-By: MI SPY
_“Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear.” – Harry Truman_
Martin Luther King Jr. in one of his numerous briefs once said “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”To put into context, sanctions anywhere amounts to further sanctions everywhere. And this goes on with the belief that the failure to combat a virus in its early stages will only amount to its gradual or rapid spread and in the end could lead to the decline of the population of a state, and the collapse of an empire. It is not without much fanfare; neither should it be news that the continual suspension of the Students’ Union has only increased the powers that be and that we are still reaping the consequences of not getting back what rightfully has been the one voice we speak with. Besides the increment in school fees, failure to account for or justify the increment, the two semester rustication of a graduating campus journalist, the most recent plot in the series of sequence in the sequel to that suspension (of the Students’ Union) is the suspension of a democratically elected executives council – the Queen Elizabeth II executive council led by Ambali Olajumoke popularly known as Ambyjay and the immediate appointment of a new crop of executives.
Fleetingly, before delving into the essay-proper, it is expedient to remind us that last week, we completed the discourse on the repressing tendencies of the powers that be in crushing the pen for attempting to correct the ills in the society and we highlighted four various examples with the fourth one subtly heinous. This week engenders the continual discourse of the so many perceived anomalies in a presumed democratic society.
During the latter part of the day on June 22, 2018; news began to filter the university community that Queens Elizabeth II Hall executive’s council (QEII) had been suspended. In what started as a rumour, it was confirmed that very night by reliable sources. They had been suspended since June 13 – gradually from June 1. Also, what led to their suspension was revealed. However, what bothers the mind is a) the frivolity of the cause, b) the ‘necessary’ intervention of the Hall warden and c) the measures taken as reaction to the alleged actions of the suspended executives – akin to the butchering of a cockroach with a sledge hammer.
Laws and regulations just as punishments – are made either to reform, forestall recurrence or for retribution. If it is for the first two, the punishment meted out to the executive council is excessive and if is the latter, then we go back to the drawing board and emphasize the question – what really transpired between the Hall Management and the executive council led by Ambyjay? For it is apparent the Hall Warden won’t just wake up one day and decide to suspend and replace the executive council of Queens Hall just on the basis of what has been reported thus far. Whether right or wrong, justifiable or not; there must have been a reason beyond what has been released to the public thus far. Also, it is expedient too that there must have been an underpinning theory behind the warden’s explicit directives that residents of QEII hall are forbidden from attending Kuti Hall gyration night.
First and foremost, like many have said, the movement of the ladies can’t be curbed except the gates would be locked around the period. However, there are two things to this. That tantamount to abusing and infringing on their rights to free movement, which is only permissible with the declaration of a curfew. Mind you, curfew can only declared in the event of risk of safety in the situation lives of citizens are in peril. Hence, in the situation this is not the case, declaring a curfew or prohibiting residents of Queens hall from moving outside of their halls is an infringement on their rights. And once the ladies are out, either to gate, faculties or wherever they go, it can’t be determined where they would end the day – which means attending the Kuti hall gyration can’t be ruled out or prevented. Secondly, closing the gates around the period would be a futile exercise as it won’t restrict those outside already from attending. And giving a prior announcement would definitely be resisted, and in the event it isn’t, won’t bar many from going out in the morning and afternoon, and pass the night in Agbowo with friends or in male hostels within the citadel. Thus, to effect the forbiddance of Queens Elizabeth II hall’s residents from attending Kuti Hall’s gyration, the only way is either to refuse opening the Queens hall gate from dawn till dusk or to send bouncers to Kuti hall gate from dawn till dusk barring any lady whose ID card reflects QEII hall from entering – both of which are twin products of mother-absurdity.
Hence, it can be humbly submitted that if one of the reasons deemed logical for the suspension and consequent replacement of the Queens hall executives is their permitting of the ladies from attending the gyration, then it should be posited to the public what measures could be put in place to restrict their attendance; in the absence of which they were told but failed to implement, then they are guilty. But in the absence of that (measures accompanying the directives), they can’t be pronounced guilty and shouldn’t have been punished.
However, even if guilty of failure to implement proposed measures to prevent the ladies from attending, why the ladies should not have attended still remains a baffling question begging for answers.
However, it is pertinent to observe some contradictions and claims made from Queens Hall. Reports emanating from Queens hall revealed that Kuti hall had proposed to observe their Freshers Gyration Night in Queens hall until the Queens hall warden prohibited it. In a phone call conversation with Kuti hall chairman popularly known as Hamzy, they had never proposed to have their gyration night in Queens hall. He further added that Queens hall ladies only came just as every other persons did which is normal owing to the geographical proximity of the two halls. When quizzed if he has been summoned in any form in relation to the incident, he denied it.
Also, the assertion that the Queens hall executive council only went to the gyration in a bid to “protect” the ladies cannot be hold as gospel truth as the intent could be otherwise – to have fun like every other ladies had which is no offence besides the directives they were issued (with the reason behind it still unknown)
The second reason alluded for their dismissal is that they violated the express order from the hall management not to allow males into the hall. However, reports revealed that it became somewhat inevitable as artists, managers, MC, DJ and those in charge of light and sound are the guys allowed to enter guys. And moreover, if guys are banned from entering the hall, that should be dealt with by the porters, and not the executives which not only invalidate both reasons but as well leaves one more baffled by the legality of both reasons as the main motive for their suspension and not otherwise.
But then, reports continued that they were told to hand-over the hall properties and as well explain reasons why disciplinary actions should not be taken against them. Subsequently, it was revealed that two supervisors went about assigning portfolios in acting capacities to students. Reports as well has it that AdedapoAdewunmi (400l KHE) who became the new acting hall chairperson was not the first choice, but a finalist who rejected it. Attempts were made to reach Wunmi via both whatsapp and phone conversations, but she only kept reiterating 4 words – “I don’t know anything.” She knows nothing even to the extent of how she got the post of acting hall chairperson or what led to her as the choice. The alleged acting Vice Hall chairperson – TinuadeQuadri is more ludicrous in her claim. She denied being the new acting Vice Hall Chairperson.
It is worthy of note too that sincere but futile efforts have been made to get the suspended executives of the hall to speak. The good in that in itself is altogether another that baffles one
THE BIRTH OF CONSPIRACY THEORIES
As earlier asserted, it seem more than likely that there is more than [what] meets the eyes in this case especially. Should the above be their only offences, then it puzzles one how that is enough grounds to suspend the executive council altogether and appoint a new one not without the possibility of disciplinary actions hanging. Of course, the foremost residence of the hall closest to the warden is or at best ought to be the hall chairperson and in most cases has always been the situation. This is most especially true among the female folks. They gel on very fast and there is always this mutual interrelationship between then. This is contrary with the male folk probably because of their innate tendency to rebel, be less submissive or be too autonomous
Hence, it will come as a shock to any sane mind to find those frivolities above the justification for all that has happened. Apropos in line with that, two theories have emerged to attempt a further explanation of what exactly happened.
- According to an anonymous whatsapp user, she obtained from a friend who overheard a conversation that there was a particular girl who is a professor’s daughter who reported that her portion of palm wine was drugged at the Kuti gyration, which consequentially led to the suspension of the executive council. It was alleged she reported to the higher-ups.
However, this claim was contradictorily corroborated by another who said that the said girl is the daughter of Obafemi Awolowo hall warden. Firstly, if truly it is a prof’s daughter as claimed in several quarters, then it can’t be that of any warden as wardens are yet to attain professorship. Furthermore, investigations and probes put together confirmed that truly the hall warden of Awo hall has a daughter in QEII hall (name withdrawn). Chats with those closely associated with her asserted that she hasn’t been in school for a while; in a phone conversation with her, she as well dispel the rumour saying she doesn’t even know about the Kuti gyration. However true that is remains unknown but most of these rumours exculpate her than involve her. There are also nuances emerging from strong quarters that the passing away of a certain Imabong, 100l law student last year must have been a factor behind the hall warden’s directives, the violation of which led to the eventual suspension of the executive council. Imabong was rumoured to have been drugged at aerodome leading to her eventual death.
- The other theory is highly speculative and not as strong as the former as it posits that it is possible that there has been growing tensions between the hall management and hall executives before the events that led to their suspension. Thus, it is likely that the executive council must have been like the proverbial being drenched in petrol sitting close to fire.
Further scrutiny and investigations of the whole situation with sources emanating from QEII hall, every finger points at B than A. Moreso, there are claims from close ‘stakeholders’ within the hall that there are attempts to cover and detach the involvement of the allegedly drugged lady from the whole story which is why we are still in the dark as to what exactly transpired.
In conclusion, while we still seek the justification for the executive council of Queen Elizabeth II hall and the immediate appointment of new crop of leaders, it appears at the moment too early to cast aspersion at either party. Future investigation-cum-analysis of this promises to reveal and unveil more.
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THE SPY NEXT DOORcan bereachedvia 08130116100on whatsApp or via Email: mispyking@gmail.com
