By Oluwabukola Oni
Zik Hall Chairman has tendered an apology to the Union Of Campus Journalists and other Local press Organizations for actions perpetrated against Zik Hall Pressmen on 22nd February during the UI’SU election.
The Zik Hall Chairman, Oludamilare Fabiyi (FADACA), removed Zik Hall pressmen from the hall’s WhatsApp group during the election following reports by the UCJ and Zik Hall Press on electoral misconduct involving hall members and the Hall Warden.
According to Mr Oludamilare, the remarks made by Zik Hall Warden on the group chat which was published by UCJ were harmless .
“At the time of the incident, a publication was released concerning the warden’s remarks on the election process, though harmless remarks but internally seen as a message not worthy of publication. The publication came as a screenshot from within a group that is traditionally seen as a safe space for discussions among Zikites, this kind of action was not expected of anyone that is a learned member of the hall. The publication might be easily misinterpreted externally by people with opposing political views, putting the hall warden in an unfavorable light.” He stated in his letter if apology to UCJ.
Mr Oludamilare made two apologies and explained the reasons for his action to the press.
“I sincerely apologize for removing members of the University of Ibadan Campus Journalists (UCJ) from the ‘Issues Affecting Zik Hall’ group, irrespective of the provocation that led to it. Additionally, I deeply regret the statement I made regarding the press and accommodation.”
“I acknowledge that I made an unfounded assumption that the screenshots were shared by members of the press in the group since the publication was made by the press, this might not actually be true as I later discovered that the group was externally compromised. However, these assumptions led to my actions and those remarks, for which I once again apologize.”
“l am someone who has made objectivity a principle and made justice a cause, there was no step taken in this situation which were taken with the intention of oppression, however they were the myopic solutions to the momentarily anger and situation. In further explicit, the group chat of discourse is the most respected, and sanctified group in the hall that even has the warden in it, this is the level of decorum expected and the level of sanctity placed on the group.”
“So it is expected that high level conversations that are personal to us and should not necessarily be a public affair are discussed, it is seen as a safe space for members of the hall to discuss issues that jointly affects us as the name implies and it is a privilege to have our ward there directly responding to us most times.” He stated in the letter.
