-Olopade Oluwasegunfunmilola
“The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born – that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That’s nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born.”
– Warren Bennis
University of Ibadan has produced great students’ leaders with impeccable characters till date; but the fact remains that some of them have been ‘ordained’ for bad examples to others. It’s been a very long year that we last had leaders who were strong, but not rude; kind, but not weak; bold, but not bully; thoughtful, but not lazy; humble, but not timid; proud, but not arrogant; with humour, but without folly. A questionable percentage of the totality of the current students’ leaders in University of Ibadan have been shaded with political propaganda and selfish interests. Too bad!
In the beginning, there was a Union. You know how that godforsaken story goes, don’t you? The University of Ibadan student society began as an enviable beacon of the flush of light that could flood the entirety of the nation, if only we groomed our youths well for tomorrow. And of course, the future was indeed bright. We had a crop of students, bristling with activism, truism and earnestness of purpose, who could stand their ground anywhere, sure of what they represent. But somewhere along the line, this trajectory was destroyed and a new generation came. We have surely been blessed with some students’ leaders, but on the opposite, this very land smells of curses. Dear, students’ leaders; there is fire on your mountain. Your most desired place of abode has been set on fire, and soon, you might be left homeless. The recent allegations of misappropriation of funds by students’ leaders in the last few weeks, have left many (almost all) speechless.
4|10|2018 DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY
At the NSASA House Representative Council Sitting, the President of Sociology Department (Mr. Damisa Wisdom Ozemoya) was impeached and the Financial Secretary (Yusuf Oluwaseun) was suspended indefinitely. The President was impeached owing to gross misconducts: forgery of bank statement of account, misleading the NSASA House, betrayal of trust of NSASAITES, lack of transparency, using official office for personal and family advantage, and embezzlement of N187,215. The Financial Secretary was suspended indefinitely owing to negligence of duty, misleading the finance committee and lack of transparency. He was accused of submitting two receipts booklets of NSASAITES dues to the finance committee, instead of three given to his office. [NSASA PRESS]
05|10|2018 FACULTY OF THE SOCIAL SCIENCES
At the 6th Legislative Sitting of FATSSA, the House noticed the misappropriation of the sum of N142,370 from the Executive arm. The President (Omitoyin Faith), the Treasurer (Adekunle David) and the Sports Director (Adeniran Samuel) have been declared an indefinite suspension owing to gross misappropriation of funds. The Financial Secretary (Omole Michael) was also suspended for negligence of duties – failing to account for the sum of N142,370. [FATSSA PRESS]
06|10|2018 FACULTY OF EDUCATION
During the Legislative Council Sitting of the Faculty, four members of the Executive Council were suspended –as according to Article 7, Section 1,2 Sub Section 2,3 of NUESA Constitution. The President (Mr. Ogbonnaya Ucheckwu), General Secretary (Mr. Abidemi), Financial Secretary (Mr. Oke Akinwale) and the Treasurer (Ms. Ayinoluwa) were suspended for two weeks, because the Executive Council went ahead to disburse about N1,820,052 for the production of shirts and book package without prior approval from the Legislative Council. In this same faculty, the Public Relations Officer (Akinlade OIuwatobi) was alleged of commercializing his office, for charging potential aspirants in the upcoming Faculty election about N1,000 before hanging their campaign banners. He was also reported to have collected N500 from an aspirant in which he claimed it was used to buy fuel for powering the PAS at a Congress held on 3rd October, 2018. [NUESA PRESS]
12|10|2018 THE GREAT INDEPENDENCE HALL
At the 7th INDY House Plenary Sitting, the Public Relations Officer (Oyebode John) was suspended for two weeks for his gross misconduct and rudeness at the floor of the House. The House discovered that a sum total of N10,500 had been misappropriated by the Defence Commissioner (Okeowo Olayiwola). The same House mandated the Sports Commissioner (Aderibigbe Yusuf) to pay back a sum of N1,000 into the Hall’s account. A sum total of N302,776 is missing in the Hall’s account, because the Finance Commissioner (Oseni Ifeoluwa) and the Administrator-General (Bamidele Emmanuel) failed to remit the money into the Hall’s account. It was discovered that the AG and Finance Commissioner could not account for all the money realized from adverts placement inside the package, and also failed to remit the money from INDY gym house to the Hall’s account. The AG and the Finance Commissioner are hence suspended indefinitely. The House discovered that a total number of 900 copies of hall due receipts was produced as against the 850 copies presented by the AG and Finance Commissioner. And finally, the House mandated the Secretary of State (Obia Sunday) to return a sum of N2,000, which is the money for the shirt released to Obinna Darlington, who was impeached as Social and Buttery Commissioner last session. [INDY PRESS]
13|10|2018 LORD TEDDER HALL
To a great surprise, on the 13th October, 2018, the mace for the Tedder Hall Representative Council is missing. Although the Chief Whip (Hon. Ibrahim Okanrende) confirmed it, but the Speaker (Rt. Hon. Sam Ovwighotu) denied it. As at the time of this publication, Tedder Hall Representative Council has lost its symbol of authority, the mace. [TEDDER PRESS]
13|10|2018 FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY
At the TESA House Sitting, the President, Financial Secretary and General Secretary were accused of sending out mails on behalf of TESA seeking for sponsorship, while bank account included was that of Miss Aina Esther, the Financial Secretary, rather than the association’s account. The President also attested that he took up the responsibility of the General Secretary by personally sending out those letters out to those who received it which is clearly in violation of TESA’s constitution. Consequently, the President (Mr. Evangelist Osinaike) was suspended indefinitely for gross act of misconduct. [TRC]
14|10|2018 NNAMDI AZIKIWE HALL
The Hall Chairman of Zik Hall (Ojo Olugbenga) and the Finance Minister (Adesina Samuel) were suspended at the Zik Legislative Council Sitting at the dusk of the 14th October, 2018. The House discovered that there has been gross misappropriation of funds by the Hall Chair, and Finance Minister, and some other Executive members. Some funds were not remitted and they have not been accounted for. The Social Minister (Faroq) as well risks suspension if he fails to give detailed report on how the DSTV subscription fees have been spent so far. [ZIK PRESS]
IN CONCLUSION: DEAR BROTHER, DON’T EVEN THINK OF CONTESTING
We all know we are nearing that time when the electoral committee gets constituted, the ban on electioneering processes lifted and future executive council members flout the rules by having their posters on walls and toilets. While it is a period of intense political excitement and a liberating exercise of our conferred franchises, it is also a period where those who are indeed paying attention will be repulsed by a lot of events which occur.
Dear brother, you need not to be reminded of the recent suspension sagas in the university community. If your plans also fit into any of these categories from the halls and faculties, do yourself a favour and drop out of the race before it even begins. It is evident that the Legislative House Councils are now awake from their slumbers. The future of University of Ibadan is a loud vibrant thing and it needs only those with real vision and true tenacity to help it reach that goal; not the looters of the treasury house. If you only seek your own interests, just be aware that you will be found out sooner or later. If you are not exposed during the Press Night, your falsehood cannot withstand the scrutiny of the Manifesto Night. And if you forcefully put yourself there, posterity will judge.
