It has been a while I commented on AAUASU matters, some might term me jobless if upon graduating I still discuss AAUASU. However, as a concerned alumnus, I hold more than a passing interest in matters that concerns the University. Afterall, like that popular maxim, "what it takes for the evil men to take over the society, is for the good ones to remain mute".
The current developments at the Faculty of Education, to hold a so-called primary before the Students' Union elections, calls for concern. It represents another significant low in the already unrepresentative, precarious, and intellectually depraved Students' Union body. More saddening is that both the Dean and Sub-dean are alleged to be organizing this obnoxious primary. It behooves me to say that these learned individuals, holding respected offices within the walls of the University, shouldn't be involved in Students' Unionism. Students' Union politics, as it implies, should be engaged only by Students without whatsoever interference. If they are so much fascinated by Student Unionism, they should go and buy Jamb form and if given admission; they can enthusiastically involve themselves in Students' Union activities.
The activity of these buttinskies in Students' Union is a reflection of the cankerous nature of Nigeria polity in which certain individuals want to accrue themselves the prerogative right to decide, impose and depose those in position of authority. While the ubiquity of this practice cannot be denied, it should not have any place within the walls of an academia.
It is important to recall that during the 2012/2013 Students' Union election, there was the Education Agenda designed to ensure the emergence of a student of the Faculty of Education as president. This agenda was also the machinations of the Dean of Faculty of Education. As a result of these narrow-mindedness, godfatherism, Cabal and Regional (in this case faculty) politics, everything wrong with Nigerian political culture has been brought to into the corridors of Student Union.
These shameful gimmicks have brought disrepute to individuals charged with raising a generation of cerebral, rational, and altruistic individuals that will bring an end to these undesirable elements undermining our corporate existence. In fact, they've place it upon themselves to ensure that they propagate these endemic values that have stagnated our society.
It sufficient to underscore that the Students' Union is autonomous and should not be dictated too. Its most important function is to protect and uphold the rights of students within and outside the University environment. It is also responsible to ensure the cordial relationship between the management and the students, among others. Due to this noble and salient charges, it is imperative, as it ought to, to have a body that is composed and headed by individuals that will undertake its responsibility with intelligence, brio, enthusiasm, and tart insight. Today, the stark reality is the opposite, where mediocres like Reformer (AAUASU President 2013/2014) found themselves beyond their capacity and capability become subservient to school administrators. Instead of acting as Students' mouthpiece and uphold the dignity of the Students' Union by reiterating its independence as a student body, they turn lickspittles and drag its autonomy through the mud!
On this note, I will appeal to those who are on course to participate in the primary that it is illogical and counter-productive. You hold no allegiance to your faculty as a political party or regional constituency. As a matter of fact, an educated and healthy mind should not dwell on such frivolities. If at this early stage of contesting you can subject yourself to primary, it shows that when you get there, the sovereignty of Students will be at stake.
Signed
Oladimeji Ayodele Blackey
07085005960
07085005960
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