By Adejesu
Within the walls of a university, there is more to life than schooling. However, the major priority according to the scale of preference is to study and fly in a coat of many colours. Yet, in this race, some things keep the nerves calm: the campus cruise.
“Well hmm, I don’t know how to say it, but definitely, a lot has changed about Uniben, a whole lot has changed”, a final-year student said.
” I think Uniben cruise is declining. Unlike the previous times, far back in 2019, 2018, 2017, and the like. Even trade fairs in school are not like before”, a final-year student said.
What has changed?
The hostel was a cruise then. Hall 2 car park was a centre for fun. Then, Uniben held shows there. We have people like Ycee, Jagaban, Vector, Erigga, and Adekunle Gold, who came over. Even Glo held a program there where rappers, musicians, dancers, etc were given the privilege to showcase their talents. Hall 2 Car park events were an avenue for students to showcase their talents and not just showcase their talents but create a pathway to greater opportunities which paid off. A prominent example who benefitted from such events was “Crackhead”.
“Hall 3 was a very nice cruise. A family lifestyle I wish I could feel just once more. It’s not like that anymore. It’s just like everything got spoilt”, a graduate mentioned. Now, I heard girls stay in hall 3 too and it was never like that. Hall 3 is definitely made for boys, he smiled as he added.
Hall 3 had a tradition then, they called it “Arrow Block”. This is mostly done to people who pass through the pathway between Hall 2 and Hall 3 which leads to June 12 area. Mostly, what was done was that the boys in hall 3 ‘yab’ (playful insult) the passers-by, whose best weapon is to remain silent, or else attracts more intuitive bullets to himself/herself.
Hall 3 once produced a great man who has his print on Uniben soil and this surely has passed the test of time over and over again. Uniben History as many times it will be recounted, he will be mentioned.
“He gained admission into the school as every other Uniben student. He was a leader even before he got to the place position. He was always vibrant, always creating issues, always cracking jokes, he was the funniest person in his hostel, hall 3 then. He was popular. A champion of the Arrow Block during that era. He was so popular that even the management was scared of him. He was someone that would drive a bicycle around Uniben with just singlet and boxers. It was so funny, but he knew what he was doing. He strived to change the system of the school on getting to power. Although he played some political games he was a very good guy”, a graduate narrated.
He started his political race humbly. He was the hall 3 Mayor for the 2017/2018 set. He was a man of great pride whose humility was next to none.
According to a graduate, he led the arrow boys. It’s a great time to reckon with. He raced for the SUG PRO 2018/2019 set and he gained the position even before the election. This was because he was a man of the people. If he had vyed for SUG President, I’m certain he would have won. Although, his dressing was unusual, in the sense that it painted an image of a clown that accredited his popularity. He truly was a genuine politician, he added.
He was popularly known as a “Political Animal”.
He easily pulled the people not with Tom Tom, Centerfield or Cakes like we have Uniben politicians do now. Uniben Politicians, have a role model? If the interests of the students are not met and their well is not sorted, why the post?
Political Animal was not a man of the suit, yet he was a man found suitable by all.
Another thing that brought people together was Prayer which is now on hold. Hall 4 initially was a ground for prayers, a ground that bred men; but these days, the atmosphere is very cold. Churches held different programs in school which helped eased the stress of being a student, but the air is stuffy now that these exist no more. People could selflessly do things for one another but change has its cold hands fastened around our necks. People literally mind their business now. There was life among the Hall 4 brothers but the case is different now. We now have more theft cases in the hostels.
All these things one way or the other made hostel life interesting. We had a roommate cruise. We had people in the evening moving with speakers and cracking jokes. Radiant smiles on people’s faces. Some are seen with plates, shouting ” No food o, who gets food for him room”. Now, we have roommates who care less about one another. Everyone just one day. June 12 was always fun and lively. That’s a long story. The more reason, there is a rise in theft cases in the hostels now, is that LOVE has long left. School is no longer safe, a graduate lamented.
The kind of fun you guys have now is mainly social media kind of fun, all these TikTok and the rest. _a graduate mentioned. Then we had blogs like Uniben Pulse, Campus Pulse, Uniben Soil, Uniben Gist, Uniben Hotplate, Uniben Eye, Campus Eye, and others on the list. We had events like Rap Battle, Uniben bad mouth, Matriculation Party, etc. Then it was a little more money and much fun. Things were cheap and great. Hostels were cheap and affordable. Now, it’s more of the monetary aspect. We even have Ekosodin Hostel Hike, and nothing is being done. The school management is silent. The School Students are being exploited. Much is taken and less is given, he added.
School is much less like before. We can’t have things continue like this.
What has changed?
Is it the Covid aftermath?
Or the rush in academic sessions?
Who will be the UNIBEN’s next Political Animal?
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