Akanni

By Alao Adesola Ibraheem

The book is about a young post-graduate student in Africa. He finds himself among two friends who genuinely love him and want to do everything to have him. The fight to be the apple of the eyes of the young man begins with unconscious jealousy and later hatred. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: COMMUNE WRITERS INT'L
• Release date: Sep 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9791222005638

Book preview

AKANNI

ALAO ADESOLA IBRAHEEM

STEPHAY

AKANNI

WRITTEN BY

ALAO ADESOLA IBRAHEEM

[e-mail]

COPYRIGHT (C) 2022

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the author or publisher.

Published by:

COMMUNE WRITERS INT’L

www.communewriters.com

[phone]

Published in the Federal Republic of Nigeria

CONTENTS

Chapter 1      Ogudo to Campus

Chapter 2      Colorado Hostel

Chapter 3      Mon Amour

Chapter 4       The Meeting

Chapter 5       Ward 12

Chapter 6      The Picker

Chapter 7      The reunion

Chapter 8      My past

Chapter 9      CSC 801

Chapter 10      The Resolution

Chapter 11      ST Valentine

About the Author

CHAPTER 1

OGUDO TO CAMPUS

On the evening of the 25th of March, 2021, after the Maghrib prayers, Akanni received a message. It was from the Federal University of Agriculture informing him about his Master’s program in Communication Studies.

Please be informed that the 2019/2020 Postgraduate admission exercise is in progress. Candidates that are yet to get their admission letters should constantly check their admission status on the school portal (pg.unaab.edu.ng). Prospective candidates, except FUNAAB graduates, are hereby encouraged to fast track the processing of their transcript to the Secretary at the Postgraduate School for further consideration of their applications, the message had read.

He yelled in excitement, prompting the other worshippers in the mosque to stare at him in awe. His mother who was also counting tasbih beads asked him why he shouted, distracting other worshippers as a result. Akanni told her the good news but didn’t seem impressed.

Congratulations.

She showed no interest in his excitement because to her, education was a waste of time.

Akanni's mother dropped out as a standard 3 pupil in the 1960s after she told her parents that education was not meant for her. She started business activities immediately after. Mama Akanni believed that everyone who went to school still had to graduate before looking for jobs that they may not end up getting. She had on one occasion challenged Akanni about his dream of being a lecturer.

Akanni had just gotten a job as a teacher with a 42,000 Naira salary, free 3-square meals and accommodation. When he shared the news with Mama Akanni, he expected her to congratulate and bless him in prayers and words of encouragement. Instead, all she had said was, Se aye Tisha ni iwo wa ni? (Have you come to this world only to become a teacher?)

He knew she was not going to support his Master's degree program, so he was not surprised when she replied coldly, Olorun a fi alubarika si (May God bless it). There were no questions about the financial implications or preparations from his mum. He was worried that he was on his own as his little income was barely sufficient, but he was not ready to change career paths. Maybe his mother was right. Maybe he had come to the world to be nothing but a teacher. No, a lecturer.

Akanni could not sleep all through the night. Thoughts of the Nigerian University system kept replaying in his mind. He imagined what its environments would look like, how he would be treated as a master's student and the mode of teaching by the professors. He had graduated from Université Abomey Calavi in Republic of Benin with a second-class upper, where he failed continuously because he did not understand the French language. He eventually graduated after seven years and partook in the National Youth Service Corps program at Ilesha in Osun State, Nigeria.

Akanni knew that the process of becoming a university professor had just begun. However, he was more focused on his dream than being distracted by all the other thriving businesses in the border town where he was born. A lot of his childhood friends were already millionaires through inter-border businesses, including smuggling.

Akanni was a native of Idofa, a town which is about 4km to the border of Nigeria and Cotonou. The people of the town are mostly dual citizens of Republic of Benin and Nigeria. Both currencies, Naira and CFA, are used as means of exchange in the town and both the English and French languages are used as means of communication. Despite the wealth and prosperity at the border, Akanni was determined to think outside the box and be different. He knew that even though the town was prosperous in business, it lacked development. This was one of the reasons Akanni was bent on becoming a professor, a position and status he believed would empower him to influence the education of a lot of indigenes who will also bring development in one way or another to the town.

It was almost 4 am on the 27th of March 2021, the day before Akanni was going to get his admission letter at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta and commence his registration. Akanni had to perform tahjud to thank Allah for everything, especially his admission. The prayer of the night was special as he was more focused, a rare act. He recited the verses of the Quran gently and melodiously with tears of joy rolling down his cheeks. Something assured him he was going to be a respected professor of Literature and Languages, but that was going to be a hard nut to crack.

He took his bath as quickly as he could and got to Ilara Park where he would board a vehicle going to Abeokuta. The drivers had the attitude of bringing some of their colleagues on a bus to deceive passengers that the car will be filled and the journey will commence. Akanni kept asking the driver if he was sure that other passengers were travelling with them. The driver, a tall man with big eyeballs and a yellow set of teeth, will reply jokingly Ero tife pe egbon mi, ti a ba ti ri eyo kan, ka ma lo. (My brother, the passengers will soon be complete, when we get one more passenger, we shall leave.)

The journey finally took off around 7:30 am. Normally, it was a 2 hours journey from Ilara to Abeokuta but there were a lot of checkpoints by the security agencies that comprised the Customs, Immigration, NDLEA, and the Nigerian Army. This was because of the proximity of the areas to the neighbouring Benin Republic. A lot of foreigners and foreign goods passed through the border to Nigeria so there was a need to check the flow of people and goods to the country. At every interval, the bus was stopped by any of the security agencies to check what the driver had in the boot of his car. On some occasions, he would wave his hand in the negative to show that there was no contraband or a foreigner on the bus. Other times, he would alight and open his boot before he handed over squeezed naira notes into the hands of the security agencies. This continued till they got to Rounda where some of the passengers started alighting.

Abeokuta appeared different to Akanni. It was as if he had never been there before. He knew the city would be his next abode for the next 2 to 4 years depending on whether he will do his PhD as well. Unlike his hometown where there were only a few cars and motorcycles, there were a lot of motorcycles plying the roads of Abeokuta. The taxis were painted green colour and yellow stripes beautified them. Also, the people didn’t seem to be very happy. Their faces showed anger, frustration and deprivation now and then, there were disagreements of which some led to physical fights.

Akanni alighted at Lafenwa market and was about to ask a man where he would get a taxi going to Camp before he heard another man shouting Obantoko, Adatan, Asero, Camp, Osiele. He moved closer to hear what he said to avoid boarding the wrong vehicle. He listened well to be sure that the taxi was going to Camp. The taxis plying that route did not have a park, so they boarded passengers at a gas station so close to the road. One of the attendants at the gas station had come to warn the taxi drivers that they were staying too long and accused them of being responsible for their low sales. He claimed that customers had not been able to drive into the station because everywhere was already blocked.

Eventually, the taxi got full. A young man was sitting at the front seat beside the driver, while two ladies sat with Akanni at the back seat. He was sure that they were also going to the university but Akanni did not know if they were master's degree students like him. He wanted to make friends with them and ask them questions regarding their relationships with the school. He wanted to know the system of the school, how questions are answered during examinations and every other things about the school.

The lady sitting close to him looked quite sophisticated and he found her attractive. She must be the daughter of a wealthy man, probably a politician, he guessed. She wore a blue sleeveless gown which was way above her knees while she sat in the taxi. Once in a while, he would stare seductively at her thighs and would look away whenever he felt her eyes on him. He mentally rehearsed conversation lines that would not be provocative. He wanted to be friends with her at all costs; not just because she was probably a student in his new school, but because she was also very beautiful.

Excuse me, please; are you also a master's student at FUNAAB? he finally broke the silence. He deliberately included master's to give himself a kind of dignity that would have at least drawn the lady’s attention. After all, not everyone could finish the first degree in Nigeria where education has almost become unprofitable and undesirable. Akanni was prepared for the worst to happen because he knew children born from rich homes are quick with their hands anytime they felt insulted.

He was shocked when she replied, Yes, I am also a postgraduate student. My name is Adebola. What’s yours?

Despite the surprise, Akanni felt relieved to know that he was not going to be ridiculed. Plus, he had just made a friend who had something in common with him. He quickly began to think about what next to say so he wouldn’t miss his chance.

I am Akanni Adesola Khaleel. I just got my admission to study Communication Studies in the Department of Communication and General Studies. What about you?

Adebola gave him a stare that almost brought out his life from his mouth. She wondered how a Science university would offer Art related courses and was struck with unbelief. Akanni felt mortified by her expression despite his initial chariness and wondered what he had done wrong to deserve such a hateful glare. Moyo, the other lady who had her first degree in FUNAAB and had just been admitted for her second degree, had heard Akanni said, Communication Studies and intervened when she saw the reaction of her friend.

There is a Department of Communication and General Studies in FUNAAB. The department is under the College of Agricultural Management and Rural Development. I think it was established in 1988.

Adebola suspected that Moyo spoke the truth, but was still sceptical about how a department that was art-related could be found in an Agricultural University. She asked,

Who are their lecturers?

The GNS courses lecturers are the ones in the department. They even offer PhD courses too, Moyo swiftly responded.

Adebola turned to Akanni with a contrite and pitiful look. She knew she had called him a liar without saying it. She was ready to give up anything to show how sorry she was even though she couldn’t say it in words. Adebola reckoned that saying sorry was a sign of weakness. She preferred to show it than say it. She thought about what Akanni would think of her since they would probably offer some courses together as postgraduate students. She feared that she might one day need Akanni’s help, or he would mention her crudity to their colleagues whom she did not yet know, and they would judge her.

Akanni, on the other hand, saw that she was sorry and saw no need for her to say it, so he seized the opportunity to prove his gentleness.

It’s okay, he muttered.

Adebola beamed with a smile that revealed her perfect set of white teeth, touched his hand and replied,

Thank you for your understanding.

Moyo, who deliberately wanted the cold atmosphere and accusations to end, was delighted to watch the camaraderie. She quickly introduced herself to their new friend.

My name is Moyo Babafemi, I also just got my admission to study Mathematics. It’s nice to meet you.

Akanni responded with a forced smile. It was time to pay his transport fare, and he felt obligated to pay theirs too. After calculating his expenses - school fees, accommodation and other miscellaneous – Akanni knew he was not buoyant enough to pay four hundred naira for each of them. He would not call his sister who sometimes helped him financially, not anytime soon at least, because she had given him some money before he left Ilara. It would