I have been
thinking of a more dramatic way to start this post but I think the tale itself is
laced with enough drama. I am still shocked that what took place within the
last 24 hrs was even a possibility. History was made today when the students of
a missionary private university in Nigeria, Bowen University, Iwo, rioted and
destroyed property in the school premises. Stories are better heard from the
horse’s mouth right? Well, I am the horse because I am a student of the university.
Last night
at about 9pm, I was happily chewing on my chocolate parago at a friend’s fiancée’s
party when I heard from someone that boys were rioting at their hostels. Before
we could wrap our heads around that, there was news of broken windows, car
windshields, furniture etc. The group of students moved the demonstration to
the main campus where most of the girls reside and began the demolition of
shops and merchandise. Come and see free drinks ooo. Some girls all rushed out
to witness it all while the rest who were locked in their hostels contributed
with screams and songs like “solidarity for ever…” Classrooms and labs were
also broken into and vandalized. All the cars and buildings at the
administrative block were also vandalized. Eventually, at almost midnight, the
cops were called to calm the situation down which they did with tear gas. However,
the situation was not totally put to rest since there was still some unrest
even up to 3am.
From all I have
gathered, the students seem fed up with all the old and ‘new’ rules and
according to them, unnecessary constraints associated with the new government. Lately,
these university students have been made to adopt a feeding timetable that
conflicts with their class schedules, thus adversely affecting their nutrition.
I suppose a hungry man is an angry man. They have also been made to compulsorily
take food flasks to cafeterias if food would be sold to them. All the
previously existing rules seemed to be stiffened. Yesterday, news sprouted
about new rules which included that all students should leave the hostels by 8am
and return by 4pm, whether or not they have classes. Meanwhile the cafeterias
must not accommodate them unless it’s their ‘mealtime’. Where are these
students supposed to stay? Under the sun? Another rumor also came up about a suspected
increment in the school fees. “What happened to the #540,000+?” they asked. I also
heard one about ‘D’, ‘E’ and ‘F’ grades all amounting to a carry-over. In short,
I’d say the explosion was caused by stored up anger and frustration on the part
of the students. The students have complained of a whole lot of unfavorable
conditions and treatments all to no avail. They probably just needed the
additional lack of light and water for 4 days to trigger it.
As early as
6am, all students trooped out to the main campus to feed their eyes as well as
negotiate with the school authority on the release of some students who were
arrested as well as convey their grievances. The dialogue was unfavorable,
hence, the continuation of the protest and even a little more vandalism. The students
refused to stop saying that they would not back down until their peers who were
arrested are released. The whole thing stretched out till about 3pm when the school
management passed a memo saying that the school was to be closed down
temporarily till further notice, and that all students should leave the campus
effective immediately. Unfortunately, I think those students are yet to be
released.
So my
people, that’s how I landed in Ibadan. Honestly, I never believed that
Bowenites (the generation changers) would ever gather the liver to even
complain out loud let alone riot and destroy stuff. I guess the highest form of
madness is born by anger. Someone may say that violence isn’t always the
answer; while I agree with that, I think that the students had to prove a point
and since diplomacy had failed them in times past, took the laws into their
hands. We all know how youths can be. Again, while I feel that vandalism and
violence are not ideal, I also think that these private schools should be
responsive to the yearnings of the students and should cut down on the unnecessary
rules and constraints. These students are human and are grown ass adults so
while they mean to teach and discipline them, some respect would do. Feed a man
till his too full and he just might puke on you.
The English don
too much. Fact is, I never experience this kain tin for my life. It was really
a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I don’t mean to sound like I enjoyed it all but
man……it was exciting. If I had graduated
before this event, I for just dey see pix on dp, dey read am for Linda Ikeji’s
blog. Good timing ey? Lol. So today, our omo mummies turned omo ghetto. One thing
I can say for sure is that nobody saw this coming. Not the school, not even the
students. Today was supposed to be ‘cultural day’ with suya night to make things
pop. I was even supposed to open the evening service with a prayer in Igbo
*pops collar* Na wa oo. The generation changers sure triggered a revolution. We
hope things are put under control soon so that the students can resume and
continue with their studies.
Here are some
pictures that will give you a LITTLE idea of what went down at BUI today.
