The era of Sir Ibikunle - An era of transition for the 84/90 set

Going through Aquinas, I was privileged to have 3 different principals during my time in the school. Same school philosophy; different approaches. Mr. Dare was easy going, strict but there was a level of liberty that was given to the students in return for a level of responsibility from them. More of a tit for tat. Chief ERA Babalola, more of a disciplinarian whose approach is to not give an inch, so there never a chance for you to take a yard. In spite of this, there was a compassionate aspect that was seen by the few. Being one of the benefactors, I can say that he organized Iyan and egusi soup with ogufe for the all-conquering handball team in the Biology lab. Delicious. And there is Sir Ibikunle.

Sir Ibikunle, a former student of the school and was taking over from Mr. Enoch Dare as principal. When he turned up at assembly and he was announced, a lot of us were stunned by his height but even shocked by his directness on his first day. His speech was around discipline, discipline, discipline 😳. Just coming from an era where we were taught to use our initiative, and the student rule was enforced, we are now being told that we will be reigned in. We were in for this. In the following days, we started to see the displays. More assembly spanking becomes more frequent, more students kneeling around the school and more sprinting without seeing what is chasing others 🏃🏿🏃🏿🏃🏿 became commonplace. He dealt with some for improper dressing and their school sandals were been worn like slippers. Unknown to all, he watches us from the front of the principal's house as we are coming towards the gate and fall into his trap.

His VP, Mr. Komolafe, was known as Otelemuye, the boy scout man. Tension was rising and planning started to take place in pockets as to what to do about this regime. Then came this fateful day.

Aquinas was playing Akure High School in a rematch of a game that was abandoned due to alleged foul play in the first match. Aquinas was winning but a goal was given to Akure High school which should have been disallowed. This led to a scuffle and there were a few people injured as a result. The decision was that the match must be replayed at a neutral ground and it was supposed to a secret location. Sir Ibikunle decided to let us know that we are not allowed to leave the school that day and the game will take place at a secret location. If you are caught at the game or out of school, he will be dealing with those students. But trust ACA boys 😀, by 10 am, the bees were circulating that the game will be taking place at Commercial college and the kick-off was 11 am. Trust boys, our seniors, and some of our guys went. We lost the game 1-0 but Sir Ibikunle has decided to take his Peugeot 504 SR to pick students heading back to school. There were a few unfortunate ones. However, there was a lot that got away. Sir Ibikunle was determined to catch a lot of the lawbreakers. He decides to drive the ones in his car back to school and tell the gateman to lock the gates and take a roll call of the classes. Boys will be boys. The students knew others into the school. The low fence by the mortuary was been fixed. The holes in the fences around the LA school have been mended. The back gates have been rebuilt. BUT... the fence between the school and Mary Queen of Angel church was scalable. With Sir Ibikunle waiting at the gate, he was sure there will a student begging to get in. After 60 minutes of no show, it suddenly dawned on him that there was must be another way in. When he realized where the gap is, he decides to hide under the fence to see who will jump next. Funny enough, as the boys saw him hiding, they decided to jump on his back and use a stepping stool and landed in his back. You would have thought once one person knows it was the boss, they will stop. No o. Guys were using the boss as a stepping stone🤣. As Sir Ibikunle was trying to get and catch one of the students, he slipped and a student in our set was identified 😱. Yeepa! What is going on? Of all the sets, why us? Sir Ibikunle was coming to deal with the whole of our set but met Mrs. Ajibabi on the way. She vehemently disagreed that it cannot be our set and it must be a mistake. Sir Ibikunle being fairly new rescinded his actions and decided to give a stern lecture the next morning. Phew...

I know the thoughts of many about what they wanted when it came to our principal position. And it happened. He was transferred within 2 years but no one expected who came in... the era of ERA ...

What a climb up. Or down? The decision is yours to make. All I know is boys will be boys; irrespective of the principal or teachers...