ON STUDENTS UNION REINSTATEMENT: THAT WE MAY ABIDE IN TRUTH, RIGHT ATTITUDE AND AN UNDILUTED VOICE

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The intriguing, yet appalling, narrative that saw to the suspension of student unionism on campus cannot be over narrated. Records had only put it straight to us that the university management is a mightier vessel to contend with on the battlefield. We had aguishly raised our voices high enough to attract public attention to what we considered a harsh and unjust decision made by the school to suspend Ojo Aderemi, disband his administration and have him rusticated for four semesters over a protest. The school was under brimstone and ice but nothing wavered the decision made by the vice chancellor and his cabinet of decision melters. We had accepted fate considering countless interviews with the vice chancellor as to whether or not the student union should be reinstated and of course, like an implied speech, the vice chancellor would always turn the question around to campus journalists as to why we actually need the student union back. We played cards on our thoughts to know if it was just the vice chancellor’s anger to the beardless students’ representative, the entirety of the student body or to the fact that the academic calendar had already been disrupted by a lot of internal and external activities already and the union was contributing more to it. To a very large extent, we believe it was because of the first reason. At last, we had no choice but to succumb to the tune of the piper. The big shots on campus could no longer allow their protruding Adam’s apples to betray them and had to duff their hats for he who is not to be disrespected.
Our joy knew no bounds on Thursday, 30th of August, 2019 when the university raised the ban on the union activities two years after her suspension. Excitement was in the air including for those whose actions and in-actions had contributed to the tragic fall of Ojo Aderemi. His endeavours to voice out issues affecting the entire university community was not one without the backings of some of these other students but of course, when praise and chastisement comes into display, the leader bears all the brunt. With the reinstatement, all his deeds had become a fictional tale. Perhaps tables could upon his return and he may rise up as an undefeated knight to continue from where he stopped. Till then, let keep to bay such presumptions to critically examine the reinstatement. Why was there a suspension in the first place? Was there a need for it? Should things have been allowed to lay fallow and allow students to exist in a university without a voice? What hidden scenes had prompted the agreement?
It would be noteworthy to draw again the attention of students and the newbies into what the whole student union is all about. It is not just about the excitement that comes with it, it has always been a training ground for future leaders. Others may argue that there are other platforms in school that can actually provide such pruning, but leadership development is on a different level with student unionism. Where we have democracy has the government of the people, by the people and for the people, student unionism is seen as the government by the student, of the student and for the student—a world of our own. The platform has trained many students on leadership matters. Many political, religious, business leaders and activists were at some point involved in student unionism. Apart from leadership skills, the platform had a niche to sharpen one’s sense of logical reasoning as well as listening skills. Wole Soyinka, as we would have it, was an active member of the student union and spearheaded several protests while he was in the university as an undergraduate. The union also taught students how to make an all-binding decision rather than pursuing selfish interest; and the ability to absorb criticism, whether destructive or constructive. All of these positive benefits is not to posit that students under the umbrella of unionism had not thwarted the real vision and mission of the actual unionism or activism. Some, in past times, have allowed themselves to be used as a tool of politicking and begged to be swayed away by the portion of the national cake that comes with their involvement. But we all knew that the reason Aderemi lost his office within the space of three weeks and a day was a cause in the interest of all. The union led by Ojo was approximately five years old has it was suspended from the early 2000s till 2010 when Prof. Isaac Adewole emerged as vice chancellor. A student union president was not really appointed at that time till 2012 which goes out to mean that some generations of students passed through the university without benefiting from that particular freedom of association.
Activism in a somewhat subtle manner was projected in 2018 by Kunle Adebanjo, one of most vibrant and intelligent campus journalist. His offence captured in “subtle” terms was harmless and indeed a factual criticism of the university’s practice of painting halls of residence under the false guise of renovation. Freedom of speech they say is allowed but freedom after speech is not guaranteed has Adebanjo got himself rusticated for two semesters. In the spirit of Aluta Continua on the other hand, Ojo Aderemi, had utilised his position of office to strike the rod heavily on the issue of the promised digitized ID cards for students. Congresses and harmless protests were held but the allegations of an unruly attitude and disregard for school got him the SDC visit and ultimately, his four semester suspension from the school. As newspapers put it then, Ojo Aderemi, became the last SUG president.
What there ever a need for that suspension? Truly,, Ojo must have done some things, contravened schools rules (in the context of taking the protest out of the school environment and letting other neighbouring institutions to intervene in a wrongly fashion) but that was no reason to cut him off with such a punishment. After all, he was only carrying out an issue that was binding on all students, those who were bold and of course, those whose timidity or fear could not allow them to voice out. Let bygones be bygones, but what can be a bygone with the reinstatement? It has only proven that his administration was never going to be allowed to see daylight. His administration has elapsed and now new faces to undergo pre and post-election training are almost in full view. The university most definitely, could not have allowed the disbandment of the student union to lay fallow but the clauses that comes with the reinstatement calls for the aforementioned title of this piece.
Many an individual would have totally viewed the union as an antagonist arm to the school management. It has always been a case of the school against students but in true terms the union is supposed to a middleman between the school and the students—talk on matters amicably and settle whatsoever arising disputes. Wouldn’t that be the dream of any institution were outcries are listened to and productive discussions are met? Perhaps, if things were right generally with tertiary institutions in the country, the rancour caused by student union activities would be the least of our problems.
The decision that merited a consensus on the reinstatement had in details from the Dean that the former union leaders had shown remorse, are ready to uphold the school rules and regulations and are willing to cooperate with the university’s administration. When was this scene acted? In optimism, we want to ride on this gracious path with the school management but we hope that the new body of executives would not allow this righteous bid to gloat down the truth and speak up on a one-sided decision taken by the school management. A purposeful leadership of students rising beyond the bars of eligibility is tantamount for the new faces. Sooner enough, the theatrics that accompanies unionism elections and other activities will be in full gear but we earnestly preach now for a voice that will remain astute and undiluted for the cause of the students they are meant to serve.

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