How I Made It Into The Vernacular List At POLAC -Usman Bello Balarabe
Usman Bello Balarabe
Fatee Gano, was older than many, and taller than everyone in the class. No one ever dare to disagree with her. Fatima, was also our class monitor during our primary school days at Police Children School, POLAC Wudil, while Alabi Abigail, was the assistant class monitor.
I was naive, little and pitiful— typical of kids scared of bullies. In fact, I was amongst the smallest by size in the class and yet one of those noisemakers that always made it to the list of “vernacular speakers”— a list for those speaking another languages other than English Language.
The fine was N5 each time ones name appeared in that list. Because of how frequently I made it to the list, even while I was quiet, my name always appeared. I’d to pay about N85 or thereabouts as the total fines on my name for speaking vernacular.
Habib, Aliyu Gano, Theophilus Paulson, Baballe, Pattie Chioma, Stephen Vanson,Daniel Akpeh, Ocheme Devine, Pauline P. and Muhammad Bashir, were amongst my best friends and we always made it to that vernacular list together.
Nigeria’s General Murtala Muhammad , Africa’s Son who contributed to the Liberation of South Africa And Republic of Namibia.
Surprisingly, even when we do it together, Habib’s name would magically disappeared in that vernacular list. He was handsome and fairer in complexion than all of us, so he was admired by Abigail. At some point, we had to believed that she like him and was having crush on him that was why his name, “out of love” never made it to that dangerous list.
It continued like that until one fateful day our class teacher, Aunty Franca, decided to reshuffle our seat-mates and arrangement. Luckily, God answered my prayer and I was paired with Fatima, the class monitor. She was also a younger sister to Amina Gano, my elder sister’s best friend .
Abigail’s unkindness to us was exposed by Fatima, a day I wasn’t in school, and yet my name appeared in that her vernacular list. Fatima’s anger wasn’t because she knew me, but because It was unjust to include my name for a crime which I didn’t commit. She’d stood for anyone.
Ever since, I became the class monitor’s pampered little brother, and my name was protected by Fatima’s justice and kindness. She always bought snacks or ice cream for me and often walked around with me during break times.
Eventually, our class teacher ruled out that, the vernacular list of Abigail should be discarded, until further arrangements have been made. The arrangement which was never made, and that was how we never have vernacular list again in our class.
These are some childhood memories, and nostalgic moments I cherish. This particular story is one of the good days of my childhood. I am glad that we are still communicating with Fatima, Abigail, and many others too. I’ve met with Fatima several times after our primary school days because of our proximity to each other, but I never told her that I miss those snacks and ice creams she bought for me.😆
For Abigail, we have been very good friends but we haven’t met again since primary school. I once reminded her about these incidents but she seemed to have remembered a little about it. God is great! we’re all grownup now pursing different careers. While I am a journalist, some of us are police officers, nurses, entrepreneurs, amongst others.
To my friends, I urge you all to reach out to your childhood friends, and maintain the tempo. Help and support each other, please. Good or bad, the experiences worth it for a stronger relationship.
Good evening,
Usman Bello Balarabe
