-By: Adedokun Seyi
The political sphere of faculty of Agriculture has been observed for a long time since the beginning of the session, and it seemed, first, like nobody would come with opponent. Only one person was in the observation jar as we stir through the wind of time. Originally, Students of faculty of Agriculture seem to have lost interest in any social-mural activities, only if a common lyric of item 7 is sang would they surface like a snail head. During the period of Isaiah Ayinmiro as President, people were forced to vote as many were in class, close to the voting point, walking by the faculty, but the political dearth was gradually mounting its death-cross that they wouldn’t vote. Ayodele’s Presidency was a moment of transformation, starting from the awareness to the campaign, press night and election. This was a period that many people vouched to support “their man” and many of the students in Agronomy department, despite having an aspirant from that constituency, still crossed the bar of normalcy to support Kustine.
What was Ayodele Kustine’s greatest luck? Efoli is a well outspoken, articulated, word delivering and perfect man for a motivational speaker. He was a presidential aspirant from the department of Agronomy and for the period of Kustine’s awareness, his name arrested all ears and overwhelmed that of Efoli Matthew. Was kustine campaigning? Was Efoli too soft? Were lovers so intoxicated that the first name they mentioned was Kustine? Nobody dares answer that without finding out.
Investigation disclosed that Kustine was an aspirant for Assistant General Secretary in 2015. He was supposed to be in the Adegbola Victoria, the first female President of NAAS tenure. He was also an opponent to Tosin, a student of Agricultural Economics department. Report then showed that Tosin is hardworking, and along with Kustine, supporters were not so calm because both of them are natural, but the politics would be a game of number. After the election, all those aspirants that 100 level students campaigned for won the elections, which made Kustine come behind Tosin who is still known as Teekot. Meanwhile, people knew his cheetah was never a tired one neither was his lion weary of roaring which made them to start singing and signing their support that he would contest for Presidency in his fourth session. That was in his 200 level days – his greatest luck. Even though everything was more intense than this time because of the involvement of the freshmen, there was no intense campaign when the ban was yet to be raised.
This generation has taken a turn from what may be sane and it is moving very fast – to some people, like a speed of light. By this, political aspirants, through their own understanding have started rigorous lobbying and skirty appearances at the faculty, classes, around the freshmen they never knew and even in the toilet. Many students have asked about the rule of election in the faculty and also, many are very sure that their ignorance speaks the truth even without the law.
Is there a way to do awareness? Yes! The answer is the opposite of the wrong ways. Stephen Covey, the writer of “The 7 habits of highly effective people” said “every human has four endowments; self-awareness, conscience, independent will and creative imagination. These give us the ultimate human freedom. The power to choose, to respond to change”. Deepak Chopra also said “awareness is all about restoring your freedom to choose what you want instead of what your past imposes on you”. A good example agar is a one-time aspirant for the Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall chairman nickname CAS. His first approach was to ask the Hall residents around about the state of the hall. He met freshmen, related with them, asked about their states on at least every three days. Oloruntoba Olurombi had listening ears that he asked further questions if they (freshmen) had the hope that things would change. After some weeks – after making them aware of their right to change things – their right to choose – their worth in the Hall; after making them to know that whatever they did count, he picked a form and came back to them to announce his interest. That is a perfect example which is local enough for understanding the difference between awareness and campaign.
What is the continuous error of the aspirants for NAAS presidency, if both of them? The tag “presiding NAAS” does not speak a lot but an obvious thing. It is a known fact that through your philosophy, through some little words or actions you seldom pour, students would clearly understand you, but it is above the law and sanity when you announce yourself when the list has not been made – that’s the bad side of desperation, fear and anxiety. The period of awareness is to announce yourself through your action, make people see you as capable, act as the leader without a title. Robin Sharma pinned in his book titled “The leader who had no title” that remember that you’ll get your expectations. Another way to put it is that your expectations at work and within your life become self-fulfilling prophecies. The results you expect are the results you’ll see. That is an incredibly important thing to remember. If your expectation is that people at work will not support you and will let you down, then you will behave in a way that is aligned with their belief. So you’ll be closed and protect your turf. You’ll work in a silo rather than collaborate and show teamwork. Your very behavior will cause your coworkers to feel you are cold, competitive, and not really trustworthy. And so of course, they will not support you.
It is better to have awareness and the sensible way as key because of the success it unlocks, and if you have it, teach it. If you lack it, Michael Kitson said “seek it”.
