PAST REFLECTIONS: AFAS MATTERS
Lolade Olu-Ojegbeje
There is apparently no need for stories since the activities within the Faculty of Arts are now an open secret. The Deputy Speaker, Olumide Osinuga was impeached, yes! The Faculty President also shared the same fate. The issues within the faculty are therefore no longer news to anyone within the association. However, the circumstances surrounding these issues are surprising, and perhaps, they should be of concern to every AFASites.
It is also important to note that the FLC has become power drunk. They seem to have forgotten what separation of power means. Quoting a principal officer of the House, “Mr. Speaker, the way this executive is treating us, they are making it look like we don’t even have any power again”. It is very clear that the FLC is power drunk and something has to be done as soon as possible to check the powers of the FLC.
The rancour started on Friday with the dishes of impeachment, served by the FLC to the Deputy Speaker and the Faculty President. As much as the House may want to justify her actions, both cases of impeachment seem fishy. First, the impeachment of Hon. Olumide Osinuga of Religious Studies constituency who was accused of attempting to polarize the House, was very shocking that an honorable member of the House would be caught in that web. What is more shocking however is the manner and haste with which the accused honorable was impeached. One would expect that the House sets a panel to investigate the offence further. Asides the haste, the Speakers disposition looked more personal than official. He read out a message Honourable Olumide sent him in which the accused demanded that he be treated as the Speaker’s Deputy which he insinuated that the accused is an attention seeker. The Speaker, however, didn’t give a reply to the message. Also, in an interview with the spokesperson of the House, the spokesperson mentioned that a lot had been heard about the accused honourable. What is surprising is the fact that they all kept quiet, including the principal officers that were added to the group. He was not called to order. No further investigation was carried out.
Similarly, the circumstance surrounding the impeachment of the president is very cloudy. Although the House accused him of gross misconduct on the floor of the House as well as a double faced budget, there seems to be more to his impeachment than meets the eye. Some very important questions should be asked here. Was there any attempt to make the president apologize for his actions on the floor of the House? Was any investigation carried out to show that the president had indeed mismanaged funds? The answers to those questions are negative. Therefore, it may be a case of witch-hunt. Apparently, there are so many unspoken words in this cold war between the executive council and the FLC. It is only hoped that their cold war will not affect the growth of the association.
As much as one may condemn the impeachment of the president, the executive council is not without fault also. It would be a gross mistake if emotions are allowed at this point, without asking the necessary questions. Why did the executive council withdraw an extra amount of #21,800 for Freshers Welcome? What happened to the sponsors of the programme?
First, the Vice president of the association disrespected the House by not honoring the summon of the FLC, claiming that the school’s constitution states that no activity should hold between 12 pm and 3pm as one would wonder how she managed to carve out that part of the constitution to suit her excuse for not honoring the summon.
The president also did not conduct himself properly, true to the claims of the FLC. He was called to be brought forward. He refused to get up until he was called a second time, before finally walking out on the House during his budget presentation. Thereby disrespecting the twelve constituencies represented on the floor of the House. The president should recognize that he is a leader. He should have therefore conducted himself more responsibly. True, he is a human, he may get angry. However, the ability to control is emotions is what stand him out as a leader. Unfortunately, he has failed that test.
As expected, people should show their disinterest when their will is not properly represented. However, to what extent? The reaction of some AFASites to the whole drama is quite saddening, seeing how barbaric they conducted themselves. One would expect that AFASites would treat the situation with most civility. Some however decided to resort to violence. The Speaker’s chair and desk were thrown out of the AFAS office and destroyed. It was even more surprising when some heads of associations reacted in the most ridiculous manner. They should have done better because two wrongs can never make a right.
Student administration is only a means of expression, our student leaders should be reminded of this. It is rather amusing and at the same time worrisome how leadership titles have made some students see themselves as mini gods, taking the opportunity to oppress their colleagues or a suspected ‘enemy’. That is why one person will conveniently embezzle the funds meant for thousands of people. That is why one person will decide to “kick someone out of the way’ without thinking of what the future holds. School administration is only an avenue for expression. Student leaders should realise that student administration is only a means of expression— a means of facing the real world before seeing it. It is therefore no avenue to witch hunt, take revenge or avenge a wrong.
We are the change we hope to effect, but what happens when the change is not even in us?
Shalom!
YOURS TRULY
