Everyone remembers their first time!
Buhari was the ruler. He said very little back then but his crazy foot soldiers were unleashed on the populace. No protest was allowed. Any dissenting voice was labelled an enemy of the state. Politicians were jailed. Activists and journalists were harassed and routinely picked up willy nilly. Respected senior citizens were abused and denigrated for speaking truth to power and draconian laws to muzzle free speech were the order of the day.
Sorry I digress. Back to the story.
I walked through the wide-open gates for the first time on a lovely Oyemekun morning. Well, I say walk but in actual fact, my dad drove me in that day. At the time, the little security post to the left of the entrance was still operational and I remember our car was stopped briefly by the guard before we were allowed to proceed. I loved at first sight the big school plaque that was affixed to the wall by the gate. It had in the school colors, the name of the school, the insignia and moto and the founding date. It was bold, it was beautiful, shiny white and welcoming. I wasn't as sure of what to expect behind the gates though.
Now I can no longer remember if I brought with me my trusted desk and green metal chair that day or at a later date. Igbagbe se mi! Thirty six years is no joke eyan mi. Imagine, even babies born on the first day I set foot in Aquinas are mummies and daddies today. That is the definition of OPI!
What I do remember is my uncle Akinlabi Akinterinwa came with me for moral support. It was also his first time on the hallowed grounds of Aquinas college. He had just finished from CAC grammar school where my mum also taught at the time. My uncle was very proud of his alma mater and would never pass an opportunity to regal me with stories of the great exploits of his old school. Stories about the exploits of two brothers from the old Bendel state called Osifo and Osagie on the football field and also their strong notorious 'black Jamaicans' contingent outside it whose symbol was the black rubber band they wore on their wrists. Now thinking about it, my uncle never talked much about their academic exploits ...hmmm...I wonder why? Well, I was young at the time and I gobbled every story he served up. At a point, I had convinced myself that CAC had to be the best school in the world!
Oh, I digress again. Sorry. Back to the story.
The day my uncle and I stepped into Aquinas for the first time, we both realised we were no longer in CAC. It was that clear cut. The long tree lined road snaked its way from the gate right past the serene row of houses to the other side, where Mrs Akinrolabun lived at some point, past the little patch of grass bordering the narrow road leading to the principal's house, past Mrs Ajibabi's staff quarters to the left, sharing a fence with the General hospital mortuary services. The famous latrine was nestled in a corner at the far end. Just ahead was the cricket field where Kayode Oladimeji under the tutelage of Uncle Snoi of the Ondo State sports council made a name for himself. This cricket field years later became even more 'famous' when IBB's security detail landed an helicopter there during the presidential visit to the state and was also where the run away muturu met its waterloo at the hands of our sharp shooting Principal Chief Sir Michael Ibikunle and his dane gun. Further down from the cricket field was 'even more playing field' which stood in front of a building that had undergone several reinventions - Dining room, dormitory, cinema and theatre hall, examination hall, library, etc. Only God knows what it is being used for today?
On the other side was a mini field, where the basketball court was later carved out at the other end. This mini field later became the dumping ground for Jubril Aminu's and IBB's technical school equipment crates - an eternal elergy to the wasteful culture of a nation. A sleepy old but scary chap, dark complexioned, purportedly with a million charms was employed to stand guard over the crates. Sleeping on duty you say?
The sandy grounds of the handball court, backing up to an uncompleted block, was just ahead. This was where coach Queen Gloria held court and raised arguably the greatest youth handball team of our generation. Now, next to this court someone managed to fit in a geographical garden complete with a wind gauge atop which a cockerel proudly stood. I could have sworn I never saw this gauge move an inch throughout my stay in the school. Perhaps we could ask the watchful old school hall, later turned into a library, which stood in a dignified posture almost behind the garden. But that would be missing the point. All that mattered was that we had a geographical garden and Mr Olunloyo woud have been very pleased indeed. Let us leave it there.
At this point the long tree lined road was very close to the main building. The last few metres of its travel separated two lawn tennis courts. The two courts were bordered by an almost square shaped and well maintained flower beds. The court to the right was in the vicinity of our morning devotions and assembly ground. The one to the left was separated from the chemistry and biology labs by a dusty patch of road. And of course, the 'world famous' Angelus bell was right next to that court. World famous? I know I am exaggerating but it felt like that at times. For all the years we stayed in the school, without fail, it rang out every mid-day. The world famous Angelus bell was essentially an old tyre rim dangling on a rope tied to a tree.
Now, the long tree lined road has met and kissed the main building and its work is done. The main building housed a tower and this is probably the best view in the school. No one forgets the first time they experienced that tower view walking up the long tree lined road.
This long tree lined road actually has a name but up till this point, I have chosen to call it by a descriptive lazy name. I hadn't heard of the name prior to my coming to Aquinas. Definitely not in my limited lexicon. But I got to add another word to my lexicon through the counsel of a wise, learned and father figure. A giant of a man. The man? Principal *Elder Enoch Dare*. The name? ...
*THE APPIAN WAY*.
(TO BE CONTINUED)
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