spoilers and destroyers of the Nigerian economy and people, and nevertheless, the enemies of the students.” They were imputed to have received some gratifications amounting to thirty-five thousand naira each, so as to support the military cabal in government; maybe, in perpetuating themselves on the political hegemony of the nation. Fortunately, it entered into the ears of members of the Nigerian Union of Campus Journalist, NUCJ, who had been always critical, ambitious and power-hungry to overthrow a legally constituted SUG, in any slight mistake of the President or the executives with the concession of the Vice- Chancellor. These people had a lot of power and always ready to form a government. And thus, after holding a meeting against that background they called out the entire students in Malabor, to sensitise and conscientise them on the recent happenings in the campus. Indeed, trouble was blooming on the horizon, as the irrepressible and vibrant writers did not take it lightly. To them, the president and his cohort in the executive had done something forbidden and, however, trying to cut the string that binds the students together. Meantime, several of the irate NUCJ members had chased the president and his followers out of the campus. In the night sequel to it, the Secretary-General who was a member of NUCJ and who unearthed this to the latter, had been apprehended by the members of the Scavengers Society of Sinners, SSS, on behest of the Military Governor, for his monstrous revelation. Indeed, this had angered NUCJ the more, and had embarked on a serious search for the president and his cohorts to go and negotiate for the release of the secretary, who was equally their member and who was languishing behind the unhealthy cell at Diamond Hill, Calabar. When he was found at last, he was vehemently harassed and threatened with mayhem if he failed to comply. Thus, the president obeyed and went straight to 129

negotiate for his release. Reaching there the soldiers at the gate refused them in. On persistence, one of the soldiers used the chain with him to hit the president on the knee and wounding him seriously. Blood gushed out and latter his knee bloated up. After being disgracefully chased out by the angry soldiers, the president and his colleagues who went for the negotiation returned to the campus with some bruises. Students were highly furious indeed. And now, the president who was the villain had become the hero and the Military Governor the villain. It is just like saying that the pursued became the pursuer or the hunted became the hunter. However, the troublemakers in the campus had hijacked the matter and went wild. They had marched out of the campus to the Ita Abor Road and to the Mary Slessor Avenue. These mischief-makers, some of them were really the bandits in the campus, who had for long, looking for places to loot and now, the opportunity had, at last, come. Some of them sincerely were not students. Majority were, either withdrawn students, Diploma and or Certificate students, who were under the University of Calabar Consultancy Services called Unicons students. Looking at the sky, one would not be in qualms that trouble was seriously looming in the air. Indeed, the twilight of the sunshine that appeared very early in the morning had disappeared in the twinkling of an eye after producing some shadows. However, some Malabites and Malabresses were busy in their hostels, washing their clothes, since it was Saturday. Some were heading towards the library and lecture rooms in preparation for the forthcoming examination. They were oblivious of what was to occur. Soon, cars and vehicles started flowing into the campus in trickles. Indeed, it seemed funny, but not too serious. The students who were outside watching the scenario were hysterically laughing themselves out, cheering the villains, as they were driving recklessly and spoiling people’s cars and vehicles round the Malabor roundabout and to the field. The situation is likened to the type of driving seen in some foreign crime and detective movies. Thus, the villainous students were perhaps using all those cars and vehicles to learn how to drive recklessly. Malabites were surprised, seeing some of their colleagues driving Strabag company’s big caterpillars and bulldozers into the campus. The caterpillar was the type that could not be pulled unless you understand how to press some of the buttons. However, that student drove it with relatively ease. If he was generally thought to be a criminal, one would not be in qualms, because he had, in fact, done what remained a nightmare to all 130

and sundry, who were present, as he never had the foreknowledge of it. He operated it through trial and error method. One hour had not passed, the protest, which was like a drama-display moved into a higher dimension, as many cars and vehicles had been moved into Malabor. A Plethora of the students had marched out in hundreds towards the main campus gate, singing solidarity songs and slogans. Nevertheless, Chukwuemeka thought it was not a too serious thing, as he left eventually to the department to meet his project supervisor. There were shouting and uproars of the students, and it seemed as if they were coming towards the department. Indeed, the noises hit the background and echoed strongly. Consequently, everyone ran outside from their various labs and lecture rooms, where they were either reading or monitoring their project experiments’ set-up. Soon, the hullabaloo was getting higher and higher, as everyone spontaneously opted to leave eventually. Meantime, the Military Governor had heard about the rumpus. He alerted the soldiers and the police command, which in the same vein, alerted instantly, the ‘Kill-and-go and nothing will happen policemen’. The lootings and the immense destructions became something unbearable. Already the people in the Watt market had been sacked, as destruction followed. The Atakpa Police Station was not left untouched in the vexing melee, mayhem and monumental destruction. However, the rioters, in the end, retreated to the campus, waiting for the combat between them and the combined forces of soldiers and the riot policemen. Arriving to the main-gate and the Malabor gate, they were unable to enter with their armoured vehicles and jeeps, as the gates were totally locked and barricaded. Thus, the allied forces laid siege outside and throwing tear gas into the campus in a reckless abandon. The rioters, nonetheless, were quickly picking the canisters, as it was being thrown, and throwing them back to them instantly. Some of the allied forces were receding, while some others were running for dear lives, planning what next line of action to take to march the students’ fire-to-fire approach. Apart from the throwing back of the tear gas canisters back to the senders, some of the undaunted students jumped down from the Malabor fence, chasing the vultures away. Many a car and vehicle had been set ablaze in the middle of the melee. So, as the siege laid by the allied forces was broken, the allied forces receded exceedingly to get more men from their sundry barracks. To this end, opportunity came for the Malabites and Malabresses to be called out to the 131

solidarity point to intimate them the cause of the recent development. From all the nooks and crannies of the campus, they had responded to the clarion call.

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villainous president, Isong Ette, who now turned out in the end to be the hero had climbed the rostrum and began to address the entire rushed-out-students demagogically. “Gre–a–a–a–at Malabites and Malabresses!” shouted the president. “Action!” responded the students “Gre –a–a–a–at Nigerian students!” “Action!” “Irrepressible and Intelligent Malabites and Malabresses!” “Action!” “Aluta–a –a- a- a!” “Continua a a a!” Afterwards, the Malabor National anthem, which was appropriated from the former Nigerian National anthem, also a colonial anthem given to us by the colonial powers was sang enthusiastically by all and sundry present. “Malabor, we hail thee, Our own dear native land, Though tribe and tongue may differ, In brotherhood we stand, Malabor are proud to serve Our sovereign Motherland.

Our flag shall be a symbol That truth and justice reign In peace or battle honour 'd, And this we count as gain, To hand on to our children A banner without stain”

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“Fellow great Nigerian students, I greet you all in the name of solidarity. I’m standing here before you this day to conscientise and sensitise you on the recent development and the spontaneous action we’ve taken. The military men, the bane of our lives in this country have come back again to put us to extinction without any regard that we’re the mirror of the future society. If you may look around, you’ll not be in doubt that Malabor Republic is under siege by the same military cabal in conjunction with the ‘Kill and go-and-nothing will happen policemen,’ aiming to sending us all to our untimely graves. But can we let this happen?” “No! No! No!” Echoed the students. “Fellow Malabites and Malabresses, we must do something tangible to defend our motherland – the Malabor Republic, our home dear native land. We’ve no other place other than Malabor. Must we fold our arms and let ourselves to be humiliated and disgraced out of this beautiful home again by these vultures?” “Never! Never! Never again shall we fall apart!,” the students vaunted enthusiastically. “If we shan’t fall apart again, thus, Malabor Republic must be defended totally against the vultures laying siege around the territory. We must humiliate and disgrace them all in this battle! Nonetheless, let me take us back to a memory lane when Malabor fell apart. We were conquered, humiliated and finally disgraced and displaced out of our only home. We were conquered because we were not only prepared for the costly war, but a few inglorious students amongst us betrayed us by giving valuable information to the enemies of the students after collecting some gratifications. We know that the same students are here, but we warn you that any ‘attempted attempt’ to do so may not only bring you a heavy sanction but can make you to unexpectedly meet your Waterloo. We’re also not unaware that there are Scavengers Society of Sinners, SSS men amongst us in our midst, but we’re not afraid of you any longer. My warning to you is that you should be circumspect otherwise you will be consumed in the melee. “Great Malabites and Malabresses, who have the immeasurable interest of the Malabor Republic in mind, may I get your permission to entreat the Malabor military men, that’s, the sundry confraternities for them to come to the aid and defence of Malabor, to protect it from being conquered again! May I inform you earnestly that you’ll be protected by the citizens of Malabor Republic! Do anything you can, to see 133

that we’ll not be conquered and fall apart, in the end. In addition, I entreat you the Chemists and Physicist in our midst to go to the laboratory and prepare a makeshift atomic and hydrogen bomb so that we can prove to the whole world that students can also do it and that the future of Nigeria is in our hands. May I also oblige you, the Malabites and the Malabresses never to be afraid and put us to shame and humiliation by cowardly packing out of the Malabor! Let’s all join hands together in fighting this noble cause and fighting the enemies of our time! “Thank you all for your cooperation in this period of hardship in our land!” Meanwhile, in the wake of the president’s gracious, but galvanising speech, the Malabor military men with mask on their faces, respectively, were shooting in the air and everywhere was booming indeed with the sounds of the gunshots. Afterwards, the students divided themselves; one part marched towards the main entrance gate, while others to the small Malabor gate to ward off the enemies’ reprisal attack. Obviously, it was at the time the sun was losing its intense heat that the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, University of Calabar branch Chairman and Secretary came down to Malabor, appealing and begging the students to sheathe their swords and let a truce to reign to enable them go and have a dialogue with the Military Governor, for the release of the detained students. In fact, both lecturers gave unflinching support to the students, since it was the Military Governor, who left his duties and responsibilities of governance to entering into students’ politics that engendered the bees to sting. After all the busy hours of the day, just around eight o’clock in the night that it was aired repeatedly every thirty minutes that all the students of the University of Calabar should leave the campus on or before six o’clock am the next day, otherwise, anything that happened to them they would have themselves to blame. Immediately, fear gripped so many of the students, as they had started packing their belongings to burke the repetition of what occurred one time in one of the Nigerian universities, when some students were gruesomely shot and sent to their untimely grave by the illiterate policemen, as ordered by the military. Indeed, that was what they were capable of doing, as a repetition, judging from what the Malabites did to the allied forces the previous day. Against this backdrop, solidarity songs and slogans were sang respectively, as the SUG president and the students had marched to the Club – the

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female hostels, appealing to them not to pack out and nevertheless, reminding them of the history of the fall of Malabor. As Morning was breaking very fast, and it had dawned on the students to pack out peacefully to avoid the raining of bullets on them by the angry combined forces, who had been previously made angry and disgraced. Chukwuemeka, an NUCJ member had refused packing his loads, and his cousin sharing a bed space with him reminded him about the gruesome massacre of students in one of the Nigerian universities. That, indeed, broke his constancy of mind, and he opted to pack, at last. Thus, as the students were packing and leaving through the narrow gate of Malabor, Chukwuemeka remembered the story told to him by his father on how the sacked Biafran people from their homes, carried their loads and helpless children on their heads and shoulders, with tears, raining down their eyes copiously during the Nigerian-Biafra civil war, as the Nigerian vandals, the ill-trained soldiers of Nigerian shot them out of their various homes. Obviously, the manner the students carried their things could be likened to that. Refugees were even better than them, as everything was in the state of disorderliness and confusion. They were in a hurry to pack out before the expiration time to avoid being sent to their graves. The female students were also afraid should the superior combined forces raid the campus soon, they might be raped in a hard way.

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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN As the students were spending their forced holidays variously at their country homes, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, at last, struck. And rather than the holidays now being short, it turned out to be a very long one. It was like a sabbatical. However, eight months later, the gates of the Nigerian Universities opened, as ASUU called off the strike action in which they demanded high increment of salary against the background that lecturers were poorly remunerated in the country. No lecturer was paid up to N60,000 per annum. Nonetheless, the University of Calabar too was not unrelenting in reopening the school, as the circumstance that led to the closure of the school in the first place was different from others. So, as ASUU, Unical branch finally relented and announced the school reopening, Chukwuemeka, however, did not waste time in returning to the hostel, as the examination, which they were about to take before the saga between them and the Military Governor of Cross River State would take place soon. Nevertheless, on the contrary, the authorities of the school had started everything afresh instead of continuing from where they stopped. True, it was a waste parents’/guardians’ resources in one hand, and waste of time and energy of the students on the other hand. In the course of time, the first-semester examination was, at last, taken. And because of the long holidays, Short holidays were given to enable the students to rest after swotting it out for the examination. However, Chukwumeka stayed back to monitor his experiment’s set-up for his course project, since the last semester of his final-year might be too short, as it might likely be a crash programme, as the school resumed. But not sooner the academic activities commenced than Emeka galvanised his course-mates into a meeting to discuss the mode of graduation of the final-year students and the type of certificates to be awarded, even though they were admitted to do Chemistry, but due to Nigerian National Universities Commission, NUC, restructuring of the courses, they found themselves doing Pure, Applied and Industrial chemistry. Unfortunately, the meeting could not hold against the backdrop of the fear amongst the students. Indeed, the oppression and suppression of the students had become so intense that the students out of fear of victimisation, developed the nonchalant attitude, on fighting for their rights in the department. Chukwuemeka himself did not want to lose 136

or relent on the battle. He had proceeded to write a letter to the Departmental Head with four of his course-mates who had a revolutionary mind like him, as he was able to convince and galvanised them to sign their signatures on behalf of the entire final-year students. The letter reads in part: “This offers us a good opportunity to write and discuss with you, two burning issues below. One, the final-year students’ mode of graduation and the type of certificate to be awarded to us. Please, sir, the entire final-year students’ wish is for you to brief us on the criterion/criteria the department in which you’re the head will use to graduate us. Formally, it was known to all and sundry that if a final-year student fails any course he or she resits the failed course(s) in an interval of one month, but it’s quite unfortunate that it has become one of the shibboleths of the past since NUC had taken over the universities, restructured the courses, and in the same vein, unleashed their stringent policy of ‘no resit’. Indeed, it’s since then things had fallen apart in Nigerian universities, drawing experience in a typical instance from the University of Calabar. It was unknown to everyone that a student would carry up to six courses over to final year and at the same time itching for graduation. We thank God for that, who gave us the enduring grace and understanding abilities to survive, even in the wake of hardship. “Sir, we’re worried about this, that after spending five years on this course that is supposed to be four years in this university, and one, due to one problem or the other fails one or two courses, and one is told to repeat the whole one year, especially on this biting economic crunch, bedevilling our country. Prior to writing this piece, we have investigated the modus operandi, which some universities, especially in the Eastern part of the country are using to graduate their students. Such universities we investigated are; University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), University of Port Harcourt (Uniport), University of Uyo (Uniuyo) and the Abia State University. The investigated universities had ordered their sundry departments to organise a special summer resit examinations for their students, especially against the backdrop of the long strike action embarked upon by the ASUU. Sincerely, we would have loved ours to follow the trend. The issue now is not the school, but the department per se. The rationale is that the school or the school senate cannot tell any department the way they should graduate their students. In fact, sir, may we outline that the entire final year Chemistry students want this issue to be resolved and cleared once and for all. 137

“Nevertheless, what is the type of certificate to be awarded to us? Is it B.Sc. Chemistry or B.Sc. Pure and Applied/Industrial Chemistry which by our own thoughts would be a dream come true, but never an illusion? It should be put forward that the present final year students had suffered a lot both in academics and finances more than any of the final year students in this department since its inception. Check out the courses on the Industrial/Applied and Pure Chemistry we have been made to offer compulsorily since year one. It was unknown to us that a final year student should do nine courses compulsorily. We now pause for awhile to ask ourselves whether we are secondary school students to have been given such academic load in one semester. But still, all this while we have remained mute. We do not protest like other students in other departments and faculties not only because of the department’s earlier promise to award us a degree in Pure and Applied/Industrial Chemistry, but the natural proclivity to be silent rather than too much protests and demonstrations since we believe unshakably and unreservedly that dialogue is the best key to every problem. “Sir, another investigation carried out by us lately manifested that all the courses we are offering are the same with that of aforementioned universities and others. In their third year, students are expected to choose carefully between the Applied/Industrial Chemistry courses and the Pure for the award of BSc. Applied/Industrial or BSc. Chemistry. Fortunately, in ours, we are doing the combined honours which have put us at a greater advantage over all the other citadel of learning mentioned or unmentioned. In fact, we commend the efforts of the noble gesture extended to us by the department for giving us the combined honours. Sir, we beg and appeal to you to use your good leadership role and fatherly care, and follow the trend like other universities by awarding us not only a degree in Pure and Applied/Industrial Chemistry to reflect truly what we’re doing here, but to effect the change of the name of the department so that all these courses including the Industrial Training, I.T we have done will not be effort in futility especially taking into consideration the way Nigerian society regards title. “It will be good, sir, to bring to your notice that the entire f the final year Chemistry Students have resolved to respect both the academic and non-academic staff members in the department and to do all things they expect from us. We wish that the communication gap we have now bridged should be followed forthwith. 138

“Before closing this, the entire students are delighted for the ways the department is preparing and moulding us, as we are stepping into the macro society. And we are proud to inform you that as it stands now no student of Chemistry anywhere in the country can beat us in chemistry since we discovered at the inception of final year where our problems lie and devising means of solving them. We promise to be good ambassadors of not only the department, but the school as a whole. “So far so good, may we humbly beg, appeal and urge you to use your good leadership role, fatherly care and office to resolve these two burning issues bothering us because it is good to give honour to whom honour is due.” All the final year students present hailed and upheld Emeka’s views in the letter, but declined to be signatories to it; and however, the four students he co-opted, who had like minds as he, eventually signed to avoid it being referred to as a one-man show. And nevertheless, the H.O.D had received the letter through the department’s Secretary. He read it, but was unable to fathom out the students’ demands. He then read it over and over furiously, and afterwards, called Associate Professor (Dr.) Ewang, the Industrial Establishment officer of the department to help him out, read and fathom out what the students meant. The Associate Professor was irate after reading the letter. “I advise you to get these students arrested and lock them up,” the sadomasochist in the department advised. The H.O.D was still in pensive mood, as he was in a quandary on what to do to the brains behind the letter. Shortly, he broke his silence, and then, told Dr. Ewang, to call the concerned students, after which he summoned the current president of the SCSN, asking him if the students consulted him before writing the piece and his response was not in affirmative. Thus, with dismal outlook, Dr Ewang sauntered into the lab, where the final year students were having their lectures, and summoned the students to appear before the Head of Department in an instant before appropriate measures would be taken against them. Just mere looking at his face, one would not be wrong to conclude that a snake was in the log of woods. With the thoughts of the entire students, serious trouble was in the offing, awaiting Chukwuemeka and his colleagues that were signatories to the letter to the H.O.D. Indeed, according to them, the concerned students would be envisaged with great difficulties henceforth. However, they had removed themselves out of the whole saga. The lecture soon ended after 139

Chukwuemeka Okechukwu, Chukwuma Ikechukwu, Etuk Akpan, and Nkereuwem Isong, had left to meet the H.O.D and the Industrial Establishment Officer, IEO. No sooner they had seated down than questions from Professor Ekpo Etim, the HOD and Associate Prof. (Dr.) Ewang rent the air like bullets. “What do you mean by following the trend; awarding you with combined honours. . . ? He afterwards, read the controversial letter in their presence and queried the contents he found fuddling and embarrassing. Chukwuemeka, the ring leader cut in. “What we mean, sirs, is that you should follow the footsteps of the schools as contained in the letter.” “Is that so?” He irately continued, “By conferring you with double honours?” Quietness reigned amongst the students. “By the way, did we admit you to study Pure and Applied/Industrial Chemistry or Chemistry?” “Don’t mind them,” Dr. Ewang jumped in. “They don’t actually know that it’s a privilege we’re given them to enable them to be useful in the society.” “Do you think it’s the department that awards certificates?” asked Prof. Etim. Or are we the NUC that put up the several courses for you and the carryover policy and, however, encumbered you? Why not go to the school senate and NUC to put up the complaint? In fact, I found this your unguarded letter insulting and embarrassing to my personality and to the entire Department of Chemistry.” “You people had the guts to say that you purposely kept silence rather than ‘protests and demonstrations’ in the department, as other students in other departments and faculties do,” said Dr. Ewang. “But, protesting for what? You’d have done so and in the course of time, bear the brunt of your obduracy, radicalism or what have you. And perhaps, in the end, finding yourselves out of this place. Give thanks to your God that you have a benign HOD; because assuming that I am the Head of the Department, I’d have not only locked you up, but make sure that either you find yourselves out of this place or frustrate you here, in order to teach you how not to be stubborn. “Sir, please, we are sorry for the mistake,” begged the students. They continued; “we promise we’ll not repeat it.”

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Here, Chukwuemeka was unreservedly unshakable with the threats from Dr. Ewang. Indeed, he was a true unconquerable activist and revolutionary, as he was never afraid at all like his colleagues were. “But you’d have come direct and dialogue with me rather than...,” said the HOD “We didn’t know, sir,” the students cut in. “That you’re lucky today doesn’t mean that you’ll be next time. Anyway, other members of the academic staff in the department will read this and we’ll in the end, harp on it in the general meeting. Go out of my office right now, please!” On getting out of the HOD’s office, Chukwuma, the student from the same nationality heaped the whole blame on Chukwuemeka, for his rigidity against the backdrop of the certain offensive words in the letter, as he was earlier told to expunge it, which he did not accept. This was, indeed, like a medicine after death. Chukwuemeka, however, was unfazed by the rattling noise of his colleagues against him. A week afterwards, he had gone to the English Department to see a senior female lecturer, who hailed from the same town with him. Their friendly discussion lasted for a long time, and it cuts across political prostitution, economic impotence, social wreckage of the people in Nigeria and, nevertheless, some of the problems seriously envisaged by the students in the university. The lecturer, Dr. (Mrs.) Okoi, was enjoying every bit of the discourse and Emeka’s good sense of humour. In sincerity, she found him too intelligent and baffled how he knew several of the things he was not supposed to know at his age. That was to say without mincing words that he was a prodigy – a precocious child and to cap it all, a phenomenon, indeed. “But I hope that you’re taking your studies very diligently and seriously,” inquired the lecturer. “Yes, madam,” he replied. “The only senior female lecturer in your department, Dr. (Mrs.) Owolabi, an indigenous of Calabar, is my friend, and she’s been telling me a lot about your department that they’re making Chemistry course very difficult and hard for the students, and moreover, they frustrate students, especially those seeming obdurate.” “That’s absolutely true! But here I am, I’ve no fear in my bosom. However, the Bible puts it succinctly and lucidly in the book of John 1:5, ‘The light shines in the 141

darkness, and the darkness has never put it out’. Thus, if it is so, no matter what the devil do, my colleagues and I will at the end of the day be victorious over them, our perceived enemies. The Word himself, who was made flesh and dwelled amongst us, said in the book of Matthew 10 verse 28, ‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather be afraid of God, who can destroy both body and soul in hell.’ “God is on our side. There are so many things they’ve done in retrospect to push us out in disguise of poor academic performances, but the Father Almighty said no. He’d given us power to overcome them, just as it is written in the book of Luke 10:19, ‘Listen! I have given you authority, so that you can walk on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the Enemy, and nothing will hurt you.’ “Really, they’re the agents of the enemy in human flesh, oppressing and suppressing defenceless students.” Obviously, the lecturer was looking at Chukwuemeka with great amazement, with the way he was mentioning God and quoting the scriptures with precision to support what he was saying. “Without being told, I know that on my own calculation, you’ll graduate devoid of any problem and with a very good class.” “By the special grace of God,” Emeka cut in. He continued, ‘if the rumour of our success in the last examination is anything to go by, my colleagues and I had already crossed unless they’ll strike us down with their sledgehammer in this our finalyear degree examination.” “God wouldn’t let them do so. I’ll be praying for you henceforth to scale through.” “Ma, do so for me, please, for God will bless you in a great manifold. And thank you for endeavouring to share in my problem. And that’s to say there are some good lecturers in this very citadel of learning only that the bad ones are in great majority.” “Thank you, too, for your good sense of humour and ability to discuss intelligently like a great scholar.” Shortly, Chukwuemeka left afterwards. Meantime, the semester was gradually coming to a close, and the final-year students were preparing seriously for their final 142

degree examination. Chukwuemeka was very busy with his project. Indeed, his supervisor had encumbered him with a lot of things in the project compared with his three other colleagues working in the same line with him with different inhibition additives; after being aware that the examination date was fast approaching, to let him stop and concentrate on his diligent studies. Nevertheless, he was seriously studying without rest, as soon as he finished the project work for the particular day. He was, in the same vein, running always from the Agric faculty at the main campus to monitor his set up an experiment down to the department, as the equipment he was using to do the experiments in the department was faulty. He was thinning down every day, even when the examination was yet to commence. It was really a pity! In the meantime, the modus operandi which the department would graduate the final-year’s students had echoed back again. It was like they were toeing Chukwuemeka’s views and thoughts that pushed him into writing a letter to the HOD undaunted. Indeed, his course-mates had gone to a transient to discuss the mode in which the department would employ to graduate them. This recent attitude was not unconnected with the absolute silence coming from the authorities in the department about their graduation. However, some of the students were gripped with anxiety for fear of victimisation. No doubt, no person wanted to stay in that department a day longer than necessary against the background of its economic waste, energy and time. Coming back to the department, Emeka opened the lab where he was doing his project experiments to collect some of the materials he was using for the experiments at the Faculty of Agriculture; he thought of seeing Ofonime to intimate her of his whereabouts all this while, but could not succeed. To this end, he climbed upstairs to the main lecture laboratory auditorium. Setting his foot into the lab where the students were having the discourse, silence reigned shortly for not less than ten seconds. Simultaneously, in breaking the silence, the students with the exception of Ofonime and a few others, who were his great and diehard admirers chorused; “Here comes the controversial man!” This was the name some of the students, especially those who supported his opponent in the political struggle dubbed him for the role he played in scuttling the election in the department on the verge of attempting to protect his political interest. True, they had known him to be a fearless and irrepressible fighter, who never looked 143

back on endeavouring to have his aim and thoughts achieved. However, they did not fail to shower praises on him, too, as he was full of smiles. He was solicited afterwards, to take over the writing of the minutes of the session from a female student, but nonetheless, he gave unflinching support towards the meeting and declined from taking over immediately the writing of the minutes that was unanimously given to him. There he was, Ofonime was trying to let the students know that she had something to do with him that was why he came upstairs. She, thus, stretched forth her left hand and tapped him, then threw her hand around his neck. Soon, she held his hand amorously, asking him where he had been; and she afterwards, told him that she had been earnestly looking for him. Three days later, the news had been peddled by students that the final degree examination would be taking place a week later. The students of Chemistry wondered why it was so, as they had been terribly gripped with fear. They had been given much attention to their thesis work respectively, and jettisoning reading their sundry courses, with the thoughts that there was still time. Nevertheless, Chukwuemeka and some others dispelled the news as a mere rumour peddled by students to cause panic and disaffection amongst some students. Afterwards, it dawned on him and some other skeptic students that it was no longer rumour, as some departments had started pasting their examination timetable on their various Notice Boards. Myriad of them were terribly gripped again with fear – the fear of failure. Obviously, they had not prepared very well for it, even though some of them, including Emeka had been studying diligently. They wondered why the department had refused to announce the date of the degree examination. Perhaps, it was purposely done, as it was their hidden agenda to announce it at the last minute, and, nevertheless, take the students of Chemistry unawares so that there would be a lot of failures at the end of it. Amidst the confusion, came a female student of Biology with her course-mates, who knew Emeka very well as an irrepressible activist, entreating him to galvanise his students into rejecting the untimely and unprepared examination, since agitations were already on at the Department of Biology. Forthwith, he had agreed to organise the students into rejecting the impromptu final degree examination. Against this backdrop, Nse, who had reconciled and fraternised with Chukwuemeka after the political impasse, which virtually polarised them had come in to tell the students of Biology why he 144

would not sanction his friend to do that work of stirring up the students no matter how good-intentioned. This was against the background that the authorities, according to him, in the Chemistry Department were closely watching and monitoring him and any attempt for him now to stir up the students against the department could earn him a withdrawal or a punitive punishment at the end of this last semester. In a similar vein, Nse had hobnobbed with Chukwuemeka, and he endeavoured as he could, to prevail on him from doing what he intended doing. “Nse, may I thank you greatly for your efforts and good advice you’re giving me,” said Emeka “but you should remember that this my struggle is not egoistic one. It’s in the spirit of altruism that I am conforming with. It’s what is giving me the impetus to move on with the struggle relentlessly. And God, truly, is behind me in this struggle, the struggle to liberate the oppressed and suppressed, even though the very people do not recognise and appreciate what I’m doing for them. This is how it has been right from time antiquity. It happened during the time of Moses, during the time of King David, and even during Jesus Christ’s time. And that is why he said to them in the book of Matthew 13:57, ‘A prophet is respected everywhere except in his hometown and by his own family.’" Nse jumped in; “One thing you should bear in mind is that your name is stinking heavily in this department. You’ve been in the forefront and a signatory to many potent agitations and letters that have been done and written here. How’ll you feel if in the end you’re stopped from graduating this year or graduating you with either third class or pass? Is like you are oblivious of the happenings in this department? How do you think again that the same students you’re fighting for may not dump you in the end into the garbage of history? Obviously, our class had become so polarised and weakened by the authorities that they can’t even speak with one voice. You’re quite aware again that we have informants amongst us that give them information. Some are not studying hard here like us yet they’re having excellent results. They’re the said informants.” “All these things I’m not oblivious of, but in a similar vein, you should bear in mind that some people are created or born to die for the others, so that the people he’s dying for may live a better life. That is why the shameful crucifixion and the death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross brought salvation to the human race. And according 145

to Abraham Lincoln, at the heat of the American Civil War, as it seemed that American Union may Balkanise; and as a draft of the Blacks’ Emancipation Proclamation already lay in his desk drawer. He wrote a letter to Horace Greeley, in which he said, ‘My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that.’ “Indeed, Nse, my paramount objective in this struggle is to save the students and not to destroy them. It is neither to galvanise them into protest nor riot and insulting the authorities nor to put the students’ future in jeopardy. If I could do this and succeed by annoying the students and the authorities, I would do it. And if I could do this and receiving a penalty consequently through victimisation from the authorities here, I would do it also. And I say it again, my paramount objective is for everyone to graduate this year devoid of any problem. It would be greatly an economic waste on the part of our parents/guardians and moreover, the squandering of our time and energy we would have used for something better if we should make a mistake of coming back here due to failing one or two courses. Look, they’re attempting to make us fail after performing excellently, as we heard in the last semester examination results yet to be released! Let them just give us a week benefit to enable us tidy up and prepare very well for this final degree examination. In many situations, it’s natural that some people are stronger than others; this means that the stronger ones amongst us would be the fittest and the weaker ones would be the unfortunates, in the end, should this premature examination takes place. “Obviously, Nse, this will not augur well for us that all of us who started this hard race at the same time should not end up at the same time. Please, see reason with me why I want to fight for this with my whole heart, mind and soul. It’s not egoistic indeed! Why not join me in this struggle of liberation. It’ll benefit you! And it’ll benefit me too! I don’t want to fail again. True, I’m tired of it. I can’t afford it this time around because it will be too expensive. I’m very serious about graduating this year, and not staying a day longer than necessary, which will spell doom for me. Look at me and see how I am now! Looking like a human being? Most solemnly, I’ve deteriorated in health 146

not in a small measure. Indeed, my parents and siblings may not even recognise me again should they see me in this condition. However, what do you think my condition would be after the end of the mad rush of our degree examination? Nevertheless, what I want is, for the condition of the examination to be mitigated and or the roads towards it to be smoothened prior to the embarkation of the so-called final degree examination. Nse, my friend, obviously, that’s what you can get from me. It’s truly not an easy road, but I know that if you join me to woo others, maybe, we may be victorious in the end. Let both of us champion this cause, and hurriedly write a potent but convincing letter to the faculty, telling them the need why the so-called final degree examination should be shifted forward for at least one week. True, I know the Dean of studies to be a humane and understanding man, who likes the students to pass very well. He’s really an elderly man and a sage!” Indeed, Nse had ended up where he wanted to dissuade his friend to drop his idea of fighting for the shifting of the examination being persuaded and galvanised by him. It was an irony of event, to say the least. Soon, Emeka had got an unflinching support from his friend, Ofonime and some few others. Not wasting time, he proceeded straight to writing the letter to the Dean of studies, Faculty of Science, who was from the Chemistry Department. The letter was straight to the point and read as follows; “We, the entire final-year students of Chemistry are humbly begging, appealing and urging you that you should help us, by using your good leadership role, fatherly care and offices to shift the final degree examinations for at least one week. This is to enable us to prepare very well, as we had been encumbered with our final year projects for many months now. “Obviously, the academic semesters for this our final year had been too short, due to sudden closure, coupled with ASUU-Government face-off, and we stayed not less than eight months in the house. We came back, and everything was started afresh. Nevertheless, this was economic waste and squandering of our time and energy. Sir, how will one feel if after this, due to unavoidable mistake, and one fails, he or she comes back again due to the quick rush of the final degree examination? May we put it succinctly and lucidly to you that we are not in a hurry to go. We want to take the examination under an ideal situation to enable at least the majority of us to graduate not later than this year. If the rumour of the excellent performance of our students in the 147

first-semester examination is anything to go by, that is the more reason the final degree examination should be shifted not for us alone, but for the entire students of the faculty of Science. “However, many of us are still battling with our sundry practical projects not to talk of writing the reports of the thesis. Suffices to ask, how does one think, sir, that one should start the examination, and as well monitor his practical experiment? Succinctly put, it will be an effort in futility for one does not pursue too serious things at the same time. He will first of all try to succeed in one before pursuing the other. Sir, we have known you for your being humane in nature and an understanding man, that is why we unshakably and unreservedly believe that you can help us to come out of this our serious problem bedevilling us greatly; and virtually perturbing and breaking our feelings now. “We are stopping here with great optimism that you will, as you please, use your good leadership role, fatherly care and offices to help us by shifting the final degree examination for only but one week. The Chemistry Students will ever remain grateful to you if our opinion is thus respected and your reputation as a sympathiser of us, the oppressed and suppressed remain untainted.” This letter was written and signed by Chukwuemeka Okechukwu, Nse Etim and some others Chukwuemeka, were able to convince, in the end, since it was a matter that was like a big albatross around their necks. Afterwards, both Chukwuemeka and Nse moved into the faculty office to submit it; but unfortunately, they did not see the Dean of Studies. The blatantly refused to hand it over to the secretary, as they wanted to make sure that their message would be sent across. In the meantime, all the students had come to the school the next day, Emeka and Nse mounted the podium to persuade the students about rejecting the final degree examination premature date, albeit the department was yet to release the examination timetable. They also told them that a pregnant female student, Chinaelo had selfishly gone also fraternising with the Sub-Dean of Studies, who also was from the same Chemistry Department, that the final degree examination should not be shifted for any reason whatsoever inasmuch as her gestation period would not permit such. After the revelation, the students reacted sharply like real cations and anions reactions, leading to 148

the formation of ionic-bonds. They lampooned Chinaelo for her ill behaviour. Afterwards, the students gave a tacit support to Emeka’s good-intentioned struggle. But, however, against the background of fear of victimisation, only about ten students out of the whole lots put signatories to the letter.

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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Eventually, Emeka, Nse and Ogochukwu, a female student who had just returned from the burial of her dad went to meet the Dean of Studies in his departmental office. “Good morning, sir,” they greeted simultaneously “Good morning,” responded the Dean of Studies. “Sir, we looked for you throughout yesterday and to no avail.” Said Emeka, the spokesman. “That was what I was told by my Secretary. Can I help you?” “Yes, sir, we’re here because of the rush of the final degree examination for which some departments in the Faculty of Science have started releasing their timetables. If we’re to be honest, many of us are yet to finish the practical aspect of our projects, not to start talking about the preparation for the premature forthcoming examination. We know you to be a humane man, and moreover, a sympathizer of the oppressed and suppressed students; and we pray that you use your good leadership role and position to influence the shifting of our final degree examination about to commence on Monday next week, as we’re hearing. We want also, our various courses to be spaced out for at least two days interval prior to taking another. “Sir, that’s our mission!” Emeka concluded. The Dean, after reading the letter handed to him, told them that he had as well received a letter from the Biology students with a lot of signatories to back it up. “Anyway, your agitations are not all that bad,” said the Dean of Studies, Prof. Ekarika, “but I must consult the Sub-dean, who as well is from our department and all the Head of Departments, making up the faculty before a decision would be reached. Obviously, I’ll not hesitate to treat your complaints with dignity and expediency.” The trio left the dean’s office full of smiles and great optimism that something tangible in the end would come out of their meeting. Soon, Chinaelo, one of the gossip peddlers and notorious for breaking through the lecturers and passing her examinations in the class, met Emeka and told him to desist from his agitations for the shifting of the final degree examination that doctors had ratified that she would by the special grace of God deliver not later than three weeks from now and that she was in a hurry for the examination to commence not later than next week.

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“You see, Chinaelo, your thoughts and request is very egoistic! How do you think that because of you, all of us, including other students from other departments take the impromptu examination? Or do you want us all, including you to fail and come back? Do you think that it’s only you that have a godfather in this Department? Let me just tell you the truth, this is a cause I must fight to the last, no matter what it takes me.” “How I pity you! You want to be withdrawn from this department very soon. Or perhaps, you want to repeat the year, and in the end, getting a third-class or pass honours, as the concomitant of your obduracy. Remember, with third-class or pass you’ll be stigmatised forever. Thus, don’t bend down and read! You’ll meet your Waterloo in the end.” Just leaving Chinaelo, he was met by the Sub-dean. “Chukwuemeka, I’ve been hearing that you’ve been galvanising the students into kicking against the final degree examination, which, according to you, was unannounced and hence impromptu,” said the Sub-dean. “Yes, sir,” Emeka accepted the accusation. “The examination is very impromptu. The department should consider us before a hasty decision is taken on this examination issue.” “Consider you people for what? Don’t go and start preparing for your examinations, otherwise, you’ll fail woefully, in the end. Look, let me be honest with you, I’ll never let the Dean shift the examination in your favour if you think so! They said that you and others wrote a letter to the Dean, the last session and he unilaterally shifted the examination, including the final degree examination. It’ll no longer be possible again. I’ll block all your moves and any of the Dean’s moves. Take it from me or leave it!” Reaching the main laboratory lecture theatre, where the final-year students were, myriad of them were outside grumbling heavily within themselves, and he asked what was amiss He was told that they were not happy with the impromptu examination being foisted on them by the authorities. He hysterically laughed at them and their complaints, and left them in guess about his true position in the said matter at last. Two days later, as the various Head of Departments in the faculty met, they reached a decision that the examination must be held, whether the students liked it or not; and because of some of the reasons the students put forward that they were yet to 151

finish and report their thesis work, hence the date of the defence was postponed to three weeks after the final degree examinations. True, this was nothing but sheer wickedness on the part of the authorities. This decision was manoeuvred by the cruel authorities in the Chemistry Department, who were bent on frustrating the students, especially the ones they tagged obdurate. A day later, that was Friday, the department released their timetable. It was a frustrating moment for Chukwuemeka and so many others. He was to use only five days within the week to take nine fresh courses. Indeed, many of the students were in a quandary of what next to do. They were variously running helter-skelter. However, Emeka had moved into the office of his project supervisor overwhelmed terribly with fear, telling him that he was suspending his practical project and its reports to face squarely his examinations, whose timetable had been released. Now the supervisor, who had encumbered him very heavily out of his egotism in order to use his project report to write a journal paper, did not have any other option than to grant him the request. In the same vein, he did not have any other need to meet the Sub-dean, who was like his senior supervisor against the backdrop of being instrumental to the exam timetable not been shifted. Meanwhile, the examination timetable came out with a communiqué, concerning the meeting held, where various Heads of Departments’, Dean of Studies and the Sub-dean mandated all the students of the faculty to sit for the examination willingly or unwillingly. And, however, what was obvious was that if Chukwuemeka’s revolutionary type was up to twenty in the class the whole students would have not participated in the examination. Nonetheless, Chukwuemeka had hurriedly with fright gone back to the hostel with one of his friends, Chukwuma, to sleep first and then, come back to start their preparation. Indeed, the preparation of the Chemistry students of the final-year was heavy, as no one was seen idle. Emeka and Chukwuma would come to the Laboratory very early in the morning and, then, went back to the hostel to take their siesta around three o’clock pm and afterwards, went back to the laboratory around eight o’clock pm and read till 12 o’clock midnight. It was a real marathon preparation! One would be forced to ask, “Is this type of studying by Chukwuemeka and the rest of the students really good for them? Does examination meant to destroy students’ lives or to sharpen

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and test students’ ability to replicate what they have been taught or learned and read into feasible action, that knowledge had been truly imparted on to them?” This mad examination had taken a lot of life out of the students, respectively, as some of them were beyond recognition just within five days. Emeka was even worse of it. As the students had burnt a lot of calories, they were very weak, looking malnourished and gaunt. Any examination that makes students sleep two to three hours a day, that is not a real examination at all. Obviously, many of them were not even sleeping at all, as they had a lot of things to cover up in their respective courses. Meantime, in the wake of the real examinations, Chukwuemeka and Chukwuma after coming back from the hostel by 12 midnight, would sleep around 1:00 am, then, woke up around 4:00 am, and went back to the school to read to enable them to cover up any of the courses that would be taken that day. Since they must always be awake, Chukwuemeka and the rest of the students resorted to the use of drugs to avoid being overwhelmed by sleep. Some were taken native kola-nuts, which contains caffeien, Nescafe tea, and so on; and Emeka himself was taken barren Lipton tea only without diluting it with milk, which he always spiced with sugar, which was inimical to his health. This was the third day of the so-called final degree exam; trouble was on the horizon for the young determined and dogged Chukwuemeka. He had taken the first paper amidst confusion, and he was afraid in the wake of the second paper. One of the questions seemed simple for him, but was put out of line due to the confusion with a word: perhaps, it was a typographical error. Consequently, he called on his bosom friend, Chukwuka, sitting opposite him to clear the air on the question. Chukwuka scribbled the real word on his question paper, and eventually exchanged it with his. But unfortunately, as he stood up to take it, his stool screeched and attracted the attention of Mr. Akpan, the invigilator and a well-known sadist, who was even involved in sexual harassment of the female students in the department notwithstanding his claim to be born-again. He approached and asked what was amiss. Chukwuemeka explained, but he blatantly refused to accept, perhaps, they might have been watching closely and targeting him for ruination in the department. Thus, on glancing through Chukwuka’s question paper, he saw a question, which he solved before putting it in his answer script, as he was confused; consequently, he concluded that that was what Chukwuka 153

exchanged with Emeka. He, nevertheless, tied the two question papers together as evidence against them. And as they were still standing up without writing, he rushed downstairs, called Associate Prof. Ewang since it was his own course. Thus, after glancing through Chukwuka’s script, he nodded his head in agreement, and then, told Mr. Akpan, to issue them fresh question papers, making sure that both their answer scripts were coupled together with the said question papers that were regarded as exhibits to enable him to act promptly on them. Poor Chukwuka, he was fraught with fear, but Chukwuemeka always being undaunted by anything happening around him, saw it and signalled to him not to worry about anything that God would take care of everything in the end. He requested him to act always like a man. As soon as the particular examination paper had ended, Chinaelo and Uyi, her friend, who, one time was furious that Chukwuemeka connived with Dr. Effiom to oppress and suppress the former executive members of the SCSN, and who saw what happened, took both of them to Dr. Ewang, one of their godfathers. Meanwhile, Chukwuka was still in fear against the backdrop that it could lead to his withdrawal should it reach the department or the senate of the school. Reaching the office of Dr. Ewang, Uyi had approached him closely, then, slightly beat him affectionately but tenderly on the shoulder and stroked him continuously, for about two minutes. He was exceedingly enthused and stimulated. “Eh, what’s amiss, as both of you brought these two strangers with frown faces to my office?” Dr. Ewang asked both Uyi and Chinaelo. “True, sir, it’s because of their problem with Mr. Akpan,” Said Uyi. “These two young gentlemen didn’t do him anything; it was out of irrational hatred on them that he accused them of being involved in examination malpractice. You’re not oblivious that Mr. Akpan hates us and would be happy to seize anything and hold it firmly, which could trigger expulsion of any of us and or frustrate all of us. Thus, temper justice with mercy, as they didn’t do anything to warrant this serious problem like an albatross around their necks variously.” “Okay, because of both of you, I’ve forgiven them.” “Sir, sir, you dey kpomkwem,” Uyi eulogized him in Pidgin English, as she was busy stroking him on the back and making him exceedingly happy. There was no

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surprise about this because this Associate Prof. loved bottom-power so much and in fact, anything that went on a skirt. However, with vulgarity and unashamedly, he said; “Look, Uyi, if I can leave Chinaelo now because of her condition, I can’t do same to you!” “I know, sir,” replied Uyi. “Hmm, sir, you like this thing so exceedingly,” Chinaelo cut in. “Aren’t you tired of it?” “Why should I? Is there anyone on earth with flesh meat or fish put in his mouth to devour and he vomits it out in utter rejection in preference to bone?” Ah, that thing is too sweet O! And look O, no one dares joke with me with that sweetest and most interesting thing on earth that God himself created! Do you think that God was stupid in creating it? No!” “You’re very funny, sir,” Uyi and Chinaelo chorused simultaneously. “But, sir, I don’t know why the majority of you, lecturers, like this thing so much,” said Uyi. “If you’re to be a man, you’ll do the worse. Anyway, that’s the only way we’re enjoying this our profession. As the government of the day, which we are under its payroll can’t pay us very good remuneration, we use that to endure our pains and sufferings. I think, there is a general saying here that the rewards of the teachers are in heaven. So part of our reward here on earth is this.” “Even if you’re well-paid, you’ll do the similar, because you’ve become so engrossed, and hence developed an irresistible and great appetite for sex, and indeed, a big disease plaguing you people now,” said Chinaelo, who had got the guts to talk to him without any more respect. Obviously, she had done something with him severally; consequently, the respect had gone to the garbage of history. “I beg, leave me alone!” “But, sir, after the long ASUU strike for the increment of salary and wages of the university lecturers, the government increased heavily your remuneration comparable to the Bank and Oil workers,” said Uyi. “Why, then, this your latter statement? “I’ve begged you people to leave me alone and stop giving me a rigorous catechism.” 155

“But you wanted it now,” Chinaelo cut in. “However, sir, when is the right time for me to come and see you?” asked Uyi. “To do what? O, is it to satisfy me or . . .?” “Any one.” “You can come at anytime you feel like, as the door is always open for you; I’ll be fully ready for you, as you’ll also come with something appetising, attractive and beautiful.”

However, before leaving the office, Uyi did what she always does to get him roused, in order to get attention from Dr. Ewang. She stroked him repeatedly, which made him exceedingly happy and full of smiles. But in the meantime, Chukwuemeka and Chukwuka were aghast, looking at the ensuing melodrama that was better heard as a story than watching it live like a film. Thus, as they were leaving the office they discovered why some people were passing and making good grades, while some others are obviously studying so hard and were failing and failing in the examinations in the department. “It’s really a big pity!” said Chukwuka. “I thank God for letting this type of thing happen in our presence, as these two good friends of the same character led us to this man,” said Chukwuemeka. “I am now wiser than before. This is a tale which no one will tell me again. I have gone and seen that it’s absolutely true!” “We must be careful too, because these two fellows may be more dangerous than the snakes in the forest!” “Yes, of course. They can do and undo, as we have seen it all,” said Chukwuemeka. “They’ve finally moved every insurmountable mountain in this department. And obviously, Chinaelo single handed changed the mind of the Sub-Dean, who blocked our every move, for the examination date to be altered by the Dean of Studies. These two students are too powerful! Indeed, there is nothing bottom-power can no longer do in this our society. They can penetrate even the strongest in the land. It happened in the Bible: Samson, King David, King Solomon and some others were

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messed up by these wonders of the world. I doff my cap for these two wonderful creatures, for their immense power they wield,” said Chukwuka. “Definitely, the power that comes from the beautiful women’s buttocks has become so immense and or immeasurable! The power that has penetrated, defiled, defeated and killed many kings and the powerful!” “Bottom power, hmm! And I can tell you the truth, I’ll never marry a university graduate, as the two-thirds of them are all prostitutes! I’ll rather marry a village girl rather than them. But indeed, I tell you most solemnly, only prayer can save us here,” concluded Chukwuka. “We’ll continue to pray ceaselessly that the Lord Almighty will see us through here against these cabal that prefers sacrificing meritocracy on the altar of mediocrity because of bottom power to developing and equipping mankind academically and otherwise,” said Chukwuemeka. In the meantime, Mr. Akpan, who was almost concluding his PhD in the department, was happy and unrepentant for what he did. He had an irrational hatred for Emeka, who even never looked for trouble apart from his holding of extreme ideological views, and had been looking for a good opportunity to nail him on the cross. Meantime, the final degree examination had finally come to an end. There were a lot of jubilations from department to department and from faculty to faculty on their various last papers. But it was not so in the Chemistry Department, as many of the students were wearing dismal outlooks. They were not sure of graduation, in the end, as the condition they wrote the examination was too stringent and unfavourable. They prayed respectively that their known enemies would not fail them. In the meantime, it was just as if the wind could blow Chukwuemeka down at a glimpse at the end of the so-called final degree exams. This was, however, how some others were looking at a glimpse. In a similar vein, some who had godfathers were looking very healthy and posh. Nevertheless, after the final degree exams, everyone was jostling from one place to another, including the library in order to tidy up their sundry theses. But as the deadline day finally came, for the defence of the theses, also known by all as ‘project’. Surprisingly, those thought to be intelligent and brilliant in the class, judging by their excellent results every semester were not so excellent in the art of defence of what they 157

had done practically, researched and written. Even, Nnamdi, who once laughed, taunted and mocked Chukwuemeka’s dismal performance in year-two could not defend his thesis very well. He could not even answer the simple questions the external examiner posed to him, just like others. Indeed, he worked with Chukwuemeka, Chukwuka and one other student in the same project area, but with some little differences respectively. Similarly, it was only Chukwuemeka who defended his thesis very excellently with boldness that made the external examiner not having any other choice than giving him A grade. His supervisor was very, very happy for him in the excellent defence of his research project, which some others were unable to do. He was full of smiles and proud of him. At least, it showed that there was a good supervision by him. However, the Sub-Dean of the Faculty of Science, the Head of Department and Dr. Ewang, who were there were amazed. Hence, his supervisor, too, without any option gave him A grade because he was exceptionally good in the practical aspect and the reporting of the thesis, including the presentation. He was really better than those of the Master’s degree students in the research and report. Nonetheless, it could be deduced that the students’ inability to defend their various theses very well was not unconnected with the students’ too much cramming and memorising ability, in order to pass the examination only, instead of good retention and development of the brain. But in the case of the thesis, one could not cram such.

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CHAPTER NINETEEN This was four months after they had finished the so-called mad-rush final degree examination. And after the senate of the school sat, deliberated on it, they released the results. But in the meantime, the Chemistry Department had already met, and decided on the fate of the students. They still stuck to their guns that only a few of the final-year students would be graduated. At their meeting, they agreed nem con that some of them would be derailed in certain courses they registered and sat for, and forced to come back, whether they like it or not, for them to repeat the year. However, when they came back, they would be ended up with either a third class or ordinary pass or certificate of attendance. Looking at this, one would not be told that this was not a conspiracy of silence of the nth degree, as they had made fulfilled what they had already decided beforehand that they would deal with them, as they were too obdurate, and never cooperated with them. Indeed, there was a massive failure and leaving people to be at a loss to understand why this happened, whether it was not the same students whose results were so fantastic in the first semester, as shown in their released results. However, the outgoing students had started returning to the campus to collect their statement of results, and afterwards, take up their National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Call-up letters. However, to all the students, including those in the Chemistry all hopes were high that they would make it to NYSC whether the enemy, the Satan in the school liked it or not. Meantime, Chukwuemeka had seen Ofonime, his darling friend and her friend, Chinyere, as he was coming down from the bus, returning from his country home, where he spent the four months holidays in wait of the final degree examination result release. He was exceedingly happy seeing Ofonime after the long holidays. However, as soon as he dropped his bag in the brother’s Calabar home, he quickly rushed down to the school to have a glimpse at his released results. On reaching the department, it was too dark, and he was unable to see clearly. As he could not enter against the background of the darkness, he decidedly started going back home; but nevertheless, he saw Ofonime and Chinyere approaching doggedly and with great optimism like explorers who had succeeded in their mission. Afterwards, they won the heart of Emeka, who was endeavouring to dissuade them to go back that there was no light to see the first-semester examination results pasted. Fortunately, stepping into the 159

department, they saw a night-guard with a torchlight checking the entire results released; they breathed the air of freedom and success that none of them had a problem in the end. True, that had rekindled more their expectations. Thus, as three of them were going with great smiles on their faces, they believed unreservedly that they had, at last, crushed and defeated the sadists - the oppressors and suppressors shamefully. Indeed, the three had met again in the evening of the next day, just in the twilight of the sun; hastily, they sauntered into the department with exceeding expectations to see their main determinant results. At a glimpse of the results, Chukwuemeka was dismayed and at a loss for words on the massive failure of the finalyear students. Similarly, he was yet to glimpse at his results. Soon, tears copiously beclouded his eyes, and began to drop down like the rain. He had, at last, being failed by the department on the courses he thought he would perform excellently well, including that of Associate Prof. (Dr.) Ewang’s controversial course, that of Mr. Akpan, who had a natural hatred at him and another one taught by the Sub-dean. Unbeknownst to him, Ofonime and Chinyere, who also failed, disappeared in solemn anger. As Chukwumeka stood still, gazing up and down and not knowing what next to do. Soon, goose pimples developed and spread all over his body. Nevertheless, he managed to move out of the department, and then stumbled lamely through the bush path towards the Medical School. There he stood still and aghast again. He was soliloquising. As he was there absolutely perplexed, he was benumbed again with cold. Getting back to consciousness, he thought profoundly. “So, my oppressors had finally defeated me in this battle. Hey, I can’t believe this that my sufferings in this citadel of learning had become efforts in futility. Just at the time I thought I’d succeeded and escaped from their over-powering hands that they struck. How am I sure that they’ll graduate me in the end? What type of cabal, sadists and fiends did I fall into their hands? O God, save me! Don’t let these people succeed in their evil machination. Do not let my family to be let down by me, and do not let me disappoint my elder brother who had laboured a lot to see that I obtain this university education. As he was moving towards Hall 2 with slow steps and profound thoughts, he was in a pitiable condition. On meeting his close friend, Chukwuka, no one who would have seen him with his hands on the head would not conclude that something was greatly amiss with him. It even manifested on his face. It was twisted so exceedingly. 160

However, he did not know how to narrate his unpleasant ordeal to him. But in the meantime, Chukwuka had already seen his unpalatable result and declined to tell him at the time both of them met initially, to avoid him collapsing on that backdrop. Shortly, he was overwhelmed terribly with cold again, and thanks be to God that it happened in the presence of his reliable friend: Chukwuka did all he could to lull him to forget about his misfortune and to put everything in the hands of God since this was something he could not solve, neither an outsider could help except Him, the Lord Almighty. “So, bear this with great equanimity; forasmuch as I know that God is in control. He’ll never abandon you, and He’ll never forsake you. That’s the promise he made to us, the believers in the book of Joshua 1:5 and Hebrew 13:5. You see, during the time the storm was on Job, he was there with him! So, he is still there with you. ” “But look at the way I started very well early in life, and these people want to make me end up miserably, and thereby, blurring my record set-up. This University of Calamity and Tears has not only smeared my record, but made me a non-performer and rattle-pate. This embarrassing result will never leave my memory. And I regret most solemnly schooling in this University of Calamity, Unical, called the University of Calabar. Look, at how a first-class material like me in real life turned to shreds like this!” ` “But you know that without a cross there will be no crown. Our Lord Jesus Christ carried a big cross to Calvary and fell three times, therefore, everyone who calls himself a believer must carry the cross, whether he likes it or not. Our Lord Jesus’ falling three times in the third, seventh and ninth stations of the fourteen Stations of the Cross means that we must fall one time or the other in the journey of life, and we must rise up immediately and continue the journey, as we are pilgrims here on earth. We should not lose hope. And that is why Jesus Christ himself said, as recorded in the book of Luke 9:23, ‘ And he said to them all, ‘If you want to come with me, you must forget yourself, take up your cross every day, and follow me.’

Thus, this is part of it which you must not run away from. If you despair in the end, you’ll have yourself to blame. Obviously, failure teaches us success in the course of time, and that makes someone a true philosopher. Indeed, no one prays for problems, but when it comes, one must not run away from it, as it is a sure way to his blessing and 161

breakthrough. Can’t you just see the records of some righteous men in the scripture, also known as the heroes of faith, and how they received their blessings from the Lord God of Host? They suffered traumas so terribly, and what happened in the end? Go and read about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Jabez, Job, Ruth, Zachariah and Elizabeth, and even the father and mother of our Blessed Mother Virgin Mary, St. Joachim and St. Anne, and name them. To your own side, I tell you most solemnly, future will vindicate you. Every person in this our class knows that you’re more than intelligent and brilliant compared to all of us.

Obviously, your intelligence and

brilliance is natural; but what happened, I can’t explain. Look at those who passed; some of them know next to nothing! Some were going to the lecturers and sorting themselves out, especially the female ones, including Uyi and her friend, Chinaelo, using their bottom power. You saw what happened before and after our final degree exams; and even the melodrama when we went to the Associate Prof. (Dr.) Ewang to plead for mercy. Even the five people who got second-class upper, do they actually know? All these exams we had taken were nothing but a show of how good a person was in cramming and producing exactly as it was given by these so-called lecturers; or how fast a female student was to open her legs to the male lecturers. After that, their brains went back to zero point. Is that what you call intelligence and brilliance? That’s why I pity this present generation of Nigerian students, the-would-be tomorrow intellectuals. Who’s the cause? Lecturers and our government, of course! Indeed, we’re heading towards academic oblivion and or precipice in this nation, to say the least.” In the meantime, some students who failed one or two courses and were supposed to come to repeat the courses were struggling to get fake results from the Admission Office with a huge amount of money, and in the same vein, collecting their National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, call-up letters for the orientation camp. But nevertheless, Chukwuemeka had gone back to his country home with some many illfeelings and indignation against his department to sojourn until the second-semester reopened when he would go and repeat the courses he failed. Meanwhile, Nkechi’s friend, Ekaete, who was a Geology student passed out with an incredible result. She was graduated with a second- class upper division. While Nkechi, who endeavoured to maintain her Catholicism philosophy and teachings got third-class. However, in Ekaete’s department, she was well-known for that act, and there were eyebrows raised 162

and uproar by some graduating students on seeing her excellent result, which she got through regular legs’ spreading to the male lecturers. Similarly, Ekong, a Calabar student in Chemistry, who once exchanged words with Chukwuemeka, when he vomited all things he crammed and memorized in the course of teaching him, got Second-class Upper Division and making a rattling noise, as he would be moving towards his Master’s degree and applying for a lecturer assistant in the Chemistry Department. One of the female students who did an Industrial attachment with Chukwuemeka at the same industry, and who did not know anything during the industrial experience and could not defend her thesis project very well got also Secondclass Upper division Meantime, throughout the long forced holidays, Chukwuemeka was in serious sober and agony. To eat was a problem. It was like an incubus holding him down so seriously, and without any solution to conquer it, to avoid suffering from high blood pressure, which is a lifetime ailment. Chukwuemeka associating with people was a big problem, as he was afraid that he would be ridiculed by his friends, that he could not graduate with his mates, and made it to the one-year compulsory service to the nation known as National Youth Service Corps, NYSC. Against this backdrop, he had left his country home to sojourn in Onitsha and for him to forget the academic malady, and move forward in life. Not quite long, he started thinking about Ofonime, whom he had not heard from since after their departure. He decided to write her. “My darling friend, I didn’t know when you left me unceremoniously, as we came to see our results that very inglorious day. I know it was because of the monstrous results, which left almost all the affected shattered. To me, I couldn’t believe what I saw. I didn’t know actually what happened; and in fact, it was like a nightmare. Indeed, I walked my way lamely through the bush path, leading to the Medical College and Hall 2. Reaching the place very near to the Medical College, I stood aghast, wondering what was amiss. At a point, I sat down on a hard soil thinking myself to the grave. Passersby wondered what was amiss with me, as I placed my left hand on my cheek and my right hand crossing my chest. As I was there, I was soliloquizing like a drunk or madman. That was the pathetic situation I found myself eventually.

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“On reaching my country home, the matter came to worse, as I was thinking myself to the grave and refusing to eat. Even my mother’s intervention could not help out. Succinctly put, even as I’m writing, I am doing it with tears, bathing my eyes and dropping like rain. Indeed, this was a great shock that came to me, and I was wreathed with frustrations. Why it pains me very much is that when I thought that I have conquered my enemies - the oppressors, it was the time they pummeled me very hard below the belt. I was in total shame and misery. I’m really thanking God that this trauma should never put me into crisis. “True, the department had successfully executed their evil machinations by frustrating the majority of us and graduating the few. That was sheer madness and crass arrogance and idiocy on their path! Yes, they claimed to be hard people and difficult road to pass through: to them, all they believe is that they are setting up a standard, which no university in the country could ever reach. In a similar vein, they are creating problems, dumping intelligent and brilliant ones who’re supposed to be the intellectuals of future Nigeria in the lower class. What a great shame to this university! What a great shame to this nation! Besides, they are politicising and making ridicule of the degree awards, to the outside world. It was a show of shame that some female students were getting good marks and passing the exams through their powerful bottom power. This is neither a false rumour nor what anyone of us would gainsay. I did see it all with my two eyes. Yet, they’re setting up a standard. “Meanwhile, it was a drama during the session held by the department on the award of the degrees. There was a rumour that made round that an Associate Professor, who had harassed so many female students, including the male ones, was ostensibly on the side of the students. He apparently appealed that they should temper justice with mercy since they had passed extremely well in the first semester, but he was shouted down. To me, this rumour is unbelievable and baseless. But according to the rumour, at the end of the meeting, all of them unanimously concluded that so many students should repeat. And that, even if justice was to be tempered, it would not come in the ways of the obdurate ones, which they even mentioned in their discourse. “However, I hope that you’re no more thinking yourself to the grave against the trauma the fiends made us to suffer. I am quite sure that God, with his infinite mercy, will elevate His people on the last day, but, for these wicked people, I don’t know what 164

will happen to them. They’ll receive God’s wrath. Obviously, God’s anger and judgment are like a fire that burns forever. Since I was born, I’ve never seen God disappoint his people, His creation, His beloved and the people He sent his only begotten Son to shed his blood for their sake and their redemption. The purpose why He created us must be fulfilled no matter what the enemies do. It mustn’t be defeated. They can only torture the body, but not the soul. God did it in the time of Abraham and Moses; and He will do it again and again, forasmuch as He is God that hates injustices, oppression and suppression. That’s why his word says in the book of Haggai 2:9, ‘The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former.’ We must defeat these Pharaohs in this Chemistry Department, of the University of Calamity. I unshakably believe this, right from my bosom that the students who were awarded second-class upper aren’t better than me, as I have weighed them on the scale, had an encounter with all of them, and they do not know one-tenth of what I know! And they’re the would-be intellectuals in Nigeria. What a great shame! What a great calamity is this! What are they actually bequeathing the nation? Butter and bread intellectuals or rattle-brain intellectuals? The future will vindicate the just and the unrighteous. “Anyway, Ofonime, have you ever heard from Chinyere? How’s she? Please tell her never to worry about this her monstrous performance, if you hear from her. The deed has been done, and no matter our cries, bewailing, and trying to mourn oneself to the grave, it will never solve the problem. The only solution to this is embracing God, for the scripture says in the book of Romans 10:11, ‘Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed’ and in Romans 8:31 ‘In view of all this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us?’ And I can say that whoever that is with him is in the Majority. “Obviously, Ofonime, it’s now that I’ve begun to blame myself for one, being a student of Chemistry and two, schooling in this citadel of learning now known by me as ‘ The University of Calamity’, where intelligent students, and succinctly put, the supposed first-class materials and the nation’s future intellectuals are frustrated, and, however, dumped in the lower class that does not befit them. Since they chose to do evil and or be oppressors and suppressors of the good; sincerely, everything good will elude them. Some of them who pretend to be lecturers are not even near to it, as they’re the products of colonial education. So, they’ll always exhibit their masters’ characters 165

and strategies. And I believe unshakably that God, the hater of injustice, oppression and suppression will requite them adequately when the time comes, after all, the Bible says it all, as in the book of Luke 6:38, ‘The measure you use for others is the one that God will use for you.’ And also, the book of Galatians 6:7-8 says, ‘A person will reap exactly what he sows. If he sows in the field of his natural desires, from it he will gather the harvest of death: if he sows in the field of the Spirit, from the Spirit he will gather the harvest of eternal life.’ Surely, these are the natural law or the retributive justice. It must come to them one by one like a thief at night from the unseen Creator “So far so good, I know that your parents and siblings are sound in health. Please, endeavour to extend my greetings to them all” Two months later, Ofonime replied. Her letter depicted the crisis suffered by her as a result of the monstrous results. She pleaded with him to forget about that issue and think of another thing better in order to move forward, after all, some of their mates were yet to pass their GCE not to talk about making it to the university. Thus, he should take this difficult period as a blessing in disguise. However, she entreated him to totally surrender his life to Christ for without Him she would have been in the grave. Nevertheless, it was the fourth day of the New Year Chukwuemeka’s bosom friend, Chukwuka had visited him in his country home. He advised him dearly not to let his problem to disturb him because he was not the only one who had such a problem, and moreover, that his own was not worse than others. He told him to put his trust in God that whatever God had destined him for, he must be and no person could erase it. “So, just forget about the problem and move forward. Just as I told you in the school, our Lord Jesus Christ fell three times with the cross on the way to Calvary and rose up that three times. Thus, it is a lesson for us all not to despair any time we’ve problems. And that defines you. I know that very soon you’ll go back and repeat the courses, and you’re going to make it at least to second class lower like me if the firstsemester results were anything to go by. Thus, do not despair again, for you’ll come back stronger. Remember that those who have made it in the society, they’re people like you and me. They suffered agony and sorrow, and in the course of time, made it. The day you’ll succeed that’ll be your morning and day. It’ll be for you dawn of a new era, in your life, and everything about you will automatically change. Obviously, it will be done by the Lord. Remember what the scripture says in the book of Psalm 126, 166

‘When the Lord remembered Zion and delivered her from captivity ‘it was like a dream! How we laughed, how we sang for joy! . . . Those who wept as they went out carrying the seed will come back singing for joy as they bring in the harvest.’ “That’s the way it’ll also be for you. That’s why the Book of Hebrew 6:17-20 tells us, ‘To those who were to receive what he promised, God wanted to make it very clear that he would never change his purpose; so he added his vow to the promise. There are these two things, then, that cannot change and about which God cannot lie. So we who have found safety with him are greatly encouraged to hold firmly to the hope placed before us. We have this hope as an anchor for our lives. It is safe and sure, and goes through the curtain of the heavenly temple into the inner sanctuary.’ “Similarly, St. Paul encouraged us by saying in the book of Philippians 1:6, ‘And so I am sure that God who began this good work in you will `carry it on until it is finished.’ “So, it is the Lord who made you enter this citadel of learning and made you reach this stage, thus far, despite all obstacles, he will never abandon you without letting you complete this race. His promise to you is that he must bring everything to its completion in your life. He is not a man who would lie. And to what purpose? That’s why Baalam told Balak in the book of Numbers 23:19, ‘Come, Balak son of Zippor and listen to what I have to say. God is not like men, who lie; he is not a human who changes his mind.’ “Indeed, Chukwuemeka, the book of Psalm 145:13-14 summarises it all, by saying, ‘The LORD is faithful to his promises; he is merciful in all his acts. He helps those who are in trouble; he lifts those who have fallen.’ “However, this NYSC we’ve been agitating to go, there’s nothing there, only suffering, unless you’re lucky to be posted in an Oil Company or multinational company. Its nickname now is, ‘Now Your Suffering Commences’ or ‘Now Your 167

Struggle Continues,’ NYSC. It’s a year of suffering, indeed, for the graduates of this nation without anything new and good learnt. If one is unfortunate, he or she meets evil people and or oppressors and suppressors of mankind, and he is doomed. To cap it all, this is a year of tribulation! Sometimes some corps members do not live to see to its end. In fact, the usefulness of the programme is now in doubt. My happiness is that you’ll surely experience it soon so that you’ll know how the society and some ignorant employers are treating the corps members as if they’re beasts.’

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CHAPTER TWENTY The second semester had finally resumed and the gate of the university once again opened after long holidays caused by the Academic Staff Union of Universities and foolish students who went on an unnecessary rampage, which many lives and property were lost. However, Chukwuemeka had returned very early, for early preparation, knowing fully that the semester would be very short, as the students had used part of the semester on vacation. Consequently, the lecturers would not have any other choice than to make students go into marathon lectures in which throughout the day, even some Saturdays, lectures would be held so that they would cover the syllabuses for the semester. Thus, as he came back, he was worried about Ofonime, his friend not being back so that she would start early preparation. Obviously, it was the second week of the reopening that lectures commenced, from almost all the departments. Soon, Chukwuemeka was told that his friend was back: he was elated and was eager to know where she was residing. Nevertheless, he finally got her address, from his course mate, whom she gave her residential address to give him. A day later, he visited her at Diamond Hill, Calabar. As soon as Ofonime sighted him on opening the door, she hugged him gaily. It was indeed a good reunion after six months of ASUU strike on one hand and students’ riot, which led to the closure of the school before the strike at the other hand. However, their discussions dwelled on the situations they found themselves, respectively, after the resulting debacle and the long unexpected stay-at-home order by the ASUU and the students. Indeed, both of them stayed very long and enjoying each other’s tales. As it was getting dark, Emeka decided to go and Ofonime saw him off. Nevertheless, both agreed where they would meet each other the following day. Undoubtedly, the love between them was so strong and exceeding, even though it was devoid of any coitus. They appreciated each other, and never found fault from each other. Similarly, they were unselfish to each other, and never kept records of wrongs. They were kind and patient with each other and, nevertheless, not jealous or conceited or proud. True, that was the type of love God wants his children to practice and not eroticism. Meantime, one could be forced to conclude that the semester was the shortest of its kind since Chukwuemeka became a student in the University of Calabar. Once again, everyone was seriously preparing for the forthcoming exam, as the final degree 169

examination timetable was out. Indeed, it was not a new thing to Emeka and the rest of the students who came to repeat their courses. So, it was a familiar terrain. However, the new final-year students were jittery, as it was a reverse for the repeating students. The old students of the final-year were very confident of their success. Undoubtedly, they had started preparing right from the outset as soon as the semester opened for the academic learning. It was against the background that they never wanted a repeat of what happened the previous time. In fact, the old final-year students, who came to repeat their failed courses were just like a big family, cooperating in all aspects that would see them through respectively. In a similar vein, they did not see the department and lecturers with good eyes, as they did not like the way they were treated. Their maltreatments and or oppressions were like Police brutality on innocent citizens. As soon as they dropped their pen, Ofonime told Chukwuemeka where they would meet the next day before they would finally depart till the results came out. The following day Chukwuemeka left home to meet his friend at the appointed place at Goldie Street. When he arrived, Ofonime was excited even though she pretended, and as it did not appear outwardly. However, one of her closest friends, Olabisi, was happy seeing him too. As Ofonime was, nevertheless, busy doing some frying things in the kitchen, Olabisi, who knew quite well that Chukwuemeka and Ofonime were serious friends, out of carelessness and or unconsciously said to Chukwuemeka. “I’m very happy, seeing you. I’ve missed you all along!” This stupefied Ofonime so exceedingly. She retorted. “Do you know actually, what you’re saying? Are you with your senses at all? That you’re missing Chukwuemeka, how have you missed him?” Olabisi kept mum. “Look at O, so I’ll be in the water and soap enter my eyes!” Ofonime thought. “God wouldn’t let this happen at all.” Soon, Ofonime called Chukwuemeka to her side. She went inside the room, brought out her bible and started sharing the word of God with him. The two passages they shared were, Numbers 21:4-9, John 3:14-15 and the greatest teaching of St. Paul on Love on 1Corinthians 13:1-8. There were some reasons why Ofonime brought these passages of the scripture to be shared. Firstly, because of the pains, agony and sorrow 170

which the oppressors had made them undergo. She believed that on looking at Jesus on the cross, just like the way the people of Israel looked upon the bronze serpent and were healed from their snakebites, that should both of them looked upon him on the cross that he would heal and save them from their oppressive hands and given them victory in the long run. Secondly, for the latter passage, against the background of the situation they found themselves, admiring, appreciating and loving each other so tenderly, that the love which Paul taught about should pierce into their souls and make them to practice it, as it is being written. When they had finished the Bible sharing, Ofonime grabbed Chukwuemeka and unreservedly, had a deep kiss with him without minding the presence of her two friends. “Obviously, I love you, and I pray that God, with his infinite mercy will bring us together very soon, and both of us will start sharing and enjoying everything, including our lives together,” said Ofonime. “That’s been my paramount objective and prayer, that after our graduation followed by the one-year compulsory service to the nation, that God, the unseen guest at every meal, the silent listener to every conversation, and he, who does it at his own appointed time, according to the book of Ecclesiastics 3:1 will bring everything about us to consummation,” said Chukwuemeka. “Indeed, he has started the race for us, and he will bring it to an end, just as Saint Paul, the Apostle of the Gentile said in Philippians 1:6, ‘And so I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus.’ And that’s the time we’ll be able to appreciate each other better.” Olabisi and the other of Ofonime’s friend were astonished on the melodrama orchestrated by Ofonime and Emeka. “Hmm!” both of them echoed simultaneously. “We envy both of you O!” Not letting what the two friends’ presence and statement faze her, Ofonime told Chukwuemeka unequivocally, “You’re too handsome and sweet to behold!” “Look, your beauty enchants me so greatly every time I see you! And succinctly and lucidly put, you are an epitome of beauty, an abstract, and to say the least, a royal

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diadem. I thank God for letting me know you and to relate to you so intimately.” Said Chukwuemeka in enthusiastic reply and appreciating his friend. “You’ve really made me happy this day,” said Ofonime. She continued, “How I wish this will continue unhindered!” “Of course, very soon,” as he continued with a song ‘Sooner, very soon, we’re going to be together And teach the world how love is supposed to be played. I’m quite sure of this. I’m hundred percent convinced in my bosom.’ Today, I pledge my everlasting love for you,” “Happy to hear this from you. Thank you so greatly.” “Thank you, too, for making my day. It’s as if I’m on top of the world.” Soon, the rice which Ofonime and her friends were cooking was done. However, Chukwuemeka, either out of shyness or contentment, refused to eat. But three of them, Ofonime, Olabisi and Ntiese voraciously ate up the food without remaining. It was not long they had finished eating, Emmy stood up to go. Again, Ofonime who always wanted to show the friends how she loved and cared for him, drew near, grabbed his two hands, and finally resting her two hands on the back of his shoulders through the neck, stroked and kissed him so deeply to the envy of her friends. “Ah, ah!” said Olabisi. “Let him rest small now! Or do you want to start doing it with him on our very eyes? The overdose you’re giving him is too much. And, similarly, if you overfeed him, it will purge him so exceedingly O!” “Please, we beg and appeal, the room is vacant!” said Ntiese. “It’s better for both of you to move inside and do whatever you want to do until you’re satisfied, rather than doing it openly here. In fact, you’re making us to be jealous.” “Yes, I want to show you how sincerely I love and care for him. Thus, don’t be jealous! And indeed, I don’t really know how soon we’ll see each other after today.” On the heels of this, Ofonime repeated it to make them more jealous and to demonstrate to them that they are seriously bonded and nothing could separate them. Afterwards, both of them walked out, holding each other’s hand tenaciously, and she saw him off. But, however, as Chukwuemeka boarded the motorbike, they bade each other bye, to see probably when they came back to collect their Statement of Results 172

and subsequently, the Call-up letters for the one-year compulsory service to the nation. However, tears ran down Ofonime’s eyes, as they were departing. Just as they said, the following day Chukwuemeka left Calabar to his country home, and Ofonime, in the same vein, left two days afterwards to Port Harcourt, waiting for the day the school authorities would call them up to come and collect their respective call-up letters. In the mean time, Chukwuemeka was enjoying every bit of his stay at his country home. He engaged himself in teaching in a co-educational school in his place. Truly, he was looking for money to go to the orientation camp when it is called up. He knew the background, he came from, poor but not wretched. Against this background, he did not want to bother his parents nor his brother, Ndubuishi, who had tried his best in his education, and however, newly married, and did not have enough cash presently. Nonetheless, in this his teaching experience, he was arming himself very well, at least, to be bold in facing students and teaching them should he be posted to a school in his primary assignment. The Dean of Studies of the school assigned him to teach mathematics, as they were in a dearth of a mathematics teacher. Unfortunately, the people he entered into their hands, I mean, the principal and his vice, Dean of Studies and some other senior teachers were all colonial setups and too conservative. The salary they unanimously agreed to pay him and his childhood bosom friend were too meagre. Their egoistic reasoning and thinking was that both of them were still under their parents’ tutelage, as they were being fed, sheltered, and so on, hence a salary of N2,000 per month was good enough. Even when the proprietor of the school, who was also a colonial brought-up and conservative as well, made a little increment in the salary of the teachers, the aforementioned told him never to give any increment to Chukwuemeka and his friend, Chinedu, with the reason they adduced above. Undoubtedly, they were not happy: both of them thought out at once how they were going to deal sternly with them, for what they had done to them. In the meantime, the school authorities were unmindful that they had not gone to their service year; so they thought before employing them that they had got two quality members of staff, however, young, who would stay long with them and happy to receive peanuts, since they were with their parents. Thus, both on their own side unanimously accepted to pay them on their own coin, by deserting them unceremoniously, when they needed them 173

most. Obviously, they were determined to do so as Orientation Camp for the secondtier National Youth Service Corps was fast approaching.

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CHAPTER TWENTY ONE Graduating students were now returning to the school, as against the backdrop of their results being released, and as call-up letters for the second-batch National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, had also been released. As usual, there was a mass influx of them jostling their departments to see their sundry results, and some in the Admission and Records office at the main campus, struggling to get their call-up letters. Nevertheless, Chukwuemeka arrived in Calabar just around 5:00 pm. As soon as he dropped his bag in the brother’s house, not wasting time, climbed motorbike, heading to the school, to see his result. His mind was highly agitated, as his heart was thumping ceaselessly. His apprehension was no longer whether he would be graduated, but the type of class he was placed. He was having the premonition that it was Second-Class although he was the first student among those who were branded obdurate. But Chukwuemeka would indeed be envisaged a with hard time should the department carry out their threat to the latter. They were too rigid and known for, for not eating back their vomits. Lucidly, for Chukwuemeka’s class placement, it had already been concluded and no Jupiter would save him. With exceeding anxiety and apprehension, as he reached the department like an explorer, who had reached his destination, he was viewing the results as well as searching for his number to see his. Nonetheless, as he was viewing his results with his left hand on his jaw and right hand crossing his upper abdomen and holding his left hand. He shook his head in disgust. Finally, there was an influx of tears dropping down his chicks like rain. He was resented to the full. He gazed up and down, shook his head again and again. “So, these people have finally succeeded in CASTRATING me. So, it’s now true! O God, what offence did I commit to living with this stigma forever? What a fiendish type of exhibition is this! Of what benefit to them to dump me in this class and frustrating my well-being?” He was moving out of the department with an uneasy mind, though, very calm, regretting his schooling in that citadel. “Had I known, I wouldn’t have attempted coming into this ‘University of Calamity’ to study. These people have made nonsense of me, turn me to shreds and brought calamity upon my life. Imagine me being an academic goal-getter in the 175

beginning, now in a twinkling of an eye turned to rattle-pate. Oh, what a great tragedy of life!” Just as he had done before, but unconsciously leaning at the pavement on one of the New Science Lecture Theatres, NSLT, lamenting himself to the grave. “With this third-class, also called gentleman’s certificate, how will I manage to get a job in this our crude society that basically believes in certificate rather than what’s in an individual’s head? And besides, I don’t have Abraham as godfather in this world. I’m now in trouble. How will I be able to confront my friends and the society at large and be able to convince them that the class given to me is not a true representation of my real self? Undoubtedly, all would conclude that I’m clinging on the events of the past and dwelling on what happened long ago in my academic career. Look, all my other friends in other universities are smiling away with second-class uppers or secondclass lower divisions, and I, alas, bemoaning my fate and made to be in endless agony and tears. “So, I’ve become a first-class material who was never given the slightest opportunity to be. Indeed, people who know me here know quite alright that I had exhibited, time without number, intelligence and brilliance, through the words I spoke; and that is the character ingrained in me. Anyway, let me believe in what my expatriate Indian lecturer said, that an examination is not a true test of knowledge, but a test of one’s cramming ability. But in a similar vein, who’d believe me that the result was not my true reflection? They may even say that why I performed abysmally was that I was among the notorious gangs operating in the secret in the school, maiming and killing people; hence I never had time for any diligent academic work.” As he was in this sober reflection, strolling, soliloquising and heading towards the main campus, he again ceased walking suddenly, and began mumbling and musing deeply. “But I’m not alone in this twist of event. Many a well-known people and intellectuals in this our society shared the same fate, and in the course of time, swam out of the trouble and were justified in the end. Well, if they succeeded and were vindicated, why shouldn’t I? Are these people better than me? As far as we’re endowed by the same Almighty God with the same wisdom, knowledge and understanding, I can

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also do same. It’s a matter of time. The destiny of man cannot be changed except the man himself. Indeed, Saint Paul in the book of Hebrew 6:17 said, ‘To those who were to receive what he promised, God wanted to make it very clear that he would never change his purpose; so he added his vow to the promise.’ And also he said in Romans 11:29, ‘For God does not change his mind about whom he chooses and blesses.’ “Perhaps this, that has happened to me is a test of my faith in God. After all, there’s always ability in disability. If God could let his only begotten Son die a shameful death on the cross, a death that brought resurrection and salvation to the whole race; why shouldn’t I in the same vein suffer this agony and shameful humiliation? There’s no crown without a cross. Perhaps, in my steadfastness in this my agony, it’ll bring out the real person in me, and eventually, bring liberation to my people. There are litanies of people who suffered in the course of life and still had faith in God. Look at Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Job, and so on! They, in the end, became heroes in the land of Israel and heroes of faith, as reckoned in the bible. The bible in the book of 1Corinthians 1:27-28 teaches, ‘God purposely chose what the world considers nonsense in order to shame the wise, and he chose what the world considers weak in order to shame the powerful. He chose what the world looks down on and despises, and thinks is nothing, in order to destroy what the world thinks is important.’ “That means, I’m not finished yet. What must be, must be. Third-class or no third-class, I must rise up and move forward in life. Moving forward and never to move backwards is now my slogan, henceforward! As the mighty hand of God is upon me like those heroes of faith, I shall rise above every difficulty of life, such as this, and keep faith in God, who created me. Jesus said in the book of John 8:12, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will have the light of life and will never walk in darkness.’ “Henceforth, I’ll never cease to pray and serve him in all my capacities. I’ll achieve the purpose he made me for, and hence I’ll be the light of my people, the liberator of the weak, the oppressed and suppressed in this brutish society of ours. The debacle now shall turn to life testimony, which must bring out the best in me. Let me 177

take up this abysmal result like a cross in good faith, and strive courageously towards reaching and achieving my goals. That’s what I’ll do! That’s what I’ll do, indeed! There’s no other alternative to this! As the deed had been done, there’s no amount of tears that can move the oppressors reverse this situation. Succinctly and lucidly put, even though I’ve been castrated by this Department of Charlatans in the University of Calamity, God will heal and restore my capability to perform again as a man. I now know for sure that it is not an easy road. I’ll stumble and fall, but Jesus will raise me up and clear the rough road for me so that in the end I’ll coast home in glory and victory unscathed. But my prayer is that God should never let such type of enemies to surface again, and strike me below the belt, for this traumatic experience and stigmatisation I’ve had is now enough.” He cleaned the numerous traces of the dried tears on his face with his knuckles and quickly walked towards the main campus; and afterwards, he displaced his former thoughts with how his service-year would be. In the meantime, the department lived up to their threats and vow that they would frustrate many of the previous final-year students, that is, Chukwuemeka’s set, for their obduracy. It was unprecedented in the history of the school not to talk of the department that more than two-thirds of the repeating students as numerous as they were, were passed out with the gentleman’s certificate, including Ofonime, Chinyere, Olabisi and the students who with Chukwuemeka wrote a letter to the department, asking how they would be graduated with the exception of one, Etuk Akpan, who was so lucky to have been given second-class lower against the backdrop that he had some godfathers, and was in the good book of the department. True, it was a very big unheard-of academic tragedy! But nevertheless, Ofonime took it as the will of God. For her, she had no problem of getting a job, as the parents had a lot of connections who would do it for her. So apart from the first shock received on seeing the result, it did not bother her much unlike her friend, Chukwuemeka, who wanted to be an intellectual. However, it could be said that what happened to students in the Chemistry Department was a child’s play compared with what occurred in the Political Science Department. They blatantly refused to graduate any of their students. Obviously, it was a real big disaster and a dent!

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But as soon as Chukwuemeka reached home, he was confused and did not know what to tell his brother. Ndubuishi was quick to discern something was amiss with him, as he looked like a person in serious agony. “What’s wrong with you?” asked Ndubuishi. “Are you well at all?” He kept silent. “Are you not the one I am talking to?” “Brother, I do not know how to tell you this,” Chukwuemeka broke his silence. “Is there anything the eyes will see or the ears will hear and it’ll start gushing out blood?” “My spirit crushes me exceedingly to tell you that I’ve been CASTRATED?” “What? By who; and where did it happen?” Ndubuishi misconstrued Emeka’s word of castration. Chukwuemeka kept mum shortly. “Does it mean that you cannot perform again as a man? O God, why did you let this happen? So, my brother will not marry again? “Brother, that’s not what I mean by being castrated. My department handed me third-class in the final degree examination results released. That’s what I meant by being castrated.” “Why, then, do you say you’re castrated? Aha, let my heart come down! Look, a castrated man is a man whose testicle is removed and cannot perform the act of sexual intercourse since he cannot have penis erection. And because of his impotency, no woman can accept to marry him. “Brother, look, these people by what they’ve done have castrated me because the power to be what I want to be in life or move forward in life or to become an intellectual and or get a very good job, and so on have been totally been stripped off from me, and left me in frustration! And that means, I’ve been made eunuch academically, for life, as I cannot perform again!” “That you were passed out with third-class I’m not resented at all, neither do I regret sending you to school! It’s quite unfortunate that you fell into the hands of the fiendish lecturers. All aren’t finished with you yet, unless you suddenly give up or untimely, go to the grave. I am quite convinced that history will vindicate you. This unfortunate incidence, I tell you, will bring out the best in you. For every failure or 179

mistake, there is always solution to it. Hence, you must solemnly rise up; strive to be someone to reckon with, to shame these your oppressors and castrators, who had thought that your destiny is in their hands. Thus, be determined! Be courageous in this struggle! “However, it’s only God who can crown you, and not your castrators, as they erroneously thought. What the devil gives does not last, but what God gives one, last forever. It’s a truism that a true hero or champion isn’t made by man, but born, as he is made by One and Only Creator, from the day he was conceived. Thus, you’re the architect of your own success or failure in life. Listen to me, Chukwuemeka, Saint Augustine in his famous word, which is now embedded in the teachings of the One, Holy, Mother church, the Catholic and Apostolic Church, ‘He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent.’ That means, the Lord made us without our contribution or consent, therefore he will not save us without us cooperating with him in the work of salvation. That’s to say, if you struggle to succeed in life devoid of laziness, he will help you in achieving that success you cherish. You know quite well that the destiny of a man is not in the hand of God, but in his own hand. So, it’s only when you determine to succeed that God, with his infinite mercy, will then, help you to succeed. That means in other words, that you’ve cooperated with him in saving you physically. That’s how it is in the spiritual salvation, which he had willed for all his creation. The book of Deuteronomy, Chapter 30 verse 19 summed up what God echoed to the people of God with the will and destiny, he had willed for them, ‘I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessing and God's curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life.’ “If you choose life, that’s your destiny. And if you decide to choose death, that is your destiny. Thus, your destiny is now in your hands. Think well, choose what is good and pleasing to God and you’ll get there! Just as Saint Paul said in the book of Philippians 4:8 and 9, ‘‘Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there 180

be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.’ “Therefore, doing those things above, as mooted by Saint Paul will get you to your destiny unhindered, as God has willed for you and all his children, who love him. In the same vein, I encourage you, my brother, to do something noble that will later bring shame and disgrace to them all. Perhaps, they’ll in the end regret their irreparable mistake or injustice done to you. “Anyway, without an experience, there’s no history. You can’t narrate your history of your coming into this very tough and rough world without a sober reflection of this laughable twist of event in your life. Obviously, it deafens my ears to understand that such intelligent and brilliant scholar like you was handed with a gentleman’s certificate. It’s really a pity! That’s it! As far as there’s life, there’s hope. And your hope is on the horizon. I’m charging you right now to go forth and etch your history in gold. Do not let anything distract you. Just as the Lord is charging you this day to choose life, as it is in that Deuteronomy 30:19, as I had told you earlier, which leads to freedom. I, your brother, Ndubuishi, is also charging you likewise to choose that life the Lord our God has chosen for you. That life is not only a pathway to your freedom, but also your destiny, to say the least. There’s no other way to freedom realisation other than the life he has offered you, which has a lot of hidden meaning. Indeed, everything about you is encircled by God, as you are wonderfully made by him. He determines when you’re going to wake up again from your slumber, as he holds the key to your life. It’s the appointed time of the Lord, just as his word said in the book of Ecclesiastics 3:1, ‘Everything that happens in this world happens at the time God chooses.’ Just as I’m advising you this day, this your destiny or coming back to freedom may not happen so soon; but remember one thing, no tree that is planted that matures and bears fruits in a day. Habakkuk, the prophet, saw it and commented about it in his book, Habakkuk 2:2-4, ‘Write down clearly on clay tablets what I reveal to you, so that it can be read at a glance. Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow 181

in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed. And this is the message: ‘Those who are evil will not survive, but those who are righteous will live because they are faithful to God.’ “So, to say the least, be confident! Be determined! Be courageous and do not be afraid! However, be faithful, no matter the obstacle or opposition in your way! On these above-stated keywords, if you adhere strictly to it you’re already there as a conqueror; as your whole being will soon be smelling with success upon success. For I tell you, as God told Zerubbabel in the book of Zecharia chapter four verses six and seven, ‘You will succeed, not by military might or by your own strength, but by my spirit. Obstacles as great as mountains will disappear before you. You will rebuild the Temple, and as you put the last stone in place, the people will shout beautiful, beautiful!’ “And, however, this is what King Jehoshaphat, a descendant of King David, from Judah told his people, ‘Men of Judah and Jerusalem! Put your trust in the Lord your God and you will stand firm. Believe what his prophets tell you and you will succeed.’ “So, hold on to him unshakably, and you’ll see the outcome in the end. So far so good, I wish you good luck in your endeavours!” Ndubuishi concluded.

THE END

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GLOSSARY 1.

Effico:

Malabetic language, which means serious and efficient reader.

2.

Joneser:

Another malabetic language, which means unserious Student, who goes about having a lot of fun often times and neglecting his diligent academic studies.

3.

Malabor:

The name of Male Hostel at the University of Calabar, Nigeria, where the Students’seat of Government is situated. This was named after the Capital of Equatorial Guniea, as a result of the hunger and starvation there during the inception of the school and they likened it to the hunger and starvation as was found one time in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

4.

Malabite:

A male student

5:

Malabress:

A female student

6:

Cation: A male student of Chemistry, which was derived from the positive charge ion during ionization.

7:

Anion: A female student of Chemistry, which was derived from the negative charge ion during ionization

NOTE: The bible quotations made use of were got mainly from Good News version of the bible and partly from King James version.

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