A CHAPTER FROM THE STORY OF MY LIFE (Apologies for staying away for so long, I didnt really have the chance to write) Part 7: To announce the reopening of the school, a newspaper publication was released wherein about a hundred students were suspended. My name was on that list. We were to remain at home while the rest of the students were to pay a mandatory sum of N1000 as settlement for damages to school properties, when they resumed. Interestingly, Yilchini Bida Jan, it was, who called to inform me of that development while I was playing the game of snooker at Zolas Place in Angwan Mata, a ghetto-like part of Mangu Town, where I spent most of my time growing up. Now a Lieutenant Commander in the Nigerian Navy, he is a very important figure in my life for many reasons. He was the one who told me how to get to Zaria right from where to board a vehicle from Jos, to where I would alight at PZ, and how to find him at Kongo Campus of Ahmadu Bello University, when I secured admission into that prestigious institution. It was through him that my mind was first introduced to Student Unionism, while I stayed with him during the early days of registration as a freshman and when I visited for weekends after settling in. I would always listen keenly to follow his arguments and direction of thought while he engages friends, colleagues and contemporaries at that time. So, he was there when I came to ABU Zaria and he was also there when the process to get rid of me begun. In returning to school however, resumption for those of us who were suspended wasnt for academics, it was to face inquisition before panels put together to investigate us. When I got my invitation, I was determined to appear before those whose duty it was to find me guilty, when I became aware of the theories built about and against me. To do that, I had to rid myself of the utter disappoint I felt, when I learned that students we were fighting for went ahead to pay the N1000, and proceeded with their work as if we never existed. I was disappointed because I expected non-cooperation from the student body with a promise of compliance only when we were freed from suspension. When it was time, the first panel I faced was chaired by Prof. Chikol, a grey-haired professor of Law, much like Wole Soyinka, but not quite as much greyish at the time. He is an intelligent, gentle and reasonable man. I first met him when I appeared before a committee he chaired to investigate the March 18th 2006 saga. My engagement with the panel was smooth because they allowed me ample time to talk. There were a lot of questions but my answers were to the best of my knowledge, having decided to stick with the truth because I had nothing to hide. I narrated how I was invited to lead the march at its beginning and how I pulled out at Social Centre, when it was hijacked. When my involvement in the stormy event of March 18th, was exhumed, they could not go any further with interrogation on that subject, because I told them Prof. Chikol presided over an investigation into that crisis, and I was excused from it, when I wasnt found culpable. Essentially, I wasn’t accused of anything, and it was understandably so because Prof. Chikol said their work was basically that of finding facts. The second panel I interfaced with was that established by the universitys governing council. It had a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Bar. Mahmoud (cant really remember his name now). He is no more if I am not mistaking. The secretary of the Emir of Zazzau represented the Emirate, the Commissioner of Police, and Director, State Security Services (now Department of State Services) Kaduna State were also represented. There was also an Assistant Director from Federal Ministry of Education. My appearance and testimony was pretty much like the one I gave in the previous panel. When they referred to a statement I made in a write-up calling all those unjustly denied accommodation without refund to join me in a march to the students affairs directorate, I was bewildered at how quick they were to read violence out of my use of this statement: the denial of a right is an invitation to fight for it. All in all, I conducted myself very well throughout the two hours of cross-examination to an extent they were livid with admiration. One of them almost jumped out of his chair in excitement at a submission I made. They were happy that the university is producing fine minds who could reach out to the best in human nature to justify their every action in public affairs. In fact, they were of the opinion they would have voted for me in the SUG elections if they were students. At the peak of the excitement, the man from the education ministry yelled at me. He introduced himself as an indigene of Taraba State. He also said he knows my family very well, and that they are good people. Looking straight into my eyes, he said I was a very bad boy, a stubborn and problematic person unlike my brothers and sisters. I was really shocked and stunned hearing his outburst. It seemed he had a personal intention to see me nailed. It was almost as though someone commissioned him to deal with me. Continuing with his vituperation, he also accused me of using english to deceive his colleagues before handing me over to the wrath of God, because he was certain only God could punish me after what I did, blindfolding members of his committee. Seeing I was visibly disturbed by what the Assistant Director from Abuja was saying about me, someone he doesnt even know, the Secretary to the Emir of Zazzau called him to order. He told him that whatever he said was his personal opinion, so it had no bearing on their work, to which he acknowledged in a loud and dramatic way. Some of them gave me their numbers, we shook hands, and I left. While outside, we exchanged pleasantries with some student union leaders who were waiting their turn to meet with the panel. Afterwards, I began the journey back home to the highland of my fathers. ...to be continued.
Posted on: Thu, 07 Aug 2014 16:43:32 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015