The Activist - Season 1 - Episode 5

Episode 5 years ago

The Activist - Season 1 - Episode 5

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When it seemed like there will be a long wait, a senior officer showed up.

“Dada, what are you doing there?” As soon as Salisu saw him, he moved to protest but the man continued his talk.

“See, before I open my eyes, allow them to pass.” “Don’t you know that people are waiting at the back? And if you try what you did just now, I will make sure that you will not be here the next day, do you understand?”

Dada nodded and grudgingly left Salisu alone, much to the relief of Tade.

They drove into the university, much in a procession-like manner. Salisu soon got to the roundabout and after they went past the structure Salisu increased the pace, as if he was late for something important.

They soon turned towards Tade’s faculty.

“Salisu, drop me here.” Salisu moved further, ignoring Tade’s instruction. Tade repeated himself, shouting this time. Salisu continued for a minute then sharply turned round, almost hitting an incoming car. Luckily for them, the car owners seemed more concerned about where they we’re going, leaving Tade to silently fume at Salisu. The driver then used a snail’s pace to get to the place Tade wanted to drop, much to the against of other motorists.

“Salisu, come tomorrow by ten to this spot to pick me.” The driver nodded his head and drove quickly, like a maniac on the loose.

“Werey.” Tade said, before he headed to his department.

Wale studied the letter on his table. It was about an interview from the United Nations, in lieu of a strategic vacancy in the Organization.

The interview was to hold in a week’s time, meaning that he had a week to prepare for this opportunity of a lifetime. Benefits included a better pay and travel benefits, availability of research materials and rubbing of shoulders and minds with the elite in the health profession, plus some bragging rights. He has always wanted to work at the highest level and he now has the chance to, at a young age for that matter.

He wished all aspects of his life were the same. It seems like it won’t be possible.

When he started out with Clara, he had just got a job and they had married not long ago. Despite all that, he persuaded her to become a full housewife while he sends the money in. They did not have much, but they were happy. Then Andrew came in and their happiness increased. The young boy quickly showed his brilliance, even as his father was been promoted promptly and at times ahead of time. His family were so happy that when Tade came in, his performances, though a bit average, never bothered him or his wife. Andrew was their crown jewel, an intelligent, courteous, obedient son who was the delight of everyone they met.

All changed when he got admission to OAU
Andrew suddenly became a quiet, hostile young man with ‘strange’ ideals in his head. He had joined an anti-cult group and seemed to be causing trouble for the cult members in school. Wale talked to him, several times, each time his pleas fell to deaf ears. When cult members started sending strange texts to the family he had to call Andrew home and convened a family meeting over the issue.

It was there the worst happened. Andrew roundly insulted everyone, reserving special insults for both parents. Wale could not take it any further and disowned him, Clara begging both parties to stop. Andrew left for school early the next day and that was the last time he would see him alive.

When the news was broken to him and Clara, it shattered the family. Wale, pained by the death of his son, distanced himself from Clara and Tade eventually, blaming her for Andrew’s death. He focused on his medical profession, while Clara went into importation business in order to keep herself busy and away from temptation.

Money flowed in, but the lack of attention Tade had created an undisciplined kid who threw parties and did all sort of stuffs. He still managed to do well in academics though.

He sighed, placing the letter into the envelope. He decided that he had no time to think of his family.

Tade woke up with a start and turned round, looking around the home he will soon leave. He remembered his first day at school and smiled.

After Salisu’s maniac driving set him on edge, he decided to find a place to sit down, hence he walked towards the building where his faculty was located.

The building was something of a simple but wonderful design, if not a bit odd. The building which contained three faculties ( yes, three not one), was made like a three step giant staircase. The first ‘step’ housed the faculty of administration. The faculty itself had two floors and a basement, with the topsmost floor of the faculty linking to the first floor of the faculty of Law. The other two faculties ( Law and Social Sciences) were built the same way.

He walked into the faculty of Administration and found something of interest.

He watched students bundle their way to register courses. The basement, which was otherwise less busy, was occupied by people running to and fro from different directions. He saw parents moving around, trying to ‘work’ their kids admission, there were student executives who moved around getting materials and trying to keep the students in line. There were hawkers of various edibles taking advantage of the situation to display their wares to positively hungry folks. One in a while, an elderly person comes in with a student and forces the student to stay in front of the queue, upsetting the ‘orderly’ students who go on a frenzy about how corrupt the country is.

Amused at what he saw, Tade decided to move to his faculty, knowing that time was not in his hands. He got there to meet a greater commotion, guys pushing themselves around the area, some guarding themselves like footballers shielding the ball, ladies hairs scattered on the ground like mad people, the executives shouting at the top of their voices, it resembled a mad house.

He noticed some guys watching them and sitting on an elevated part of the ground. Realising his exhaustion, he sat down to relax and watch the ‘film’ playing out in front of him.

Suddenly, two odd looking men came towards their direction. Men, not boys because they definitely did not look like freshers. Muscles and chest budging out, faces looking handsomely monstrous and eyes red like Sango’s own in a fit of rage, they were certainly not students, or so Tade thought.

The strange men went to the crowd and started sizing the freshers up, slapping one or two of them in the process. Tade watched as the previously rowdy queue turned taciturn and quiet, like someone seized their voices. He looked on with surprise as the men began to extort #100 fees from the freshers, beating anyone that resists them. When they were done, the men walked down, probably heading to another faculty. The faculty officers, who were tired of trying to control the crowd, did nothing while all the extortion went on.

Tade went towards one of them. “Please, who are those guys? Why did none of you stop them?”

]The older student simply ignored him and went on with his business, miffing Tade. He decided to meet another senior student ,otherwise known as ‘Stalite’ to ask his question.

“Those guys belong to the Red Axes cult. He replied. They are one of the strongest cult groups in school and one of their members is the LSS president. So really there is no point trying to stop them.”

When he saw Tade’s repulsed face, he gave a hearty smile.

“E be like say you be fresher.” Tade was surprised by his change of language. “Don’t worry, after they have collected their dues, they don’t come back until the next day. So quickly enter queue and do your registration finish so that you won’t have to do it again.”

“Thanks a lot. Am Tade.”
“I am Efe. Oya go sharp, sharp.”

Tade walked quickly to the queue and managed to slip himself through, denying some students their places.

When it got to his turned, the tired faculty officers asked him to bring out his credentials. Bringing out his secondary school certificate among other stuffs, he la!d everything in front of them, before arranging them and moving them to each officer, wasting no time. After all the documentation and payment, he walked straight out of the registration area and moved to another part of the faculty, registering with his Chambers, the Equity Chambers. On getting there,he was asked to pay some more dues and more certification. Receipts were issued at each payment. He then walked out and came across Shade.