By Oladosu Ibrahim and Prisca Aniemeke
In this interview with UCJ UI, UI SU presidential aspirant, Adewole Yinka (Mascot) discusses his plans and agenda.
UCJ UI: Kindly introduce yourself
Mascot: I am Adewole Yinka, popularly called Mascot. A 400-level student, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan. I recently resigned from the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of the Union and the Chairman, Disciplinary Committee. I am from Kenneth Mellanby Hall, and a former member of the Hall Legislative Council. And a successful leadership experience in my former school from 2010-2011.
UCJ UI: Why do you want to contest for this position?
Mascot: It is because I know the core values of the Union, I have keyed-in so many processes of the Union which makes me realize I am the best candidate to lead the Union. Because I feel I’ve supported the current administration by giving them advice, how much more, if I’m able to attain that position. I feel with my level of experience, exposure and connection, I will do much better.
UCJ UI: Adewole Yinka wants to succeed Akeju. But what will he do differently?
Mascot: I would like to first change students’ perception of the Union. I will encourage total inclusiveness between the Union and the Students.
UCJ UI: Do you think the Students’ Union is in a moribund?
Mascot: No
UCJ UI: How would you describe its state?
Mascot: The current administration has done so well for the Union, which I was part of. Because there was no successful transition for some years, it hindered the Union for some time. We’ve been crawling before and people expected us to cover a long distance.
UCJ UI: What would you consider as the strength in the Union?
Mascot: The strength of the Union is the student populace.
UCJ UI: Suppose you are elected and the students’ populace withdraw their support from you, what would you do?
Mascot: Although it is not everybody I can satisfy; I should be able to satisfy everyone in all ways I can. I will address the issue through Congress.
UCJ UI: What do you consider as weaknesses of the Union?
Mascot: Total involvement of the students. Many students in UI have political apathy. The total number of UI students is around 28,000 and we just got about 8,000 accredited voters. It also happened in Nigeria too. There’s no total involvement of management in administration and there is no physical project being done in campuses and the religious biases in our community.
UCJ UI: How would you resolve this?
Mascot: Through unity and collectivism.
UCJ UI: You’ve served in different capacities in the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Oyo state Chapter. How have you promoted the interest of the University of Ibadan students?
Mascot: I was a member of the Convention Planning Committee of NANS, which was allocated to UI, Mr. Akeju gave me the platform to act in that capacity. I was able to bring sanity to the NANS convention because of UI credibility and my personality. We were able to ensure UI is actively involved in NANS where the Union AGS, Mustapha Oluwakayode was elected as the General Secretary.
UCJ UI: NANS as a body has been associated with thuggery and violence. Being an active member, do you think this might affect your victory?
Mascot: For some years, I have been away from NANS because of the earlier stated reasons, but we believed that, if we that can bring sanity to this association are not actively involved, what would be its future. Akeju has also been a Senator of NANS and he has not been associated with thuggery.
UCJ UI: Now running for the SU President, what is your agenda for the Union?
Mascot: I have a 6-point agenda for the Union, which I call Tree of Mascot Development Agenda. It cuts across students’ welfare, academic well-being that has a lot of branches, students’ skills and development, improvement in transportation and social life.
UCJ UI: How would you implement these agenda?
Mascot: Through lobbying with the management, support from alumni bodies, sponsorships, liaising with various halls, faculties managements and other stakeholders in the University.
UCJ UI: How would you consider the management- students relationship?
Mascot: There is a cordial relationship between the management and student, in loco parentis which can only be maintained by diplomacy.
UCJ UI: What do you think interests you about your contender?
Mascot: We both served in different committees during the Akeju Administration. When people ask me about him, I tell them he is good but Mascot is the best. He has been spreading various propaganda around, of course, many people have called me, my father also called, because it was flying around on social media, he has been claiming I’m paying people to defame him.
UCJ UI: Have you in one form or the other paid people to defame your opponent?
Mascot: He claimed I was paying UCJ to be defaming him. We were both in the Disciplinary Committee which I was the chairman of, we were both members of the Technical Committee, how would I pay people to be defaming him. Maybe he is scared because I have his financial reports with me or because we are in the same committee and there might be loopholes. He felt that he has already siphoned some money, because I heard in the past that he has collected money from tenants at SUB, which they pay directly to him and not the Union’s account and he issues receipts to them.
UCJ UI: What exactly is the brand Mascot is selling?
Mascot: Mascot is building on love, legacy, tradition, total collectivity, consolidation and good luck.
UCJ UI: How would you rate the Akeju Led Administration?
Mascot: Akeju’s Administration has performed so well, which I was also part of. On the scale of 10, I will give them 9.
UCJ UI: What are your chances of winning?
Mascot: My winning depends on the mandate the University of Ibadan Students conferred on me and I know I won’t be disappointed.
UCJ UI: What do you think gives you leverage over your opponent?
Mascot: Experience and connection.
UCJ UI: If you are elected, what would be your achievements within six months of inauguration?
Mascot: All my projects are economical and beneficial, I would have partnered with faculties and Halls to elevate them which will reduce the cost on them and cost on the Union, with that, we can be progressive. I will create or refurbish spaces for faculties’ libraries, improve social well-being and securities.
UCJ UI: Final word for the readers.
Mascot: A vote for Mascot is a mandate for Mascot, when you’re giving me your mandate, it’s not for a personal interest, I’m representing the populace of students.
