While the students barricaded the school main gate,they also barricaded the Staff quarters gate to prevent Lecturers from coming into the campus to do any form of work.I know they too won't like the way we have locked them, I wonder why the school will just close down like that after few hours of protest saying we destroyed properties when we did not even touch anything,Tunde commented while talking to a group of guys who were arguing in support for and against the actions of the Management.I think the management was scared that things may get out of hand and we may soon start destroying things, another guy opined. Just then information was received that the staffs of the school were protesting the locking of their quarters gate and have taken a student hostage.
We need volunteers, the SU President Ibikunle said,Please when you get there don't attack anybody,be intellectual and peaceful he added. Tunde and 15 other guys volunteered to go.When they got to the Quarters gate,they met the lecturers there true enough and soon after Ibikunle got there.The lecturers promised to intervene in the crisis. Na so una go dey talk,Tunde commented.
The Students' Union President gave a five hours ultimatum for the release of the Students held hostage or actions will be taken. Tunde got to his hostel tired and hungry,just then his Mum called him,the following conversation ensued:
Mum: Tunde how are you
Tunde: Am fine, just tired
Mum: Sorry ehn,i heard they've increased your school fee, I was listening to the radio when i heard, so how much did they increase it to.
Tunde: Mum, I can't even remember now,i have serious headache,maybe i
need to rest.
Mum: Okay, I will call you later, try to rest my son.
Tunde's Mum hung up and Tunde started wondering if he did the right thing,he just didnt want to tell her,she wouldnt be able to afford it and he doesnt want her to think too much cause of him,she hasn't been psychologically okay since she lost her husband and now again,increment in school fee.No,i wouldnt tell her,he concluded. His mum sent to him a thousand Naira two days earlier so he was able to buy some foodstuffs.Tunde decided to drink Garri before sleeping,this he did before sleeping.
The writer of this story, Oyedeji Olanrewaju is a Part 2 student of the Department of Accounting, Obafemi Awolowo University. You can reach Oyedeji through his e-mail: Olanrewajusamuel8@gmail.com
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