August 1989. There were times that you come to school and you are elated. Some days you want to stay up at home and not bother coming to school. Not because of your friends nor the education but the disciple in school. Sometimes it is totally unfair and to a degree, it borders on abuse. People like me rarely get into trouble but these days, I was getting some. I was coming back from the handball court and heading to assembly after training. We normally train from 7- 7:45 am in the morning, preparing for school sports and coaching the juniors to keep our streak in handball of winning school sports for 6 years running. We were walking to assembly and the principal stops us for being sluggish and not being back on time. Six strokes of the cane. Not funny. Those were days some of us thought we should quit the school team and let him play himself. Our love for the game got the better of us. But that pales to insignificance compared to the Rotimi Abitoye and the principal.
Rotimi Abitoye. Product of the military class of 1x, the law of omertà classes of 2T and 3O. A student SS 1:2 and 2:2, Rotimi was a tough cookie ( I know Lance “Esu ti o wo bata” Duyilemi will say otherwise 😀) but he was a great guy. He hated cheating, loved playing football, was a great “pako” tennis player but became a better lawn tennis player, playing with rackets at Owena motels, Akure (That land is now the Shoprite building) with a few of us playing eating suya and soft drinks. He was strong in his views but rational with his close friends and a great laugh. From afar, to most, he was a menace but if you get to know him, he is a loving and passionate person that needs to be understood.
Not our principal. Since knows Rotimi’s dad (Dr Abitoye and the principal were old students and Dr. Abitoye was the ACAOSA chairman in Akure), our principal took extra interest in Rotimi’s business. It started from Rotimi being punished for getting late school, to Rotimi leaving school too early in some cases; missing prep. After a few scuffles, Rotimi has had enough. The principal was reporting him to his dad making things a bit difficult at home, it was also becoming stifling in school as his every move is watched. One thing that I believe Rotimi did not bargain for was his dad handing over the unfettered access and control to the principal. That was unexpected but trust Rotimi. Backing down has not been an option for him. Omo to ni iya oun o ni sun, oun naa o ni foju ba orun.
A few days earlier, the principal was seen scolding Rotimi at the gate for being late and Rotimi looking at him lackadaisically, the principal decided to suspend him for the day and stick him back into his father's car back home. I think he thought this will make Rotimi remorseful as he will have to explain to his father why he is not in school. A few days later, there was an issue and Rotimi gets summoned to the VP office. Ologba was there and a few minutes later, we were all hearing screaming from Rotimi. Ologba has decided that he was going to give him 100 strokes of the cain 😳? Killed? In today’s currency, our principal will be behind ba rs, lost his job, and will never lead a school again. Not in our days. Rotimi too was not going to just take it. Oju afoofotan, ija lo ma’am n da sile. As the principal is beating Rotimi, Rotimi is making it difficult for him and is ensuring Ologba gets some of the pain and weaken him. At the same time, Rotimi is shouting at the top of his voice which is drawing a lot of attention around the whole school. Not sure if the principal got tired or thought enough was enough. He stopped at beating Rotimi and stepped out. In ologba’s mind, he has taught Rotimi a lesson.
Rotimi leaves the VP’s office and heads to the tuck shop. His friends join him in there as it was close to lunch break and we see Rotimi sitting on one of the two benches there with a soft drink and fish pie. Our expectation was that will be black and blue, but we saw our friend very calm and in control. We were surprised but pleased. He then explained his tact as to why the shouting was loud and how he deflected most of the strokes. He was adamant that he will show Ologba one of these days. I walked away thinking, “does this corporal punishment help?“ I do believe a conversation from Mrs. Ajibabi, Mrs. Aina or Mrs. Ijatuyi will be more effective or a few minutes with Mrs. Olagbegi will have calmed him down A LOT if you know what I mean 😉. But the beating did nothing.
Rotimi is a great guy living his life peacefully somewhere in North America and those who have seen him and known him over the last 40 years will know he is still who he is - from afar, a curious person but someone most are careful to know but behind the shell, one of the great guys that I know will have my back if he believes in my cause. But he is not one for corporal punishment...
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