"Should I go against my will and do this?" "For goodness sake why did I even come to this school in the first place?" These were the thoughts running through my mind while the course representative was still announcing to us that Dr. Obinna would not pass any student who doesn't bribe their way through with money in the forthcoming examination.
From my first year in this school up until this period that am about to take my final exams, I had never passed a course by bribing my way through because I made sure I studied very hard and vast. But where did my self-belief go at the time I needed it the most? Maybe the awful things I have heard about Dr. Obinna and what he does to students are getting me scared already and I didn't even notice.
"Normalyf are you thinking what I am thinking?" Steve asked in a calm voice while still looking at the course rep.
"I might be your best friend Steve, but I am not in your mind, how can I know what you are thinking if you do not tell me?"
Steve turned his face towards my direction and smiled, "Stop pretending like you don't know what I mean, didn't you hear the information that Gideon just shared with us? Bro am not planning to fail any course in this final year"
"So what's your suggestion? I asked; pretending like I didn't know where this conversation was leading to"
"Everyone else would be bribing Dr. Obinna for this final exam and it would be better we join the crowd and do this once and for all" Steve said, as he kept staring at Gideon.
If Steve who is one of the most brilliant boys in class could talk like this, then who am I to trust in my capabilities", I thought to myself.
I never wanted to be involved in this act of sorting a lecturer for more marks in an examination, but I was beginning to have a second thought about this particular one because we have seen what he is capable of doing.
The pride of Dr. Obinna is to see students fail and that has been evident in the performance of the previous set of students that graduated before us, as around 50% of those we thought were done and dusted came back to write their carryovers on Dr. Obinna's course.
The thought of paying 20 thousand naira for a course I knew I could comfortably pass was something that gave me sleepless nights. However, I decided to do what others were afraid to do by exposing Dr. Obinna's fraudulent acts towards students.
It was 1 week to the exams, which meant I needed to be fast in whatever action I wanted to take. But I decided to first confide in Steve my best friend and probably get his support.
I got to the class about 20 minutes before Steve came in, and while we shook hands he noticed that I wasn't happy.
"Hey bro! Why the bunched-up face this morning? You seem very unhappy and that's very unusual of you," Steve said as he sat beside me.
"Am about to go report Dr. Obinna's fraudulent activities to the HOD and make sure he doesn't continue them again."
"Ah, Normalyf! Are you in your right senses?" he said aggressively in a low tone while also trying to avoid drawing the attention of other students.
"Have you forgotten Dr. Obinna was the HOD of this department for 8 years before Mrs Dorathy was appointed new HOD two years ago?"
"Dr. Obinna is very influential. You would have no chance of winning against him" Steve added, as he raised both hands, signifying that am alone on this mission.
"I would rather fail while trying than be part of this nonsense from a lecturer. Even if it means taking the matter to the Vice Chancellor's office, I wouldn't mind." - As I said this, I stood up and headed for the HOD's office.
It was a Monday morning and it was equally the revision week, so we were expecting Dr. Obinna to come and revise all that he had taught us during the semester and probably give us the areas of concentration. But Dr. Obinna sent a message through the course rep that he wasn't coming, and that whatever we see in the exams, we should accept it in good fate.
I got to the HOD's office and the receptionist permitted me to meet her.
"Good morning ma" I said with a shaky voice.
"Yes, how can I help you? she responded as if she was in a hurry for a meeting"
"I could come later if you are in a hurry ma"
"What do you mean? Say what you are here for my friend"
"Okay ma. I have a complaint against Dr. Obinna"
"Yes, what about him?" she asked.
"He extorts money from students for good grades, and failure to pay is automatic carry-over"
"That's a very strong allegation, Do you have evidence for what you are saying?" She asked
I told her that I had no valid evidence but she could make her inquiries from other students.
"Hmm, that explains the massive failures in his courses over the past 2 years" She added
She was surprised that no one had told her this earlier. She collected my phone number and told me to go back to classes while she did her investigations.
Barely 3 days after my discussion with the HOD, I got a call from her in the morning telling me that my allegations were correct, as she had confirmed from other students about the fraudulent acts of Mr Obinna. She added that he has been sanctioned by the school authority and that appropriate measures have been put in place to ensure a fair and successful examination of every student.
Some students were very happy that someone was brave enough to save them from the cruel hands of Mr Obinna, but some other students were angry at me when they found out that I was the one who reported Mr Obinna. I didn't regret my actions because while the majority were being afraid of doing the right thing, I took the road that was less travelled.
