SCENE FOUR
It had been raining so hard since John arrived from his workplace today. He has to wear his black cardigan to prevent himself. from catching cold.
JOHN: (He shivers slightly at intervals) What could be wrong with the power since yesterday? Could it be as a result of the rain? Oh Time’s winged chariot is hurrying near. I need to devour the time, lest it devour me mercilessly with its slow ‘chapped power.’ Andrew Marvel was a good poet of all time. When it comes to hope, Barack Obama is my audacity. Who am I telling all these? I think I should pick the MICROSCOPE and view the world now through it. (He adjusts himself and wears his spectacles. He stares at the front page of the newspaper enthusiastically) The front page of every newspaper is like the aroma of soup, even if it isn’t delicines, it makes throats salivate (He starts reading the headlines) “Nigerian Education: a failed mission’- the NANS president. Read details at page 20” (He reads another headline) “NFF salutes Falcons. Read news at page forty three” (He reads another headline) “‘Leech: he penetrated us to drain and kill us’- Senator Orisayemi; read news at page 30” (He reads the last headline that interests him). “The PHCN staff commence strike a dash, not a hypen read news at page 18.” (He stops reading). No wonder there was no light since yester-evening.
We are blacks, and we live in the dark. Why wouldn’t we be stereotyped and called savages? After all, the horse at the back hastens its speed by watching closely at the hooves of the one in front foundation is destroyed, what would the righteous do? The frogs of this nation have stuffed their guts with the nation’s supposed feed; they can hop anywhere when problems occur, they are less concerned. (He flips the newspaper to page ten and reads) “The alleged students’ uploads on social networks like the facebook, Badoo, whats App, Tweeter and so on have been actualized today. The students of Nigerian tertiary institutions who refer to themselves as ASUU victims have commenced a peaceful demonstration across the country as threatened on different social networks. Violence was not involved in the protest and vehicles were not very much restricted from moving. Instead, they walked in processions with placards in their hands and sang songs. The students complained tired of staying home as no one knows the extent to which the current five-month-old strike will go.
Interestingly, THE MICROSCOPE met the President of National Association of Nigerian students, Comrade Aiyepeju Banji as he utilizes the media as means of making the world know what education looks like in Nigeria. His meeting with our correspondent enabled the exhumation of some facts from the President’s mind.
Correspondent: Can we meet you?
NANS President: I am Comrade Aiyepeju Banji aka Victoria Acerta.
Correspondent: Hmmn, love that... victory is certain
NANS President: Yes
Correspondent: What is your comment about the state of education in this country as all tertiary institutions: the universities, polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education are on an industrial strike which no one knows how lond it will be?
NANS President: I can say... the ... the ... education of this country is a failed mission. It’s full of mumbo-jumbo, characterized by all sorts of torpsy-turvy and it’s managed by a set of harum-scarum men of the society.
Correspondent: You have an impressive Gomifiarid—of vocabu1arL. Judging the state of country’s education w4h the ability to express oneself in the official language- the English language- you’re such a vibrant student.
NANS President: That is not the measure for knowing the state of education or vibrancy of students. Besides, I must have ccuit some grammatical errors in my speech.
Correspondents: Why did you chuckle at the end of your speech, you knew you just committed one?
NANS President: Oh... no, did I commit any?
Correspondent: You just committed another now. The first was: “... must have commit” and now: “did I committed”. Instead, use: “must have committed” and “did I commit.” I mean past participle with ‘have’ and base form of verb with ‘did’.
NANS President: Thank you for that.
Correspondent: Now to the business, what’s your message to the two warring parties:
the ASSU and the FGN?
NANS President: They should please, erase anything that could... that could bring about dichotomy between them. Education should not just be leaving home, going out and coming back with empty brain. We want productive education. We want education that will keep us shoulder-to-shoulder with other students in the globe. We are tired of getting certificates that are not presentable abroad. We are tired of being looked down upon by other African countries.
We can correct these maladies if not only do these two parties see themselves as shareholders in the educational sector but also see themselves as stakeholders. Encouraging salaries and incentives should be given to workers in the educational sector at the appropriate time good and globally recommended and commendable budget should be allotted to education: twenty five or thirty percent is not much. They should resolve their grievances without any leftover grudge but with mutual agreement as intellectuals and intellects.
Correspondent: What purpose do you think this strike will serve?
NANS President: I think it should serve as a terminal for the train of half- baked brains. We don’t need incompetent and work frigid lecturers anymore. We want those that can make us raise our heads in the midst of our counterparts throughout the world. We want them to impart knowledge to us with passion, not with grudge.
As regards education, we want to be at the apex, at the acme, zenith, I mean at the apogee not at the nadir of the globe. No more mediocrity in education of this country.
Correspondent: What if the strike doesn’t end for ... like two years, what would you spur your fellow students to do?
NANS President: Things will turn out bad. Suddenly, the sky rim may blaze with flame and blood ,as said in a poem titled: “En Route” by Dennis Brutus
Correspondent: Wao, that’s impressive. What does the statement mean precisely?
NANS President: Things may turn violent. Though I may not be the one that will spur them to it,. everyone of us has a conscious mind.
Correspondent: As the head of the nation’s students what do you think will be the prevalent phobia among them?
NANS President: Phobia for unemployment after graduation.
Correspondent: Thank you very much for meeting the microscope today.
NANS President: You are welcome.
JOHN: (He stops the reading) It’s true, their phobia should be that. Like oxygen, unemployment is inhaled and like, carbon-dioxide, students are exhaled from various institutions of the country every year and virtually all of them would like to be gainfully employed by the government. We talk of crime wave and terrorism, isn’t this one of those that contribute to it? Persistent strike. The supposed academically preoccupied students may turn criminals by gallivanting around aimlessly.
Moreover, all the agenda made by the government to aid employment are snail shells, empty match boxes, loaded train of disappointment (He clears his throat and adjusts his spectacles) what page is Harrison’s story written? (He turns to the front page and reads the headline after scanning through the front page). “‘Leech: he penetrated us to drain and kill us’— Senator Orisayemi Herbert. Read news at page 30.” (He flips to page thirty and clears his throat as he starts reading). Hmmn... “‘Leech: he penetrated us to drain and kill us.’ This was Senator Orisayemi’s confession on behalf of himself and his friends on the allegation of having committed human trafficking, murder, manipulation etc through their alleged involvement in founding and funding a terrorist led by Harrison. According to our correspondent, their arrival at the State Security Service headquarters was simultaneous with hers. The three went to meet the Director-General to declare their minds to him at the back of the curtain. without involvement of the press. However, the Director-General refuted such an idea and said that once the accuser hag involved the press, theirs would not be an exception. Moreover, he told our correspondent to interrogate them and record everything they said. He further said that whatever would be threatening the nation’s security in the conversation would be withheld.
As the Director ordered, our correspondent had some questions for them and they also had some thrilling answers.
Correspondent: Sirs, the person that you three had always been proud f to refer to as your son accused you of a very grave offence what is your response to such a breathtaking accusation?
The three responded: We had never regarded him as our son.
Correspondent: Really? Then who is he to you?
Senator Orisayemi: Leech: he penetrated us to drain and kill us.
Barrister Chukwudi: Yes, it is true. He is a sycophant. All he wanted from us was to get money and incriminate us so that we would be dispassionately killed.
Correspondent: So what you mean now, Senator, is that you are not Harrison’s father.
Senator Orisayemi: Yes, I am not I don’t even know the bird that lay his egg.
Correspondent: Then, how come he is your son? He dwells under your roof. How come?
Senator Orisayemi: That is a private matter. All I know is that he is a sycophant, who like other sycophantic people, would rally round an affluent person like ants would rally round a particle of sugar. My leniency made me help him. I didn’t know that he is a marauding wolf in the guise of a bleating sheep.
Correspondent: By the way, sirs, what is your primary purpose of coming here?
Professor Danjuma: Our purpose of coming here is to tell the Director General to deal with him constitutionally as quickly as possible. He should be sued and prosecuted for slander and other offences he might have committed for long. We know him not!.
Correspondent: That’s all you came to tell him?
The three chorused: Yes.
At this juncture, our correspondent’s interrogation with them ended for today and the Director-General promised to do exactly what they requested. They left the office with exchanged smiles and handshakes.
‘I will do more than you expect, the Director-General said with a friendly smile.
JOHN: (He stops the reading) This case seems interred. I need my shovel and digger to exhume it. I must be totally engrossed with it to know the truth. (He nods) Yes, I must (He sips some water) Oh, I need to read sports news now! (He flips the newspaper to page forty three) Aargh (He yawns, water-eyed, with his clenched fist used to cover his mouth and reads) Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) salutes the Super Falcons of Nigeria for their 2-0 victory against Malawi in the Women World Cup. They also urged the profound players to get their act together that they may win the upcoming matches. (He lies face upwards on his three seaters chair).