The Dowen College Coven By Olaleye Olawale.

I have seen Sylvester Oromoni’s lifeless picture, but as a parent, I couldn’t with a sane mind put it up. But the ones here, I can still put up with, even though the thought of his death and the circumstances surrounding it, have left me devastated.

Honestly, what you’re reading isn’t the vintage me. I’m not in my element. But what has happened is too grave and disturbing for one not to intervene.

I thank the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for shutting down the school, pending the investigation of not just the death of Sylvester but the allegation that his mates, who killed him belonged to a cult. Secondary school?

In all, nothing has come off as more disturbing than the approach by the school authority, which seemed to be more about its name, image and other cost implications than the life of that promising boy. If only the school authority knew acting swiftly to investigate the allegations would have done more good to its name and image, it probably would have acted right.

That, unfortunately, is the crux of my worry. Did the school authority need to see this psychological cost-benefits before acting right? What was wrong with the school authority even preempting the government and shutting down on its own? It’s someone’s life we’re talking about here for crying out loud. A minor died such a painful, nasty and embarrassing death under your watch, yet, other considerations mattered to you?

I think cultism in secondary schools isn’t peculiar to Dowen College. It’s even more rampant in public schools. This is why the government must use this as a case study, beyond Sylvester’s death and address this scourge. In fact, the federal government shouldn’t just be interested but partner the state to stamp out this fast growing madness.

Truth is, no amount of condolences would bring back Sylvester but justice can partly console his parents and gradually heal them. As a people, we must start to see this one incident as indicative of our vanishing value system and should be worried.

Sylvester must not die in vain hence we must use this experience to recalibrate the value system, starting with our schools. Adieu?