It’s been nine solid days, yet they remain fallen. Last Thursday, around 12:05 am, havoc was wreaked by the heavy downpour, which was accompanied by a fierce wind. One might say the wind was pissed and vowed to leave a mark. It can simply be nature being nature.
This remarkable wind left more than a mark. It left a scar on Obafemi Awolowo University as students clutched their pillows and whispered soft prayers for the wind to calm. The wind did calm down, but not without damage.
Alumni Hall of Residence was kissed by the wind, when it ripped off a part of the Hall, leaving students drenched and cold in bed. A part of the private hostel behind PG Hall was affected, and Awolowo Hall was affected. Fortunately for these students, the damages were not beyond their control.
In addition to the affected hostels were fallen trees around campus. The saying, “Nature is beautiful, yet extremely dangerous,” was interpreted with visuals at the first sight of morning light. Directly outside the University’s health center, an old tree was completely uprooted, revealing the secrets of the ancient. In other words, “The wind blew, and we saw the anus of the chicken.”
Not only that, Close to “As e dey hot,” another large ancient twin tree was parted like the Red Sea during the rain. The tree was neatly divided into two, thus blocking the brown walkway. Many other trees were rendered branchless or leafless during the rain. Luckily, none were harmed.
With fallen trees blocking students’ paths, students have improvised a method to cross the fallen tree, which could end on a dangerous note. Falling on such a slippery fallen tree could be fatal.
Many students have to navigate the trees daily, as Busayo, a part one student, noted, “I don’t think the university management is taking any steps about the fallen trees. Not at all. So far, as I’ve seen, two trees have fallen. A major one on the road, the biggest tree, to think that it’s a branch and it’s that big; it’s blocking the road, but no action whatsoever. Although not that much of a risk during daylight, it is a potential risk at night, and I also have to walk across fallen trees every day. It can be quite annoying, especially when I’m almost late for class.”
My question is, “What exactly is the school doing about the fallen trees?’ Is the school patiently awaiting the time when the fallen would cause harm to the healthy and walking? Should we conclude that the abandoned trees are still lying there because they are not blocking important roads on campus?
Would the trees remain fallen for nine days if it was in the middle of Road One? Is the school nonchalant about the welfare of its students? Will the school clear the fallen trees when students start falling on them?
Is the school unaware of the ecological effects of fallen, abandoned trees? Ecologically, fallen trees can create new habitats for wildlife, result in erosion, injure people, and also pose a threat. Do you know that dry fallen wood can increase the risk of wildfires? Do we have to wait till the fallen trees become home to crawlers?
In conclusion, as the trees continue to block paths and pose a threat to our safety, the question remains: It’s been nine days, when will the university take action? With each passing day, the risk of accidents grows, and the university must prioritise the well-being of its students. The clock is ticking – will it take a tragedy for them to respond?”