I think I should first of all
clear the air. This is in no way a castigation of any authority; neither should
it be read as a cry of a pained law student like the recent outburst of the
large percentage affected by the strange examination process and results of the
Nigerian Law School. It is just a representation of thoughts, fears, concerns
and reflections on the part of a great lawyer, seasoned avid writer and
thorough and analytical professor in the making. Yeah you can smile and clap
about that...
When I heard the news of my
posting to the Yola Campus of the Nigerian Law School, I was struck with
disbelief and misunderstanding, a mixture of fear, anger and disappointment. All
these I channeled to the system, the country, family, friends and myself. I have
had to deal with comments, jokes and prayers that have been very heartfelt,
consoling and sincere. But the sincere question is why all such negativity for
the mere news of my posting to Yola? We are supposed to be one country, one
people but for some reason that part of Nigeria has become a nightmare no one
wishes his family or friend to be there. Now Yola is in the North Eastern part
of Nigeria. It is the capital of the state of Adamawa, which has recently been
constantly featuring in the news as part of the Boko Haram disturbed regions. You
see, at this point, the convergence of spirituality, reality, rejection,
despair and possibility hit me like the usual Lagos Traffic – stuck with no
idea of where to go or what to do.
My first thought: No it can’t be
possible. I hadn’t even filled Yola as one of my options during the application
process, so I wondered why that would happen. I faulted the system. It was
obvious that they did not follow the options on the form or someone was changed
for me. So why me? I asked in total dejection; then I kept refreshing the page
to see if it would change. For some reason I was happy for my haters though. I felt
some people would have heard the news or seen Yola and thought to themselves “that
serves him right”. To those haters and the system, I say: “There is God in
everything we are doing”.
My second thought: oh well I would
go on to serve and go to law school next year. I blamed myself. I blamed myself
for having such a complicated life where everything wrong must happen first
before they go right. I remembered that even when admission lists were released
by the Law School my name was omitted, I had to call to get it rectified after
some hours of waiting and praying. So maybe I should just wait and hopefully I would
eventually become a lawyer. Some crazy options came to mind but they were as
good as damning the faith and all that I believed as a person. But I debunked
the ideas because of this faith and positive clairvoyance I have about my
2014/2015 Law school experience.
My third thought: try and work
this thing out and get back to Lagos or some other campus down south. I blamed
family. I blamed family for not knowing anybody in high places that could help
with the posting. And I blamed myself too because the opportunity to “work it” came
in school but my mindset of doing things differently blindfolded me to the
truth and reality of the Nigerian system. And yes I blamed friends because I
had my fair opportunity to get it worked but it apparently failed. So I started
looking around and found some family and friends that have been there all the
while but I didn’t deploy at the right time. Now here I was sad but took happiness
in the knowledge of the newly found force I could deploy.
My fourth thought has haunted me
since that day. This is where I come to. Since then till now, a few friends
have said accept it in good fate, some have joked hardly about it, a few others
not in the same words have meant the same thing. And once I thought about it. What
if I got to Yola and upon entrance I was abducted or upon the continuation of
the program all the lawyers to be are abducted or even sent as sacrifice to the
political gods of the Boko Harams in bomb attacks. I am a Christian, and the
Nigerian Law School represents a body of thorough legal education – two standards
the Boko Haram vehemently kill and die for. I thought about #BringBackOurLawyers
and how my family and all my current joking friends would go to church the
first few days and pray and after a while make mockery of the movement in phone
calls, text messages, tweets, Facebook statuses and even Personal messages on
other media. I am sure I just heard a ‘God Forbid’. But what if all these do
not even happen? I currently don’t even know anyone in Yola law school. Results
from there the last time were poor; they probably hide and pray to read in
peace. And I thought: how my first class Christian brain would prop-up all
these and more for fear and uncertainty. And just when I was reporting the
matter to the Faculty, I got news that there was a military craft crash in YOLA
again!!! Toh!!!! Of course they were
not just uncertainties
You see, one of my favorite
constitutional provisions is the one that says I have the right to freedom of
movement. Another one is that of owning property anywhere in the country. I believe
that the construction of these provisions must have been by well meaning drafters
who saw a one-Nigeria: A place where
people live in peace, harmony and unity; a place where residence, learning and
working would not be determined by space, culture or religiosity. That is the
Nigeria I envisage and I live it daily; but with these fears in my head and the
minds of family, friends and even my Faculty back at school, I doubt I can bear
the life. But on a serious note the Nigerian Law School and other bodies should
not send students to such areas of insurrections, riots and chaos. I want to
believe that the reason for making six Law Schools scattered around the six
geo-political zones was for ease of access to those resident in those areas. If
this is anything to go by I should either be in Lagos or Yenagoa campuses. But oh well no be so e happen.
A lot of drama has ensued since
then till now. The Nigerian Law School is to resume on the 17th and
as of now I still have Yola on my name. But the experience has taught me a lot
of lessons with life. One is that our country has a long walk towards unity. The
best of the lessons remains this: it is always a personal race, so run it with
vigor, hope and the end in mind.
With all the fears at heart, it
is obvious there might be no faith that can carry me as a “child of God to go
into the Lion’s Den and not be eaten like Daniel”. Or maybe I could start
building it but my lovely mother who has been a financial and emotional
backbone since age three would surely not risk her great son’s life and sell
him for a token of 295,250 naira. Oh sorry add flight money to and fro and also
provisions and pocket money to it.
Like The Man in Ayi’s The Beautiful ones are not yet born I do
not resign to “good fate” as some friends call it, but to flow with the tide of
the system- just this once. I declare my act of making something work in my
favor for personal gain and not national allowance. Special shout out to my
friends who have asked about the matter and prayed about it. And my all time Paddy
@Ojhordee for breaking the news to me CNN. May Enugu Law School be interesting
and produce a great lawyer in you!! And to Jeffery, my Yola partner, we are not
going!!! We remain loyal to the Team No Yola Course. I should remind you it is
all for the laughs. I could only write to release my frustrations. SIGH!!!
Relief!!!
