When I ran into the news of the recent tragic-comical flogging incident at Government Technical College, Abak, Akwa-Ibom State, involving the school principal, Deacon Friday Udoka and a corps member serving with the institution, Kolawole Olaitan Adeola, I tried to internalise all the nuances, without falling for, or, into the predominant prejudices proclaiming Udoka the beast, and Deola, the bruised beauty. Despite Udoka’s public apology, which Deola “accepted” even in her obvious wrongdoing, Deacon is likely to remain public Dracula for the season the memory of the flogging episode will last.
Apart from the disputed aspect of the lady being dragged into the open for continuous flogging by Udoka, the accounts of event, of both the “flogger” and the “flogged” aren’t really clogged.
On Friday, October 19, Deola had tried cheating, by helping her absent friend and colleague, Dolapo Victoria, record her presence at work in the attendance register. A disciplined Udoka would have none of that. An overzealous Udoka went overboard with his emotions. He lost the plot and became the proverbial Yoruba Alaseju. The tone of his apology to the equally-guilty Deola, didn’t suggest Deacon was a first-time offender. “No man is perfect; I have not beaten a corps member before. I am very sorry for using a cane on a corper, Adeola. When I went back home, I felt bad for beating a woman. This is a man that behaves like a father. Please forgive me. The mistake will not repeat itself. Whatever is the cost of your treatment, I will bear the cost” (extracts from his plea-bargain.)
In the photo-op, cementing the armistice between the duo, Deola with a glow on her visage, in the midst of other stone-faced colleagues, was seen “accepting” Deacon’s apology. No, while one wishes the groans that would ordinarily accompany the obvious bruises on her arm, would go away quickly, she’s got nothing to gloat over. Without doubt, the victory in public opinion court is hers, for the asking. Here she is; the weaker sex, serving her fatherland for a peanut in a remote part of a far-flung state of funny dialects, deprived of her more “civilised” home and likely housed in one poorly-ventilated corpers’ lodge. So, whatever she did wrong, even nature should understand, let alone a rotund, supposed man-of-God, with a funny accent and micro-mini temper.
For trying to cheat, Deola deserved to be punished. Because she was in the school at the instance of NYSC, Deacon should have let off in his office and present a concrete evidence against her at the supervising unit of the scheme. Considering the widespread indiscipline in NYSC and rotting revelation of criminality of forgery et al, Udoka possibly thought nothing would come out of such administrative niceties and decided to apply the comeuppance.
If that was Deacon’s thought, he would be right. Jack Gowon’s creation to heal the nation is now a gangrenous sore. It is very much likely Deola would have got away with as little as a cup of ice cream for her LG Coordinator who may even offer to move her elsewhere if “their wahala will be too much there”.
Deacon could also dish comeuppance by naming and shaming Deola on the assembly ground, instead of getting into flogging, shoving and dragging, with her. What if Deola had decided to play the “craze” game, by roping Deacon into a scandalous attempted rape frame-up, letting some of her dressing loose in the melee? Who would believe Udoka, considering that the drama started in his office? Why keep attendance register in the Principal’s office? If it is all about monitoring compliance with regulations and all that, a trusted female teacher should have it. At least, alleged rape stories from men against women, hardly sell, with a public already conditioned to believe the world is full of men with raging phalli.
Udoka is lucky getting away with paying hospital bill and not being asked to submit himself to demeaning medical test, to prove alleged rape allegation, in an enlarging woman’s world, where rape now has about 100-plus definitions to it. In his bid to be a disciplined father-figure to all and a good Christian who should not condone sin, he should apply wisdom. I’m sure he must have encountered Ecclesiastes 10:10 in his Christian journey.
Instead of scapegoating Deacon and Deola as the very people wrong amongst us, they only represent what the society has become and their weaknesses as displayed in this episode are the real strength of those pushing everyone further down the slope.
Deola saw nothing wrong in cheating to help a friend. Can we count how many people do bad things for the good of those they love, on a daily basis? How many are pillaging public collective treasury for children they aren’t certain their own children would have? Can many sincerely preach to Deola at NYSC, her alma mater, maybe even at home or worship centre and the society at large, without seeing real selves in the young lady whose main indoctrination is the rot, dotting everywhere she is coming from? Isn’t the guilt forced down Udoka’s throat for doing the right thing the wrong way, the real expression of the society? Is Deola and her crime, not a perfect representation of what the society now celebrates? Considering how acceptably-decadent the society is now, the delinquent would likely remain our heroes and heroines while Deacon’s ilk, who ran into grave error doing the Godly, would always have their place at the Golgotha.
It is a good thing, both made things up. But there is no beauty and beast story here. It should be a time of reflection and taking necessary didactic message home. Deola, for all we care, may not be street-wise. That she was caught suggests she is an amateur in misdemeanor and should not be allowed to graduate into felony. I guess, she is used to seeing too many abnormalities functioning as normal around her, making wrongdoings, appearing acceptable to her. The argument usually is “aye nse iru e” (it is a norm). Sweetheart, any kind of sin, attracts same punishment of death, by God’s judgement. I agree, your current employers, do not engender any confidence. NYSC is home of forgers. But you can choose to be different, by walking away from this episode, all fired up, for righteousness. That should be your enduring memento. For my last line to Deacon, I will return to Ecclesiastes. This time Chapter 7, Verse 9.
Your views
Your pontificating piece entitled “As Unto Thee…” in last (penultimate) Sunday Tribune is highly appreciated. As you correctly analysed it, the sordid acts of politicking in this country now cover the whole spectrum of political process-the gladiators, the umpires, and the electors (who are eventual victims). Indeed, the most unfortunate, most pathetic, about the issue is that those that are proclaiming ‘as unto the Lord’, are not absolved of these untoward acts, as you alluded to in your write-up! These pastors seem to have jettisoned (put aside in the meantime) God’s injunction that His own people should be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. They seem to discountenance what the scripture says that what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and loses his soul? Shame! Your concluding statement that “something is about giving way” is prophetic. So, he who has ears, let him hear. 08060099816.
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