May 1990. Ondo State Radiovision Corporation (OSRC) in Oba-Ile. Niyi Ogunlusi and I are coming out of the studio. We have just lost by two points to Gboluji Anglican Grammar School, Ile Oluji. I am crestfallen. If there was a day that I felt low in my final years, this was one of them. This place brought memories. My role on the day came by chance and like my club Arsenal, I had not taken the chance.
My dad worked in these studios from 1978-1983 before he died. I knew the buildings like the back of my hand and the gadgets like my own even though I pretended I had no clue. Some of his colleagues saw me, came round, and said hello; with pride on their faces. A son of a lost colleague academically competing for his school...”I wish” I was thinking. Normally it will be Dami Oni and Niyi Ogunlusi with Ayo Omotosho and Femi as possible backups. These were the renowned sharpshooters when it comes to academics. Ayo, Dami, and Femi were away doing their GCE exams. Niyi has opted out because he was so sure of his SSCE results. I opted out because I wanted to go for a handball tournament in Port Harcourt (School sports). That is a story for another day. There was a discussion on the pick as there were two of us to choose from on the day but I was picked. I was elated. Why?
May 1987. The quiz team was going for a quiz at Orita Obele, OSRC’s new shining television station site. Opeyemi Falebita and Seyi Ogunleye were representing the school that day. I was chosen amongst a few other JSS 3 boys to join the team with other Form 4 students. As we were getting on the bus, Mr. Alade, who was in charge decided he wanted to cull the numbers. To cut a long story short, I was told to go back to class. I was upset. That day, I promised to do what I can to get into the team. Now I had the chance ...
Back to the story. We lost by two points and I am sad because there was a question that was asked that I knew the answer. I told Niyi the answer but he was leaning the other way. It was about the law of conservation of mass. Niyi thought it was the increasing law of conservation of mass. Hen? Ki lo n je bee? I thought otherwise instead of standing my ground. But I saw this yesterday! Why concede? Because it was Niyi? YES o! Only Dami and Ayo Omotosho may have argued publicly with Niyi onset but not I. Any other situation I would. Homework, sports, debate but academic quiz? Mo mo iwon ara mi. Had we got that question, we will have had a shot to get an extra question. Maybe we will have won. Who knows. I looked at Niyi. He is not fazed as he knew he had the television version in a couple of weeks. I know I did not. The usual suspects will be back. I missed my chance to stake a claim. Confidence is required when the pressure is on..
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