I’m pretty sure my pen is happy to have me back. More importantly though, is the fact that I am happy to be back.
I wish I could run commentaries on all the ‘interesting’ happenings in the University of Ibadan community but unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, I can’t. “Warrapity”.
One particular issue I can’t help but comment on though is the very interesting issue of the Students’ Union Press Club. It’s quite a laugh that every new administration comes on board and pulls this particular genie out of its bottle. For a flimsy length of time, then, everything goes nuts, pardon my language, the press club dies, a new administration comes up and the cycle continues in 3G.
A very important question I’m certain the “ogas at the top” have failed to ask themselves is the question of sustaining such an outfit. Because if they did, they would know that putting pen to paper week in, week out and creating something that people look forward to reading takes more heart than head. It takes a certain level of comradeship that contrary to their belief is impossible to buy by delivering free forms to people.
I read a very humorous, entertaining release where somebody talked about another being intimidated and running scared. It got me laughing so hard I had to mentally shush myself up. What a crock! Note that the use of humorous and entertaining is just euphemism for rude, arrogant and utterly insensitive.
Can a lion’s heart be riddled with fear of a rat? I think not! A legacy, a tradition that has survived 28 years will survive another 28, God willing. A bunch of wannabe ‘pen toting’ individuals cannot alter that and the fact that they are under the illusion that there is even a possibility of that kind of makes my day. It just goes to affirm what a confused state of being can result in.
The Idia-Zik war is one that is still fresh in all our minds. The University of Ibadan, the pride of the giant of Africa is now one being referred to as a breeding ground for hoodlums. Hoodlums! Oh, the insult of this. One would think that the job of governing a body of adults with diverse opinions and excesses would be enough for the executive council without pock nosing into activities and affairs that are really none of their concerns and more importantly, they know nothing about.
Action is rightly needed when there is a vacuum to be filled. If asked their reasons for constituting a press club, I’m certain they would have noble reasons like wanting to inform members of the University community, building individual’s writing skills yada yada etc etc. The no-brainer question there would now be ‘..is there a vacuum that needs to be filled there…? I know not, as there exist a centrally recognised Union along with hardworking decentralised organisations that work today to fill that particular void. It then becomes important to ask if Mr President and his cabinet members are leaving substantial matters that actually require their attention and are chasing shadows.
What can I say? I think it would be a load of fun to watch this particular ship sail. Fare thee well!
