The Activist - Season 2 - Episode 2

Episode 5 years ago

The Activist - Season 2 - Episode 2

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It was a Tuesday morning when Tade encountered them. It was a small gathering, consisting of ignorant but learning students on one hand and three older students on the other hand. One of the older students was addressing the gathering while two others were distributing leaflets.

“This high level of wickedness, currently displayed by this nefarious agents of death, are the symptoms of a decaying system. We stand here, in front of our Student Union Building(S.U.B), but are we safe, even in front of here? Are we?”
When no one answered, Tade walked into the gathering and stayed at the middle, obviously interested in the conversation.

“No! We are not safe, we cannot be safe when our “president” parties with cult leaders, when our executives obtain and maintain their positions through the hands of these cultists. No, we are not safe, when our security is left in the hands of veterans of the Ife-Modakeke war. We are not safe when some of our lecturers and members of the university management sponsor these elements in their acts of terror. No! We are not safe and we cannot be safe under these circumstances!”
Everyone in the group shouted their approval, including Tade. Some whistled, some clapped but the noise was high enough to attract passers-by, swelling the gathering into a crowd. At this point some other guys, presumably from the speaker’s group came around.
So what can we do? One of the naïve students asked.
The only way we can be safe is when we all decide to take this battle to these agents of chaos and chase them out completely. When we as students decide that our lives and their core decisions are not the responsibility of our parents or lecturers or the management, but its our collective responsibility. When we all as students decide not to rely on the lies of these “politicians”, he pointed to the General Secretary of the Union, who was just unfortunate to pass by at that moment, but on the truths told by ourselves to ourselves. When all these are present,that’s when we can be safe and free. Make no mistake about it; evil will never disappear quietly.

At this point some students had started to leave, as five cultists had suddenly appeared on the scene. Tade wanted to run, but stopped himself from moving. Something was welling up in his stomach and for the first time since he came into the school, he felt bold.

The cultists simply passed the crowd, even slightly surprised at the behavior of the crowd. The speaker, who had stopped his speech but had not moved from where he was, continued.
“I know we are all afraid. We are afraid of our very lives and what will become of us. We are afraid of our parents efforts going to waste. We fear for our siblings and our loved ones.”
“Yet, if we do nothing out of fear, nothing will change and that’s a universal law, the law of inertia. We have to start a move…..”
“But we are too small.” Another student countered.

“We are never too small to start. Remember that Nelson Mandela was one man and his fight against apartheid changed the whole of South Africa. The likes of Awolowo, Azikwe and Bello pushed for the independence of this nation and now we are independent. We can as well start from here. I leave you with the words of John. F. Kennedy who said: Don’t think of what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.”

The gathering dispersed, leaving Tade with a leaflet and a decision to make.

Later he discussed what happened with his roommates.

“See, its not possible. Shittu pouted out. Its hard enough trying to stop this with hard proof. Why do you think that some bravado will have any effect?” He sat up and faced Tade squarely.
“That’s what cowards say.” Made replied. “I believe in change, especially that kind of change. Its gonna to be hard, but it will be worth it. Cultists are human beings afterall.”
“Made, you only have mouth, you don’t have the liver to back it up.” Shittu had a go at him. “Am sure if cult members walk in, you will be the first to run out.”

“Who stood his groun when cultists came that night?” Made shot back, referring to the night of the attack on the Ravens. “Didn’t you hide yourself while I stood my ground?”
“You were only caught because you had no where to hide.” Shittu replied, snickering at Made.

Tade ignored his roommates and walked out.


*************

Wale had just finished a night duty at the hospital when he arrived and met no one in his house. Once again, all the effects he disliked were present: silent house, unkempt bedroom, cold food and a feel of disappointment.

He entered the bedroom, opened the wardrobe and almost had to flee from the army of clothes that came crashing on him. For a second he was amused before anger got the better of him. Why was Nifemi like this? Can’t she, for once improve on this her lack of organization?
He kept pondering on those thoughts as he went from one corner of the room to the other, finding more evidence of disorganized life. Each time he looked at it, he was reminded of Clara and how she was when she lived there. He started to realize that he had treated her badly and that Nifemi was not near her in quality.

“Eh? What is this am seeing?” Wale’s eyes bulged as he saw what he did not expect.
“Nifemi!”

Nifemi, who had just entered into the house, rushed into the room. What’s happening? Who died? She asked Wale.

Wale looked at her and for once saw a monster staring back at him.

“Who owns this?” He picked a condom from the top of his bedside. The condom, which was half-way filled with ‘you-know-what’ and strains were disgustingly hovering around the condom.

Nifemi knew from the second that Wale saw that condom, that it was all over. She wondered why Shope, her kinky bestie, cannot get her act together after a one-night stand.

“Wale, its not……..”
“Its not what I think, eh?” Wale started, laughing out hysterically. “So I am now a child, as well as an incompetent person in bed?”
“Wale, listen to me, please.” Nifemi’s eyes were going misty as she landed on the floor with her knees.

“Nifemi! Nifemi!! I have bore all your inadequacies gamely, but this is where it ends. Fornication? Oh my God! We are not even married yet, what about when we marry? Is this what will happen as well?”
“Wale, please, just give……..”
“Get out!” Wale stood up, Sango-like anger running through his veins. “Pack your stuff and leave now!”

Nifemi suddenly stood up like a robot and started to pack her things. Shoes, clothes and make-up sets were hastily arranged into bags, with Wale’s ranting running on the background. Within ten minutes, she was done and started to move. As she got to the door,someone entered.
“Nifemi, please don’t be …….”

Pa! A slap ended whatever was coming out of her mouth.