MY OLD SCHOOL AND MY OLD DEBTS

1. We all must have passed through one  primary or secondary schools at a time in life. The assertion may not be true in other geopolitical zones, but it is very true in the South Western Nigeria. In the Southwest, a child must attain a level of education in a school, even if he/she will end up learning trade or skills; no matter how OLODO the child is. Although those we called OLODOs then are the leaders of the pack with cash, distribution of life is beyond mortal intelligent. 

2. From the above it is established that anyone under the age 70 in the Southwest must have the tendency of belonging to either or both primary and secondary school associations. Either he or she chooses to attend their meeting is personal, still they belong to one old school.

3. If my ideas in paragraph 1&2 are valid, then the fact that you can be affiliated with a school has automatically made you a *Debtor.* Yes, *a debtor not by choice but by conscience. Not only by conscience, but by circumstance of criminal negligence of schools by governments.*

Tactically but criminally, state governments have now become debt collectors. They are now forcing old students to pay for what they enjoyed as *EKO OFE (Free Education).* 

Old students had taken over primary and secondary schools responsibilities now. Soon government will ask them to pay teachers. We are coming to the point.

4. Due to criminal negligence, all old students are indebted to their old schools by force, by thunder and fire; they must pay and they are paying. Yes, you enjoyed free Education then, even if you paid your school fees back then, it was so little.

5.  I could remember in my own days at African Church Primary School, Aragan and GTTC Demonstration School, Opposite Methodist High School, we didn't pay school fees, but we used to pay Owo Idagbasoke *Development Fee* of One Naira (N1.00). I cannot recall if it was for a term or for a year.

6. Chinua Achebe in his literary prose titled *No Longer at Ease*, said *Although a debt may grow mould but will never decay.*  Relevantly, we didn't pay school fees then and we all went away, today we are all sentenced to the payment we did not do then. Our debts simply grew moulds but didn't decay. 

7. I was passing through Ijebu-Jesha late week when I saw Ijebu-Jesha Grammar School old building under renovation. My heart prayed for the sponsors as the entire roof was removed and being replaced. Kudos!

8. Lot of old schools are receiving same treatments in southwest. Methodist High School, Ilesha, Ilesha Grammar School, St Margaret, St. Lawrence. Christ School Ado Ekiti, Oshogbo Grammar School etc. Similar gestures abound in Akoko side as well. Kudos to you all.

9. Ironically, most of the people that keep spending their money are majorly those God had answered financially to the extent that *their children MAY NEVER ATTEND old school they attended.* Appreciation ❤️‍🩹

10. Should we exonerate government on any ground for the dereliction of duty towards primary and secondary schools? No, we won't and I won't, because they are feeding people with what they can't eat. 

11. They believe their children won't attend that school, but *they forgot that neglected children in those schools in dilapidated buildings, with poorly renumerated teachers and poor infrastructure are future criminals that will make life unbearable for their trained children.* Although, they think they are grooming senseless and low IQ voters, but some of these poorly trained children won't go down into poverty without a fight.

12. Dear old students that are paying for the free school they enjoyed in back in the years of yore, kindly listen to these:

a. Let your intervention include old teachers too; because most of them are old, weak and needy. I have done this several times in my little ways. 

b. Added to renovations 100 tubers of yam, 5k of semolina for all teachers will be appreciated by teachers, they too are victims of situation. In our days, teachers were part of the elites; but today they are suffering.

c. Pick at least 3 old teachers for visitation this Christmas, give them N20k and food, they will appreciate. 

13. Let's also remember our old school mates that are unable to meet up again. Some of them may not be able to donate because of their situations, but carry them along and assist them. Some are sick and faded off life. Some old school mates began brilliantly but not ending brilliantly. Definition of life is damn too complex and compounded. Many we saw as future success then are paupers now, let's check them. The rich pay their dues. 

14. Many old school mates are artisans, let's try and give them part of the renovation jobs to lift them up. 

Meet them and go low. Don't meet them and speak sophisticated English because it will make them inferior. Play with them briefly and let them feel good. They can't pay dues despite the fact that their children will still be the beneficiaries.

15.   Let's get together and share old jokes and recall old stories. Don't go there to show off. Let human being be your value not their material worth. Let's attend their functions and smile together. Buy Ankara for those who can't afford it. Just thank God that you escaped it. Check the ones that are sick and confined to wheelchairs. Don't judge them; same thing that judged them are same thing you did and escaped, just Grace. 

16.  Appreciation to all who are financing old school projects; you are not doing it for anyone, but to reshape and salvage life.