Following Bello’s pullout from JAWWAR due to the controversies surrounding the accuracy of scores in the first leg of the Hall round, Zik Hall was represented in the second leg inspite of the absence of their drawn opponents from Bello Hall.
Before Saturday, September 2nd, scheduled for the second leg’s debate, there had been back and forths as to whether Zik hall should remain in the competition. The consideration for a withdrawal was instigated by the reviewed outcome of the results of the first leg which places Zik Hall behind Bello hall, a significant turn around as Zik Hall had been previously declared winners.
To resolve, stakeholders of the Hall met on Friday night to deliberate on the option of a withdrawal as the integrity of the competition was held questionable. However, the L&D’s President, Chiziterem Ogbonna (Chizzy) made a case for continuity in the competition and assuring Zikites of victory against Bello Hall, regardless of the distrust in the competition. In support, it was resolved that the L&D has the backing of the Hall to remain in the competition.
In a sharp turn of events, Bello Hall’s Literary and Debating Society made a public statement affirming their stance to withdraw from the competition. Notwithstanding, the speakers representing Zik Hall, in the persons of Chizzy, the President and Ugbomiekan Emmanuel, delivered their speeches for the second leg, which would secure their unopposed qualification to the quarter final stage.
However, Zik Hall’s Literary and Debating Society proved its mettle not only against their absent opponents but to the University as a whole with the record for the best winners in the second leg with a score of 75.5% beating those of every other Hall that debated yesterday. The assumption that Bello Hall might have won the debate if they were present remains an assumption existing in the realm of ifs and woulds.
At the climax, Chiziterem, Zik Hall’s first speaker and President of the L&D was declared the best speaker for the second leg of the first round in the hall category, with a score of 80.17%. Reacting to the Hall’s superb performance, he stated,
“Our performance at the last leg of the first round of Jaw War meant a lot to me, the L&D, and our hall. For me and my partner, it was a validation of our hardwork. And trust me, it was a lot. We are very glad it paid off.
For the L&D, it was an affirmation of our unwavering belief. We all believed we were capable of pulling this off. And we are glad that the fruit of that belief is glaring for all to see.
For the hall, it was a validation of our pride. Of course, to a lot of people, it is so easy to shit on Zik. After the first leg, a lot of people on different groups came out with rubbish takes, saying Zik hall is only capable of mediocrity. After last night’s performance, it was eerily quiet on these groups. Unsurprisingly so.
So yeah, it was a lot, and I am immensely grateful to everyone involved, from my partner to my excos to the L&D and the Hall itself. Very grateful.”
It is a running fact that Chizzy has never lost a debate at JAWWAR having spoken for Zik hall in the 2018 and 2019 editions, a record hoped to be sustained.
In emphatic terms, Zik Hall has once again demonstrated its unrelenting strive for excellence in the face of doubts and misconceptions. However, the war is not yet won. Progressing into the next round, Zik Hall faces Alexander Brown Hall in the quarterfinal. It is pertinent that Zikites as a whole give their full support for the L&D with their presence at the JAWWAR venue in the next debate scheduled for the 15th of October.
