The Great Disaster
"Humans were made not to be like gods but to be limited in knowledge. Knowing about the future would have made life even easier to live because men would have treated their fellow men equally knowing that the table of life might turn at any point in time. Should humans blame God for this shortcoming?
Who are we to blame God? But remember that after this life, there's another life to live. In that realm there's no limitation because time does not exist there, therefore, we should prepare ourselves to embark on this journey. A journey that in the end, we will give an account of our dealings to the only true God, the maker of the heavens and the earth. We should not lose sight because heaven is a prepared place for the prepared people"
These were the words of the preacher as the Sunday service went to a close. Before then the cleric had urged his members to pray as oft as possible to avert temptations
However, these are regular statements made by most clerics even when one has never come out to say that one fell into temptation.
The church service was a successful one, as usual, members reached out to share pleasantries as though they have not met in a decade. It became a custom among the Christians to do this, after all, the Bible says they should bear another person's burden.
This community of disciples operates differently from other religions. They have special initials they add to their names, the most common ones are, 'brother', 'sister' elder, deacon etcetera; it's like baptismal relics common to all believers in the faith.
"Congratulations brother '' Mr. Michael said as he put forth his hand for a shake.
"Thank you," Mr. Benson asserted with a smile as they locked hands. ' …my brother it's the lord's doing we should rejoice and be glad.
"So where have you been transferred to"? Michael asked.
" Well I am posted to Community Secondary Commercial School, Ibantu. " a village school in another local government area"
"Wow..that's good;"
"Yes so"
"But the distance is demanding"
"It's what I was called to do, so as usual, I will put all my efforts into the job, knowing that my reward is in heaven".
" That's right," bro Mike mused. "Eh..but I have heard a series of nefarious activities of that school such that their emeritus principal was beaten up by some scoundrels" Mr. Benson grinds, as Mr. Michael continues " if I were you I would have immediately worked on a transfer to better schools in town" he concluded.
Mr. Benson said he put his hands in his pocket. " You are right but I have to follow the will of God for my life. You can't tell, probably I might be sent there to restore peace and represent God's presence in that village" he said convincingly.
"You are right"
Their wives walked toward them, it was time for them to set home.
" Please pray about it. " Michael said as both sealed their discussion with a parting handshake.
Benson who is popularly known as "Mr no-nonsense man" has held the office of the principal of schools for over ten years, he's experienced in handling students' misbehavior, he sets standards for himself, and follows suit. Everyone around him knows that to be his friend, you must be so disciplined and studious. As a mathematics teacher, it is a must to do your homework and you dare not fail your class test.
This disposition has earned him respect and promotions. His fame is known in town such that students in other schools get to know him better.
One afternoon, the sun was scorching, it was the closing hour for schools, especially the government schools, and the students loitered on both sides of the streets going home. Mr. Benson rode down the road on his rickety motorcycle given to him by the government many years ago. On sighting him, some students shouted "Benson!!!!". Some stood far off to see what would happen.
Immediately, he stopped the vehicle, rushed down from it, and ordered the students to lie down on the ground. He took one of the canes tied to the back of his vehicle, and he trashed the students, one after the other.
It's the beginning of the new academic session, the new calendar begins in September, and Mr. Benson has been sent to administer Richard's school. At the assembly hall, the new principal introduced himself and urged all the students to be of good conduct to avoid his wrath on them.
Meanwhile, Richard and his friends have been promoted to senior secondary class one, also known as SS1 in a nutshell.
Some students welcomed the new principal with all amounts of earnestness to learn and to turn a new way. While other students develop resentment and hatred toward the principal.
The news of the arrival of Mr. Benson to the community school brought great joy to the parents.
" Our children will develop an interest in education and imbibe good character that will stand them out in the future," said the chief at the principal's office.
The saying that everything boils down to leadership became Glaring at the Ibantu community secondary school. There was a total overhaul in the method of doing things. The lazy teachers suddenly became hard-working, and the students became serious with their studies. Lateness in school became a taboo. At 7:30 am, all students are expected to be in school. It became serious that the students will start running on sighting the arrival of the principal.
Debate and essay competitions among the students became a reoccurring extracurricular activity. The students became so used to it that they won several competitions.
Football and other sporting activities became very active. The students love it so much that even the female folk engage so much in them.
Richard and his friends find it hard to fit into the new system, he's used to going to school late and he has been trashed several times.
The principal had promised the bad eggs to leave the school because there would be no hiding place for them.
A student was beaten to a pulp and it was reported to the principal and during the morning devotion the following day, those involved were called out.
"When you hear your name step out" the principal let out.
"Peter Andrew, Richard Effiong, Akpan Etim,"
The three boys lined up at the front of the hall facing the crowded students.
"I want to use you as an example to others, so that you know that fighting in school and outside of the school is not in any way tolerated," the principal said as he ordered them to lie to the floor. Each of them was flogged with twenty strokes of the cane and we were later ordered to kneel till the day's school was over.
Three weeks after the historic flogging that the school environment went chaotic. The principal had left earlier than expected, the students were scampering for safety, some jumped out of the window and others struggled to pass through the narrow door. The noises and shouting went wild. There was commotion and confusion.
The school was left with few youth corp members posted there. The community school had just three government-employed teachers which included the principal, his vice, and female staff. Others were Nysc members posted to the school.
A youth corp member has been stabbed by a student over the inability of the student to carry out the instructions given by the youth corp member.
The English madam as they fondly called her asked Akpan to read the sentence written boldly on the board. Akpan bluntly ignored her.
"Stand Up my friend" she thundered. Akpan proved stubborn and muttered a statement in the local language that was unknown to the youth corp member. The entire class began to laugh.
"What did you say" she enquired.
"Dey your lane" Akpan boasted as he packed his books into his school bag.
"Are you out of your mind?..."
"Corps" as youth corp members are most times called Akpan muttered, "respect yourself otherwise, I will deal with you." By this time the class has turned into turmoil making other students rush to the class and find out what has happened. As the English madam walked up to him to be sure the boy was not out of his mind, he suddenly brought out a knife and let it into the hand of the teacher.
Akpan's group which includes Richard and others has been constituting a nuisance despite the high-handedness of Mr. Benson.
The school activities came to an abrupt end for the day as everyone scampered for safety. The youth corp member was rushed to the health center close to the school.
Everyone knew that the principal wouldn't take it kindly to Akpan and his friends. The following day, the principal came to the school with some police personnel in their van boldly Crested, THE NIGERIAN POLICE FORCE ANTICULTISM UNIT. The turnout In school became low for a week, period, and the presence of the members of the Nigerian police brought calmness to the situation as soon as possible. Within this period, the youth corps members were asked not to report to their Place of Primary Assignment until the issue has been resolved. Some parents came to the school to enquire about the decision of the principal. Finally, with the decision of the PTA, Akpan was suspended from school till the end of the term.
How cultism crept into secondary schools is what social scientists can't explain. The majority of the students have joined cults and they are proud to belong to them. Many people have attributed this to the decay of societal values and the inability of parents and guardians to discipline their children. Others blame the weakness of religious institutions. For them, they think that religious institutions are not living up to expectations of teaching against immorality and the rightful way of living. Many of them are focused on the accumulation of wealth and materialism. Before now, cultism was found in the higher institutions among the youth, but now the teenagers are fully indoctrinated into it. This is not beneficial to society. The consequences of belonging to this nefarious group are detrimental to the benefit it portrays. Many parents and guidance are oblivious to this menace that the young ones have put themselves into. Some will pretend to live right at home but will turn out to be something else in school.
The day was bright as usual, it was a Thursday and as such, it was a day set aside for environmental cleaning. Some of the students were on the football field clearing the grass, others were on the school farm planting. Another was by the road to the school filling the port holes. As usual, they were supervised by their senior colleagues.
Richard and his friends were absent during the labor exercise. It was common that they could be easily seen in the bush if not in school. The principal had sent some senior students to the bush to fetch them out. In the bush, a fight ensued as Richard refused to go with their seniors. At last, they were overpowered and taken to the principal's office.
"The three of you are bad eggs in this school, I had wanted to expel you," Mr. Benson said pointing at Richard "But your grandmother begged me to give you a second chance, yet you don't want to change"
The principal ordered the senior students to flog Richard and two of his friends.
Richard stubbornly disagreed. He said,
"I'd rather die than Etuk to flog me," as he stood up from his kneeling position.
Everyone was surprised at Richard's temerity to challenge the principal's order.
Upon hearing this, the principal stood up from his seat and ordered him to kneel but he refused. This time the students had gathered to see the drama.
"Come here" the principal called
"Rugged you" Richard Blasted as he moved against mr. Benson. In anger, he wipes Richard on his neck with his long cane, which ran through his back. In retaliation, Richard hit him on the head and the principal found himself on the ground.
For the second time, the students ran a helta skelta. In a twinkle of an eye, the school was deserted leaving mr. Benson in the pool of his blood.