Table Of Contents:
1.0 How “There Will Be Fire For Fire”Written On Chalkboard Landed Me In Room 9.
2.0 Was 'Fire For Fire' A Real Threat?
Honorable Oladapo O. Ekundayo Decodes The Chalkboard Warning
3.0 Why Did Principal Bashorun
Arogbofa Call In The Military? The Story Behind 'Fire For Fire'.
4.0 When Soldiers Entered Our School:
Honorable Oladapo O. Ekundayo Recalls The Shocking Moment"
5.0 Why Were We Suspected? Honorable
Oladapo O. Ekundayo Speaks On The 'Fire For Fire' Incident"
7.0 Room 9: Did We Plan An Escape OrWere We Just Stunned? Honorable Oladapo O. Ekundayo Reveals
8.0 After Our Release: How StudentsReacted To Our Return From Military Detention
1.0 How “There Will Be Fire For Fire” Written On Chalkboard Landed Me In Room 9.
Over
three decades have passed since an eventful day at Army Comprehensive High
School, Akure, yet the memories remain vivid for both Bashurun Seinde Arogbofa,
the respected principal, and Honorable Oladapo O. Ekundayo, a former student
who has since risen to prominence.
It
was a time of heightened tensions and strict discipline within the walls of the
Army Comprehensive High School, a prestigious institution situated inside the
Military Army Barracks in Akure.
The school, known for its rigorous academic standards and military-like order, was under the watchful eye of Principal Bashurun Seinde Arogbofa, a man of firm principles and unwavering commitment to maintaining order.
However,
his assertive nature led to an unfortunate misunderstanding.
In
the course of performing his daily routine duties, Bashurun Seinde Arogbofa saw
"THERE WILL BE FIRE FOR FIRE," largely written on the chalkboard in
the classroom of Honorable Oladapo O. Ekundayo, under a tense political
atmosphere as at that time in Ondo State.
Believing
it was his duty to prevent any form of dissent or political protest, especially
within the confines of a military barracks, Bashurun Seinde Arogbofa made a
fateful decision.
Honorable
Oladapo O. Ekundayo narrated the entire nostalgia event in an exclusive
interview with the GES News Correspondant, Yusuf Nurudeen (ACA) below. Happy
reading.
2. Was 'Fire For Fire' A Real Threat? Honorable Oladapo O. Ekundayo Decodes The Chalkboard Warning
(i).
The Correspondent Of GES News Asked A Question As Follows;
- So, When You Saw 'There Will Be Fire For Fire' Written On The Chalkboard, Did You Think It Was A Literal Warning Or Just Someone Trying To Spice Up The Protest Announcement?
Honorable
Oladapo O. Ekundayo, While Smiling, Replied:
I
must be honest with you; I didn’t even notice that 'THERE WILL BE FIRE FOR
FIRE' was written on the chalkboard in my classroom on that fateful day.
I
may have been stubborn during my days at Army Comprehensive High School, Akure,
but I don’t tell lies.
The
truth of the matter is that the political atmosphere in Ondo State was tense
during that period, and political protests were the talk of the town among
residents.
I
remember vividly, no student would have been courageous enough to even attempt
to mobilize a protest within the Army Barracks environment because we had no
stake in the political crises.
3. Why Did Principal Bashorun Arogbofa Call In The Military? The Story Behind 'Fire For Fire'.
(ii).
The Correspondent Of GES News Asked Another Question As Follows:
- Looking Back, What Do You Think Motivated Your Principal, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa, To Involve Military Personnel After Seeing 'THERE WILL BE FIRE FOR FIRE' Written On The Chalkboard In A Possible School Protest Situation?
Honorable
Oladapo O. Ekundayo Shook His Head And Calmly Replied:
For
your information, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa was not just a secondary school
principal; he was a psychologist.
Given
the tense political atmosphere in Ondo State at the time, Bashorun Seinde
Arogbofa believed that students under his watch must not be used by politicians
to ignite the already charged political protests.
I
believe Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa suspected that his students were being
mobilized to escalate the protests from within the school compound.
As
a professional school management administrator, Bashorun Seinde Arogbofa would
never fail to discharge his responsibilities to protect school property,
teachers, non-teaching staff, and, most importantly, the students.
I
must be honest with you; the involvement of military personnel to prevent a
possible outbreak of political protest was a right decision.
4.0 When Soldiers Entered Our School: Honorable Oladapo O. Ekundayo Recalls The Shocking Moment"
(iii).
The Correspondent Of GES News Asked A Question As Follows;
- What Was Your Initial Reaction When You Saw The Soldiers Entering The School, And Did You Immediately Know You Were In Trouble?
Honorable
Oladapo O. Ekundayo Clapped And Calmly Replied:
Normally,
when you see a sudden deployment of military personnel on school premises, you
should immediately know that there’s trouble; don’t expect the center to hold
anymore.
As
soon as the military officers entered our classroom to identify the
perpetrators of the alleged "crime," everything went calm, like
a burial ground.
The
military officers asked us to open our desks for an inspection of our school
bags.
They
searched everywhere in my classroom for anything incriminating that might be
used in a political protest.
Fortunately
for us, they didn’t find anything incriminating anyone in my classroom on that
fateful day.
A
staff sergeant among the military personnel looked into my eyes and ordered me
to stand up; I immediately felt helpless, but bold.
The
staff sergeant pointed his koboko (cane) at me and asked, 'Why do you want to
cause protests in the Army Barracks?'
I
boldly replied to the staff sergeant that I didn’t cause protests.
In
a sharp response, the staff sergeant shouted at me, 'Shut up.'
Immediately,
I was arrested, and my friend, Ademola Adesida, (may his soul rest in peace),
was also arrested in our classroom on the fateful day.
5.0 Why Were We Suspected? Honorable Oladapo O. Ekundayo Speaks On The 'Fire For Fire' Incident"
(iv).
The Correspondent Of GES News Asked Another Question As Follows;
- Why Were You And Your Friend, Ademola Adesida, The Prime Suspects For Writing 'THERE WILL BE FIRE FOR FIRE' On The Chalkboard Among All The Students In Your Classroom?
Honorable
Oladapo O. Ekundayo Looked At The Sky And Smiled, Then Confidently Replied:
Kudos
to the military personnel in our Army barracks in those days.
They
were intelligent officers trained in the concepts of crime detection and
investigation, using unparalleled intelligence-gathering tools.
When
those military personnel looked at your face, they could predict the type of
person you might be and your general disposition.
When
I was in Army Comprehensive High School, Akure, my principal, Bashorun Seinde
Arogbofa, a few of my teachers, and even my classmates believed that I was a
stubborn student.
The
truth of the matter is that when you are bold and vocal in the classroom, some
of your classmates will see you as being stubborn.
Students
who resided in the Army Barracks back then had a habit of intimidating students
who lived in the main Akure town.
When you resisted their intimidation, they claimed you were stubborn.
You
cannot intimidate me because your father is a soldier while my father is a
civilian, and expect me to keep quiet.
No,
I don’t take rubbish. You will see 'fire for fire' immediately.
The
military personnel suspected that I had written 'THERE WILL BE FIRE FOR FIRE'
on the chalkboard because the majority of people believed I was a stubborn
student.
When
your seniors or classmates misbehaved or maltreated you within the school
premises and you confidently expressed dissatisfaction with such treatment,
people would claim you were stubborn.
6.0 After The Arrest: What Really Happened To Us In The Military Cell? Honorable Oladapo O. Ekundayo Tells All
(v).
The Correspondent Of GES News Asked Another Question As Follows;
- Can You Tell Us What Happened Immediately After You And Your Friend, Ademola Adesida, Were Arrested By The Military Personnel In Your Classroom At Army Comprehensive High School, Akure?
Honorable
Oladapo O. Ekundayo Shook His Head And Calmly Replied:
It
was not a funny experience for me. The fear and depression within me were
unquantifiable.
I
was confident that I would overcome the challenges since I never organized or
intended to participate in any political protest on the school premises.
In
the blink of an eye, the staff sergeant moved me and Ademola Adesida (may his
soul rest in peace) into an awaiting car and gave us a 'free ride' to the
Quarter Guard, the Military Base inside the Army Barracks in Akure.
The
staff sergeant marched us before the Commanding Officer (CO) inside the Army
Barracks.
The
Commanding Officer (CO) bombarded us with intelligence and investigative
questions to determine the extent of our involvement in the alleged planning of
a political protest in the Army Barracks.
We
insisted that we didn’t know anything about the protest and that they should
release us immediately.
The
Commanding Officer (CO) ordered some military men around his office to give us
corporal punishment to make us confess to our alleged "crime.”
When
you don’t know anything about an alleged "crime," what can you
confess?
After
a while, the Commanding Officer (CO) discovered the truth of the matter: that
we were innocent of the alleged planning of a political protest.
Unfortunately,
the Commanding Officer (CO) didn’t release us until after three long days,
during which we slept in 'Room 9' in the Army Barracks.
7.0 Room 9: Did We Plan An Escape Or Were We Just Stunned? Honorable Oladapo O. Ekundayo Reveals
(vi).
The Correspondent Of GES News Asked Another Question As Follows;
- Between Us, Did You And Ademola Have Any Secret Plans For Escape From 'Room 9,' Or Were You Too Busy Wondering How You Ended Up There?
Honorable
Oladapo O. Ekundayo Gazed At Me And Laughed Loudly; Then Replied As Follows:
Escape
from where? Do you mean escape from the Military Cell located inside the Army
barracks? No, we didn’t have such a criminal intention.
We
were only bold enough to approach the military personnel to assert our
innocence in the alleged planning of a political protest.
Since
we didn’t commit any offense, why should we plan an escape from the Military Cell?
People
only perceived us as stubborn students in Army Comprehensive High School,
Akure, during those good days; we were not criminally minded.
During
the three days in Room 9, the military personnel studied our dispositions and
discovered that we were innocent of the alleged offense.
For
your information, our parents were informed, and the military personnel allowed
them access to us.
Our
parents then went to the management of Army Comprehensive High School, Akure,
and pleaded on our behalf for a possible release from the Military Cell, Room
9.
8.0 After Our Release: How Students
Reacted To Our Return From Military Detention 
(vii).
The Correspondent Of GES News Asked Another Question As Follows;
- How Did You And Ademola Cope With Spending Three Days In 'Room 9'? Were There Any Memorable Moments During That Time?
Honorable Oladapo O. Ekundayo Gazed Laughed Loudly; Then Replied As Follows:
It
was not a funny experience for me and my friend, Ademola Adesida (may his soul
rest in peace).
The
military personnel allowed our parents to bring food to us and even asked us
questions during the three days in Room 9, the military base, inside the Army
Barracks.
During
that period, we couldn’t sleep very well, and our movements were restricted
within Room 9, the military base, inside the Army Barracks.
I
can remember that the noise of mosquitoes affected our sleep and state of
health.
(viii).
The Correspondent Of GES News Asked Another Question As Follows;
After
You And Your Friend, Ademola Adesida, Were Released From The Military Cell–
Room 9, What Were The Reactions Of Other Students Towards You And Your Friend?
Honorable
Oladapo O Ekundayo Was Happy And He Replied As Follows:
Upon our release from the Military Cell—Room 9, the atmosphere at the school changed dramatically for both Ademola and me.
We
were immediately elevated to a legendary status, almost as if we had become the
'kings' of the students in Army Comprehensive High School, Akure.
The
fear and respect we commanded were palpable; it was as though we had survived
an ordeal that no one else dared to face.
I
remember walking around the school with a newfound confidence, knowing that no
one would dare to threaten or challenge us.
It
wasn’t just the students who were affected by our return; our seniors,
classmates, and even the teachers began to treat us with an unprecedented level
of respect.
They
were all in awe of the fact that we had successfully endured and emerged from
the notorious Military Cell, Room 9, a place known for its harsh conditions.
Personally,
I felt a great sense of pride and relief. We had been through a harrowing experience,
yet we managed to prove our innocence before the military personnel.
That
validation was incredibly important to us, as it reaffirmed our integrity and
strength.
The
respect we gained from the school community only added to the satisfaction of
knowing that we had overcome such a significant challenge.
9.0
Conclusion |
the resilience and courage required to navigate the challenges of youth, especially in a setting as intense as Army Comprehensive High School, Akure, within the confines of a military barracks.
Their
ordeal, from being wrongly accused and detained in the feared Military
Cell—Room 9 to emerging as figures of admiration and respect, highlights the
transformative power of integrity and determination.
Despite
the fear and uncertainty they faced, their unwavering honesty and courage
allowed them to not only clear their names but also to return to their school
with newfound authority and esteem.
This
story, remembered decades later, stands as a testament to the enduring spirit
of those who, even in the face of overwhelming odds, choose to stand firm in
their truth.
Today,
as Honorable Oladapo O. Ekundayo stands as a respected figure in society, he
often reflects on that pivotal moment over 33 years ago.
It
was a moment that tested his resolve and shaped his character, and it was also
a moment that forged lasting respect between him and his former principal,
Bashurun Seinde Arogbofa.
Their
shared history is a testament to the unpredictable paths that life can take,
and how moments of conflict can ultimately lead to mutual respect and
admiration.
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