The Past lies upon the Present like a giant’s dead body’. Nathaniel Hawthorne
It all began with a chit-chat in the great Nnamdi Azikwe Hall quadrangle, the discussion became worrisome, memories and thoughts collided in our hearts, then we halted the verbal analysis. Sworn to the voices of our pens, we obeyed its cravings and resolved to do the needed. For those who do not know, for those who yet have reservations regarding these leaders, for reference purpose and for posterity sake, we bring an analysis of the current and immediate past administration of our nascent union.
BABATUNDE BADMUS’ UNITING UITES
_Digging deep into the past to establish a solid foundation for future generations and convey words of admonition to subsequent sailors of the ship.
Few weeks after Edosa Ekhator Raymond emerged as the President of the Students’ Union in 2012, Mr. Babatunde Badmus’ stickers on campus were as endemic as the Ebola Virus in Liberia. The cliché Uniting Uites shrouded our tables in lecture rooms, covered our doors in the halls of residence, some cabs even had the stickers on their screens. The cliché sank deep into the psyches of many and I pondered on the disunity BB observed with such strange willingness to correct. However, on the 24th of February 2013, he was declared winner of the Presidential Elections and on the 25th of March 2013, he was sworn in as the Commander-in-Chief of Aluta forces, University of Ibadan.
The born, buttered and bred Mushin man commenced his administration in total contrast to his anthem when he nearly kissed our boots for votes. BB’s executive board was just an assembly of sworn enemies, a family borne of caucuses and a group wherein the bitter voices of dissention were frequently heard. His 16-month tenure with his immediate house (the executive council) was just an acrid drama in the University although entertaining for teeming followers of the S.U. Facebook page. Evident is the absence of Mr. Buluma in the group picture at the back of the books given as package (the first), one whose grievances with the President and strong alliance with the impeached PRO. angered him and led to outright rebuff when summoned for the photo sessions. BB became an Abubakar Shekau preaching peace in Bodija market. A disunited executive council themed Uniting Uites!
On the account of greed, a foul smell began to spew from Asiwaju’s butts when he was almost enforcing F.O.S. as the Speaker of the House in his tenure. BB’s aggressiveness in the SRC that night already sent cold shivers through the spines of thousands. With that display of recklessness, many feared the S.U was tending towards wreck. ‘He who the gods would destroy, they first make mad’. The administration continued with BB’s self-constituted and popular 2nd Cabinet, the executive council that rendered our votes useless, an executive council crammed with stake-plunderers of the Union. Sources within the first cabinet revealed that on several occasions, the President amassed funds in the name of the Union depriving them of detailed information on the funds received. Of note is the late Alao Arisekola’s donations to the Union, executives said they were shocked when the man stressed that their President had been around. For umpteenth times, he was suspected of neglecting his duties and exploiting the status we bestowed on him by gallivanting through mainstream politicking whilst establishing his own grounds. The missing #5,000 when ‘one of their own’ doled out cash to them (the first and second cabinet) has remained missing. BB’s rejoinder in that saga is like a man who been accused of stealing fried plantain, yet denies it with lips soiled with groundnut oil.
The S.U week, maybe I should tag it Madam Synergy’s week, was characterized by unfortunate moments that would prompt fingers between teeth in regret of wasted votes. The Synergy’s cow that stared like as though we were gathered for Ileya, led to the brouhaha that landed a Zikite in UCH. Ugo Nwaokike! The current P.R.O., Mr Taiye Adegoke is giving us reasons to believe your impeachment is just. However, we must express our displeasure considering the level of faith we had in your abilities.
Dear Babatunde Badmus, despite your numerous flaws that still infuriate us; we appreciate the freedom of some comrades when the thorns of SDC clasped them. We are also grateful for the boreholes in some halls of residence, the cooking policy you strongly negotiated with the school management and the non-increment of school fees last session; even as we fear its eventual increase.
It might seem as though you raped our minds in that election to earn you your current political standing, we hope for the sake of our descendants, your heart is renewed towards subsequent leadership opportunities.
We are tired of greedy men!
HUNTERSOLA’S REDEMPTION AGENDA (SO FAR)
_Over the years, as far as the scope of Students’ Unionism is concerned in the Nigerian Federation, individuals like Kunle Adepeju, Labaran Maku and Chima Ubani will everlastingly come to fore. However, will the crop of today’s Students’ Union leaders in the Nigerian state stand shoulder high with the aforementioned?
Narrowing this scope to the University of Ibadan that boasts of a student community headed by a Hunter, one would expect that with a gun-his prized possession, he would tame his subjects or by all means necessary (teamwork inclusive) make adequate use of his gun to protect and to cater for the welfare of the citizenry he leads. Has he been doing this?
Let’s find out!
Since emergence into office, the Redemption administration had been able to bring in profits for the Union to the tone of ₦2, 936,303. This is inclusive of the balance of ₦223, 993 brought forward from the Babatunde Badmus led administration. That is superb!
That the incumbent executives realized the sums of ₦197,000 on the use of SU events centre for daily rental, cum ₦128,000 from fellowships for events centre rental and ₦62,710 from the Pepsi stand seem to show that this present Students leaders are rational businessmen.
However, that Mr Odesola and his team have been able to generate income for the Union do not connote that they have effectively carried out the promises we basked upon when we gave them our mandate. Till date, Obafemi Awolowo hall and its beautiful residents still periodically have issues pertaining to electricity and water. Recently, a block in Queen Idia hall witnessed an entire black-out and the rescue mission was not as swift as expected. Kitchenettes in all halls of residence have metals that were once termed ‘hotplates’, but now serve as decorative art. Our WIFI’s have also been monuments in our respective halls of residence. All thanks to a House secretary that did not look critically into making them function properly.
Though, a custodian of the Union’s funds, Miss Aminat, organized a Vocational training workshop on Bead-making as well as other dexterous skills capable of making Uites self-reliant. Nonetheless, I will be addressing that which pertains to her office; Madam Treasurer gave out the sum of ₦72,000 to the executive council members as Recharge card allowance for two months. While the President earned ₦8,000 a month, other executives walked home with a sum of ₦4,000each for a month. Whew! Did the SRC really approve this?
Aside the president, the Public Relations Officer appears to be another executive council member that happens to be closer to Uites. This may not be unconnected to his role as the image maker of the Union as he is always found on Social media platforms publicizing the activities of the union. Reports in some quarters have it that he hopes to revive the Beacon magazine before he vacates office.
Lately, I spoke with a 300L student of the department of Political Science recently who craved for anonymity. In his words: ‘after his tenure, that Kanran will come and meet us in this class’. ‘He is now full of himself’, he continued. ‘The Kanran I know, was hardworking in Sigma Club and Indy House of Rep. This one is a proud one’ he ended. Well, he may be biased, who knows? Or he may be acting as the voice of his colleagues.
Many have complained of the attitude and behaviour of the incumbent Union’s House secretary whenever he handles the steering wheel of the Union bus. That is not to disregard the income he has so far generated for the Union via his office. Kudos sir, however, as a hundred level student said, ‘Pressman, help me tell him to reduce his speed’. Take heed, Emmyringer!
The Sports secretary has done well, as reported in many angles. Many say that since he has continued the Students’ Union sporting ritual(Inter-hall competition) and his successful organization of the VC marathon, he has lived up to expectation.
The Vice President has wowed us beyond expectation. She had successfully planned, organized and brought into execution the Students’ Union week which featured C’ list artistes such as Black Magic, Hakym and Fabulous Pizzy. Congrats ma’am. The Students’ Representative Council, in trying to find out how the ₦21million they slashed to over ₦9million was spent by Madam VP and her 102 committee members wrote to Miss Chidinma. However, in her words, she asked the SRC, ‘to please free her from Union matters for now’, as she posited that she is sick. Speaking to an infuriated Awoite, who craved for anonymity, she said, “Ms. Chidinma ejected her roommate from the room.” Students’ Welfare at its peak!
Whew! I had almost forgotten that we have an Assistant General Secretary. Well, it was not intentional. It simply means that you have not been impacting well enough in your little category. That you deputize for Mr Babatunde (Kanran), the incumbent General Secretary does not make you to be dormant or that you emerged victorious with none to contend with at the polls gives you no reason to be docile in the Executive Council. Meekness isn’t docility. Madam Nkata, take note!
To fold our arms and watch events as spectators or cowards will amount to a generational suicide! We can not remain silent and our lives be bound in the cruel chains of servitude.
We just needed to write!
Compiled by;
Ore Afolayan
&
Jegede Oluwakayode O.
Editor-In-Chief, UCJ 2012/2013 & Editor-In-Chief , TechPress Org 2013/2014.
