Happy new week readers, hope you enjoyed your weekend? This week, UCJ meets one of the students’ leaders in the university. He is currently a 400 level student of microbiology faculty of science. He was also an aspirant for the post of president in the last election. Enjoy our interview with Mr Olawunni Mustapha popularly called HOPE’14.
UCJ: What do you have to say about the current political situation of the university?
MUSTAPHA: The current political situation of the university has been fine and well except for the postponement of elections, everything has been going on fine.
UCJ: Sir, some UITES presume that you are a radical minded person, what’s your take on that sir?
MUSTAPHA: It is just a mere assumption. People think whenever you speak the truth without any fear of favour they term you as being radical whereas you are just being truthful. So personally, I am not a radical person I’m just the guy that speak the truth irrespective of the calibre of people I’m talking to.
UCJ: it’s is very obvious that the union is losing its track somewhere. As a vibrant student leader, where do you think the union is losing its track?
MUSTAPHA: The union is losing its track in all ramifications. Looking it from the angle of electioneering process, the union is not getting it right . The election process is faulty which can never produce a reasonable government. aside that, we are subdued by the constitution we use which will always favour the management instead of the students. A lot of things are going wrong but these two are the major ones. If these two problems are checked and resolved, we can move forward but if these two are left unchecked we will not move an inch from where we are.
UCJ: Sir, from your own point of view, do you think the management are the ones showing lackadaisical attitude towards the welfare of the students or the union leaders are the one affecting themselves, what’s your view sir?
MUSTAPHA: I would say the union leaders are not helping matters because after the last ASUU strike that ended in December, a committee was set up to look into the spending of the funds allocated to each university of which the student union president ought to be among. But it is saddening that our union leaders did not even know. I think we student lack information and that’s why I would not put the blame on students but the union leaders and the management is not being fair to us.
UCJ: during the last congress we had, you said there are more to the last election that UITE did not know. UITEs will like to know what really went wrong in the last election?
MUSTAPHA: The first thing i would like to say is that there was sharing of money at some polling unit, particularly Zik hall while election was ongoing. Also after the ballot boxes was taken to the senate chamber for collation, the principal agents of aspirants was sent out for one hour. the question now is what happened within that one hour. Also, Obafemi Awolowo hall votes was counted four times as the management was expecting a particular value from that hall. Aside from that, the numbers of voters in all the female halls of resident does not tally with the ones our party agents have, it was increased. A lot of things transpired during the election after the election like what happened at the tribunal where Huntersola denied working with AUCSF for his campaigns but when he was asked to introduce those who came with him for the tribunals, he introduced the P.R.O of AUCSF as his legal adviser after denying to have anything doing with them. A lot really transpired, but in the best interest of the students, we let the bygone be bygone. But we can all define what has become our union now.
UCJ: As part of your move to avoid further occurrences of election rigging like you said, you proposed that all votes should be counted in all halls of residence. Do you think that will produce a credible election for our union?
MUSTAPHA: It will definitely work. When votes are counted in all halls of residence nobody will come from the Vice chancellor and say the figures are not correct. Also, some arrangements have been made whereby halls of residence will be divided into polling unit depending on the population of the hall. this too an extent will foster easy counting and collation of votes in each polling unit. All that is needed now is the participation of student in the electioneering process. We want a situation whereby each halls of residence will already have their figures before the central collation centre will announce the result. So with all these plans I think we can have a credible, free and fair election.
UCJ: Now on the disqualification of Mr. John Adebanjo, before now, you believe that since there is now bulletin that has been released to his disqualification, he is not disqualified yet. But as it is now a bulletin has been released that he has been disqualified. so what is your take on his disqualification ?
MUSTAPHA: Personally, I feel there is more to the disqualification because there is no clear and specific reason for his disqualification. Since the Dean of his faculty has given him a letter of eligibility, I don’t see any reason why he should be disqualified. Even the constitution states it clearly that only Medicine and dentistry must not have a referral, leaving Vet. Medicine untouched. The grading system used in Pharmacy is different from the one used in MBBS which is also different from the one they use in Vet. Medicine. So as long as his dean has signed his letter of eligibility, I really did not know on what basis he is being disqualified. I think there are some politics behind it which we student might not know.
UCJ: Among all the four aspirants for the post of president, who are you giving your full support to?
MUSTAPHA: I’m not supporting any candidate. I cannot soil my integrity for any of the aspirants. May be because I cannot vouch for any of them, I’m not really interested in the Union politics of the day. And also, let me use this medium to correct the notion that Jonnexto offended me by not making me emerge the winner, he did not offend me at all.
UCJ: Since you don’t have anybody that is having your votes now, what are the criteria for any of them to have your votes/
MUSTAPHA: People think whoever you support will emerge the winner, but I believe that the students decision is final. But personally, I’m not happy with the current political and election process.
UCJ: What advice do you have for the aspirants?
MUSTAPHA: To all the aspirants, I would advice them to be focused and believe that whatever they are doing, people are watching them and posterity will judge and also they should always do their things formally. Also they should involve UITES in their administration, because for the past three years, our union has never have a congress with resolution which is very bad. And lastly they should be united because united we stand divided we fall.
UCJ: Any advice for the current student union leaders?
MUSTAPHA: To the redemption team, I wish them safe- landing
UCJ: And to UITES generally, any advice for them?
MUSTAPHA: The only advice i have for them is to have is to have attitudinal change only with this is how we can have the desired change we want in our union.
UCJ: Thank you so much for your time.
MUSTAPHA: You are welcome.
INTERVIEW CREDITS: PENBOY…
