PRESS RELEASE: WHY WE ALLOWED JOHN ADEBANJO

 

“In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way” – Franklin Roosevelt.

Student politicking is an active factor in ensuring an effective unionism. The driving force towards politics is to give any dedicated and efficient student an opportunity to serve the University community. Hence, University of Ibadan promoted the essence of Students’ Unionism to ensure the welfare and voice of students are heard. To achieve this goal, the interested students contest for different positions in the Students’ Union Government.

In the recent time, aspirants have been disqualified during the electioneering process. This disqualification can be as a result of ill practices, poor performance in academics, violation of the law and other related crimes. Nevertheless, it is not the responsibility of Union of Campus Journalists to ascertain if any aspirant has been disqualified unjustly as rumoured in the past. It is the responsibility of the school authority to be just in carrying out their duties. Hence, this ineligibility is backed up by an official bulletin from the office of the Registrar before the Presidential Debate Day. This is to avoid confusing both the aspirants and electorates.

During the last Students’ Union election, the Presidential aspirant from NnamdiAzikiwe Hall, in person of TeslimOgundiranTeslim popularly known as T.O.T was disqualified on the night before the presidential debate and an official bulletin was released to confirm this disqualification. It is noteworthy that despite the pressure piled on the Union of Campus Journalists to allow TeslimOgundiranTeslim participate in the debate, the Union stood and defended her ground that MrOgundiran would not participate. No doubt the official bulletin is a powerful tool which all within the University jurisdiction must abide to.

However, surprisingly, the news of the disqualification of Mr John Adebanjo, popularly known as Jonnexto was not made publicly known to the voting community, the students through the officially known and recognized information medium, the University of Ibadan bulletin.

Mr John Adebanjo, just like other aspirants, was invited by the Union of Campus Journalists to participate in the presidential debate, slated for Saturday, 9 May, 2015 as he was a recognized runner in this electoral race. Mr John Adebanjo acted on this invitation and presented himself for the Presidential debate. When he arrived, MrAdebanjo was not allowed to participate in the debate and his supporters were directed outside the venue.

Nigeria is a democratic country and as such, no individual should be denied the right of fair hearing. In view of this, the Union of Campus Journalists held a brief meeting with MrAdebanjo to hear what he had to say and also to ensure that peace reign and the programme could continue uninterrupted.

Mr John Adebanjo made his point as follows; that according to Article XII, Section II of the Student Union Constitution which states that The Electoral Commission “shall screen all aspirants, have the power to clear or reject the candidature of any aspirants and make clear the basis for its decision either way”.
Since there was no reason stated for the disqualification of Mr John Adebanjo  as at the time of the Presidential debate and also there was no official bulletin backing the disqualification of Mr John Adebanjo, The Union of Campus Journalists therefore permitted the participation of Mr John Adebanjo in the Presidential Debate.

However, it is of noteworthy that neither the participation of John Adebanjo in the Presidential debate nor this Press release in any way affirm the eligibility or ineligibility of Mr John Adebanjo as the only authority over his status is the official bulletin of the University of Ibadan which has not been released at the time of this press statement.
God bless University of Ibadan.

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