By Michael Giwa-Amu
The very year I wrote my common entrance examination for admission into the secondary school the cut off mark for the college of my choice was 290.
My score in the examination was 288. By divine providence the school decided to reduce the cut off mark to 280. That singular action of the school made me qualified for admission into the college.
Subsequently letters were sent out to all eligible candidates for interview. I received mine with joy. It was one of the premier colleges (Edo College) in the old Bendel state from which Edo and Delta states were created.
Thousands of pupils came from far and near. We were so many that the school authorities in their wisdom decided to interview us in batches after the written examinations. Preference was given to pupils living outside Nigeria and outside the state before those of us living in Benin City.
I remember vividly that I was the last pupil to be interviewed. I was the last on the queue because I couldn’t struggle with other pupils due to an injury I had on my right leg.
In those days the interview process was highly mystified. We were made to prepare hard for the interview. I was so disappointed that all I was asked was my name. I guess those in the panel were already tired because I left the principal’s office at about 7pm that evening having stayed from about 8am .
I got my letter of admission about two weeks later. The school admitted about 120 of us into four arms of what we then called form 1. The admission those days was strictly based on merit. Many of our parents never knew the principal.
However, somewhere along the line many other pupils joined us. We always addressed them then as those who came through the back door. We all believed then that their parents bribed the principals to get admitted. Whether true or false we believed it. Especially as we perceived that many of them came from the diaspora.
Looking in retrospect, there is no adage more apt than “Many are called but few are chosen”. In the journey of life never will all be chosen. In a country of over one billion people only one person can be the leader at any given time. It is very few people that will lead the multitudes.
Jesus made it clear that it is few people that will find the way. Many people erroneously believe that God is a sentimental God who is moved by His feelings for multitudes.
They have willingly become ignorant that God destroyed the world and saved only eight people who were righteous. He destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah and saved only four people and even the pastor’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt for disobeying God. Never be deceived that it will take God anything to destroy the world and raise new species of people for Himself.
I am for Jesus because I have told myself that if it comes to only one person going to heaven let it be me. Will you join me? Lord Jesus I am a sinner in need of your forgiveness. Have mercy on me and be the Lord of my life.
▪︎ Giwa-Amu, an Abuja-based architect, first published this on Facebook wall.