Oluwatoyin Betterdays
While some subscribe to the saying that absolute power corrupts, others are of the opinion that power can be used as a test; to know the real character of a man. As expected of intellectuals, the generality of Uites are known for taking shots at the mainstream politicians for actions they consider aberration and/or uncalled for. Going by the series of melodrama presenting itself and the conduct of aspirants, supporters, and stakeholders prior to the students union general elections, one can’t but plead with them to give us something light.
Recall that the endorsement party of Nnamdi Azikwe Hall was surrounded with lots of drama and miscalculations leading to the writing of a rejoinder by one of the aspirants. Having anointed one, the un-endorsed still floored the anointed candidate at the popularity poll. As if that was enough, the election eligibility requirements further struck a big blow on the Messiah candidate and his stakeholders. This Hall prides itself on high handedness, integrity, and political sagacity. For such hall to turnaround to adopt who they consider weightless politically shows the kingdom can be likened to a wall of Jericho.
Not too long ago, the media space within the university was taken aback by the widespread news of the attack on one of the presidential aspirant’s supporters in Independence Hall. While some think it was politically normal for such to happen (the attack), some saw it as clout chasing by the aspirant. However, the truth needs to be told. Herein in the University of Ibadan, it’s an intellectual environment meant to breed sane political personalities not a repetition of the current ones we have in the society. Students must be reminded that it is just a union election and not a state’s governorship election like that of Kogi State where anything to attain victory could be used including violence. On this note, we plead that student politicians give us something light.
If as a student, you fail to follow simple instructions during an examination, then failure looms. If while still under the school management, our current student politicians aspiring for office fails to obey the simple election regulations of the management, I doubt if they won’t be like the ones the masses are everyday raining curses on. The regulation over time has always warned aspirants against defacing the facilities of the school with posters, however, aspirants are yet to show they are true intellectuals, law-abiding citizens worthy in character and learning. And again, though some people’s understanding of politics is that of bitterness, unhealthy rivalry, and death game, such myopic interpretation ought not to be put to practice in a sane community like ours. Aspirants and their supporters are advised against such.
Officially, it is ‘wonders shall never end’, but, informally, it is ‘wetin Musa no go see for gate’. Going by the academic requirements requested of aspirants, it is okay to hail the university for attempting to intellectualise the Union after it’s reinstatement, on the contrary, going by the repetition of what the society condemn of the mainstream politicians by student politicians and student INEC, it is enough to say things are not getting better. The boycotting of the presidential debate organized by the fourth estate after due notification and public awareness by the presidential candidates is beyond qualification. It is baseless, insolent, uncalled for, mundane and highly insalubrious irrespective of the reason(s) that prompted the action. If at all there exist any misunderstanding between the electoral Commission and the UCJUI, and the presidential candidates feel they are ‘only’ answerable to the former, then they could have individually or jointly notified the ‘ordinary Uites’ of their absence from the debate rather than keeping them expectant till 4:17pm when the debate was canceled.
It may seem insignificant to student politicians and they may think of everyone to be same irrespective of status, position and title based on religious myth, they should know for sure and commit to their heart the words of Ernest Hemingway, an American author and journalist, that said “every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.” There would eventually come a day, sooner or later, when we will all be raised and assembled equally as humans but will be judged distinctly based on the recorded details of we lived and died. A word is enough for the wise.
OLUWATOYIN Betterdays is a 400 level student of the department of Arts and Social Sciences Education, Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan. He is a writer and student journalist and can be reached via +2347010124528.
