By Martins Isaac
Two weeks into the new semester and obviously, every student of the University of Ibadan need not be told that something that has always been a part of their lives is direly and sorely missing… The STUDENTS’ UNION
However, the last of such happened only over seven years ago, meaning there’s no present undergraduate student in the University that has experienced what it is to have a UNIONLESS SEMESTER which might still clock a year.
Apropos in line with this, it is pertinent to cast a glancing eye at potential goodies in store for students this semester.
NO STUDENTS’ UNION WEEK
Typing this, I can’t but weep for the fresh students who are the obvious losers here. Notably, you might deduce consolation from the fact that you will still have your departmental, faculty and hall week. However, this cannot be compared in any way with the SU WEEK which promises tantalizing events, gifts sights to behold, where you get to see your crush artistes, get to get grand prizes and so on.
Such events last second semester include:
SU Variety Night/Dinner: This was one of the most awaited events of the SU week which invites all and sundry. Last year, the Ojo Nifemi Administration got Lil Kesh to perform at the variety night and Wale Turner for the dinner, while Huawei handed out grand prizes of phones and others distributed vests, pens, laptops and there was fun and merry making. The peak of the event is the pageantry part of the event in which there was the Mr and Miss UI. Big personalities in the societies were invited and winners (Oluwole Enitan 400l microbiology and Oyinlola Alice 200l History) were given big Huawei tabs with promises of many other opportunities and other prizes given to them.
One.Org: This organization brought to UI one of the top and most famous artiste at the time, Folarin Falana– “Falz the bad guy” and Waje in a bid to promote their proposal to the federal government and majority of those present got the one.org white/black shirt free.
Etisalat partnership: Yea! This is another event during the SU week many won’t forget sooner as it afforded a certain Katangite the rare opportunity to win a brand new Etisalat car. Added to this, many won other prizes like bag, vest etc. It arguably attracted the most crowd of the week and there were artiste such as Mr. May D, Reminisce, Ycee – Jagaban crooner and a fourth artiste (forgotten). It was fun and a rare opportunity to many UItes who neither socialize nor attend top parties to see the artistes they so much idolize and crush on.
Sports competitions: Not missing out is the sport activities that comes with the SU week or at times apart, but still organized by the Students’ Union sport director. There is the swimming and racing competition amongst others which comes with winning prices for outstanding sportsmen.
This piece won’t be done away with without casting a shade at the then Vice President – Madam Aderoju who earmarked the whooping sum of #15million for the SU week, got about #8million and couldn’t account for over #300,000which was accused of embezzling and eventually led to her suspension.
ABSENTISM OF EXECUTIVE VERSUS LEGISLATIVE RUCKUS
A prominent feature of last second semester out was the unceasing friction between the executive and the legislative arm of the Union. The Onifade Bello led hallowed 6th assembly effectively dealt with their counterparts in the executive arm especially the president, OjoNifemi who was held ransomely at his jugular. The games between both arms was heroically exciting as war of words lock horns in the now gagged chamber. This battle especially went down to the wire as the SRC eventually suspended President OjoNifemi, General Secretary Adegbola Femi aka Boko and impeached Madam Aderoju on account of malapropism of Union funds on December 10, 2016.
SPIDERS AND NOT RATS OCCUPYING OFFICES; HALT TO STUDENTS’ FROLICKING AT THE SUB
It is not gainsaying to spittle fire and reveals another dark side of full autonomy as to the usage of the SU building. Most students practically – without any business there- turned the SU building to their homes, where they chat away their boredom and sorrow. Go there anytime of the day and night and they will always welcome you. This is especially common to daughters whose dad won the presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, they flaunt emptiness to a degree of no-longer-making-sense. Without much ado, if RATS chased Buhari from office within a short period of 3months, Spiders and large rodents await any potential occupants of the SU building after 4months out.
O-Y-O IS YOUR WATCHWORD: THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU BECOME A CRIMINAL
This is actually funny and, at the same time, boring (and perhaps interesting too). Most students are fund of intentionally making obvious how un-calculative, unintelligent and unconsciousness with the reality they are and yet, commit crimes and violate school rules and regulations. These, they do with the hope that the union is there to fight and sing the useless and ineffective chorus of Aluta (in the suburb of Unibadan). After trampling on school regulations and pick up skirmishes with porters, in the face of ejection, they run with their heads -aching and conniving with insensitivity and insensibility- to the students’ union, to defend and protect their curse (not cause).
BAD FOR FAMZERS, GOOD FOR THE CORNERED ONES: ALLEVIATIONOF THE NUMEROUS HUGS AND HANDSHAKES
There is no period such as rest from political festivities in this citadel of learning. If it’s not Faculty election, it will be departmental, Hall of residence or the Students’ Union which is the biggest in UI. However, alongside every elections in every part of the world is the campaign before the election also known as the familiarizing mode. But here in UI, the most ardent way of campaigning is spreading the virus of your body odour to “babes and slay mamas” every now and then, as well as unceasing handshakes for guys. This is no comedy skit, with almost an average of 20 politician vying for offices in the Students’ Union, UI ladies are unavoidably subjected to hugs from as many as possible and a lady can get up to ten in a day from just a politician. As for guys, many will deal with hot slaps on their palm whenever they come across political aspirants. All those care they only store pre-election with very few exception though, they shower them on you, and after, they are left with their uncaring mode which becomes inevitably activated.
Campaigning is not restricted to handshakes and transfer of body odours but also online disturbances. After the offline uncaring greetings, you sleep with their several broadcasts and wake up to your phone filled up with several notifications from these same people.
However, the suspension of the Union, even noticeably to the daft, has reduced the broadcasts you get on your phones; all those copy and paste quotes too are ‘RIP’ for now, a rest for you.
NO CONGRESS, NO SITTING, NO DELIBERATIONS, AND NO WAY FORWARD
The convener of the patriotic intelligentsia and elected president of the suspended Union promised periodic Congress. He didn’t disappoint however as Uites got the first – though inevitable and disastrous- within 26days in office. This in itself has made firm the joke of a defeated aspirant – Comrade Valentinus who joked “congress would become UI bread and water” in the hands of Ojo. The first congress would have been the first of many to come. Besides the congress, the 7th assembly was only able to pride their arrogant feathers for two weeks before their “gragra was deflated” by the Honourable Vice Chancellor in his magnanimity. Deliberations, plenary sittings et al are no longer to be witnessed this semester should the Union maintain its current status.
SUMMARISING: LOSS OF THE COMMON VOICE, LESS FUN, LESS GAMES, LESS FRIENDS
Behold dear readers! The suspension of the Union will unarguably affect the lives of every Uites in one way or the other, UItes should start learning to live with it as the current status or the location of where the Union is, is yet to be detected by the GPS. The loss of the common voice of the people is not an issue, trivial to be overlooked or to be less bothered about whereas an always boring tertiary institution is only going to get more boring with less activities.
Yes, also to be noted is that games between the executives and legislative arms will be sorely missing too which only further compound the woes befalling this community.
The Students’ Union, University of Ibadan was allegedly unfairly suspended following the historical May 29, Democracy Day protest against the Non-issuance of ID cards, lack of welfare board committee, inability to use hotplates and others. This protest, though said to be peaceful, attracted initially the Commissioner of Police who muttered his threats, a certain Dr Ojuawo at the department of Physics was said to be attacked too – a claim heavily debunked by the leadership of the Students’ Union and transport activities in Agbowo was partially disturbed. From here on, the Vice Chancellor, acting on behalf of the Senate declared the activities of the Students’ Union executives and Students’ Representative Council suspended, followed it up by seizing the Union bus and clamping in manacles, the SU building. This led to a media war and from there; we are here, beginning a semester without our beloved Union.
