The actions of most of the Leaders in Kenneth Mellanby hall, over the years, have negated the tenets of leadership. There is an obvious absence of intellectual rigour in the hall executives’ definition of leadership, and this, perhaps, explains the choice of priorities and decisions. For most administrations, priority is placed on the hall week celebrations and white elephant projects rather the welfare of the people that voted them in.
Because of an initial misconception of what leadership entails, the definition of success for most of these administrations is often based on the ability to excel above the previous administration in the useless projects executed, class of musicians engaged for the variety nights and the quality of food served at the hall dinner. Mediation between the hall management and the occupants of the hall receives little or no attention.
The outgone council led by Anjola Boluwatife raised the bar by providing the final nail for a coffin prepared by its’ precursor led by Stephen Omotayo. The lion statue and the fountain have become an eyesore, a meeting point for the assemblage of flies and mosquitoes. The sit-out too is an unneeded addition to an existing distortion in the erstwhile beautiful landscape.
The financial costs of these products of error in thought have remained a mystery. Mellanbites never got to see the detailed financial statements of the last two administrations. However, comments from aggrieved members of these administrations and those who also had access to such documents reinforce the allegations of corruption and misappropriation of funds.
The Bada Lateef led executive council has not signalled its intention to deviate from a norm that spells irresponsibility and misplacement of priorities. The inability of the council to promptly respond to complaints and yearnings of Mellanbites has confirmed its’ place in the league of the former administrations with priorities set on frivolities.
The administration started this semester with a goof; the treasurer refused to provide the financial statement at the supposed time. It is constitutionally prescribed that the treasurer shall publish the financial statement of the hall 6 weeks into every semester, after presentation before the HLC. (Section 17(vi)) Contrary to constitutional provision, the treasurer released the financial statement for the first semester 5 weeks into the second semester. It took the intervention of the hall legislative council to ensure transparency.
Most of the other members of the executive council have not been able to convince the electorate that the motivation for seeking election into their respective positions was not out of a desire to secure a bed-space in B block. There are obvious lapses in their responses to duties and responsibilities.
The recurrent cry for help by occupants of the basement of A block- dungeon, is one of the many issues being evaded by the council. Last week, an occupant of the basement part of the hall gave a moving account of the sufferings of the occupants. From investigations, there has been no response from the leaders of the hall.
We must state that there must be equality in the status of Mellanbites. If the occupants of the dungeon paid the same amount as those playing the tunes of I-don’t-care in B block and nothing is done to help their situation, then there is a need for the leaders to examine their definitions of leadership and subsequently their priorities.
The Bada Lateef led administration could announce a departure from mediocrity by placing the people above any other thing. It could, within the limited time left, strengthen the relationship between the leaders and the led through strategic communication (not a thirty minutes notice for a congress).
Rather than embark on another useless project that emphasises nothing but a wasteful spirit, the leadership must respond to the needs of the members of the hall. In addition, attention should not be shifted to the hall week at the expense of the welfare of Mellanbites. A week display of glitz can never atone for a session filled with pain and torment.
While the council might be limited in its ability to respond to the sufferings of dungeonites fully, a strong case should be made for them at the hall management level. This will be a good step towards ensuring that every occupant of the hall gets the value of having leaders in place.
Complaints, comments, suggestions, rejoinders and requests should be sent to mellanbypressui@gmail.com
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