AFAS: Matters Arising and new development

That we are humans means we are susceptible to making mistakes and having errors in our judgement, but that we have someone or group of people to point this out is one thing to be eternally grateful about. After all, thanking the one who sees one and twitch is important since million others has passed by without even looking our way. There is where the Press comes in, looking in the way of the people. There have been issues, which have been building over the past few weeks, and development that has kick started even before the strike, have all begun to take full manifest. It is no doubt that AFAS is the place where things are happening. Whether politically or socially, AFAS is that place quietness never reigned supreme. Not in a bad way though. A clime where quietness reigned supreme is one that is dangerous. That would mean that people are politically apathetic, leaders can behave as they want without any ruckus arising, and that people’s inter relationship would be killed since there is no place for them to bound. However, the point of too much is where the line should be drawn. That is definitely not how a society should be fashioned in its development. However, it is important to get things right when it comes to politics and social activities.

AFAS has always been that faculty known for her glamorous and elaborate parties. Every year, as though to surpass one another, each administration seeks to add one or two things to the social event they organise. AFAS can be anything one wants to call it but certainly not a place of dead silence when it comes to social event.

Combing both these phenomena that have been aforementioned, AFAS places herself on a pedestal so high in student politics, that every student of the university would agree that things are always happening in AFAS, no matter the day or time. To further show how valid that statement is, after the end of the previous session, there was the issue with the dinner party which sparked lots of controversies and rancour in the faculty. Suffice to say that even heralding the conclusion of a session is not enough for AFASites to have a quiet time regarding AFAS politics which is usually intermingled with her social activities.

Matters Arising
In the past few weeks, almost immediately after the strike, a graphic was spreading across various WhatsApp groups and personal messages on an upcoming event which was called: Call-off party. As at the time of the release, there were mixed reaction from AFASites regarding the event: if it was necessary to host the event since students are still trying to wake the student in them back up, or that the party was a definite necessity to cool students down from the hustle of attempting to put themselves back in the frame of learners and let them take a moment of respite from the stress that accompanies being a student. These two thoughts are what spread across board in AFAS. The party came with all the glamour promised and it ended. So eventful and stressful the party was that the President couldn’t present the executive budget at the plenary slated for the following day. But that is not the main issue of contention. Although the house placed a ban on the executive council from taking money from the association’s purse after the act of disregard, that is not the matter gaining wide arousal from the perusing eyes of AFASites at the moment.
In the previous week, the Press received a letter from the office of the sub dean which was a summon to both the President and the General Secretary of the association to respond to allegation which borders on misconduct and dishonesty regarding the organisation of the Call off party. In the letter, as reported by the Press, the President was accused of giving the Sub-Dean the impression that the two staff advisers were carried along on the program and letters were sent to them.

Also, as contained in the letter, the President was accused of refusing to disclosing the money and souvenirs received from the sponsors and not remitting any money into the association’s purse. The basis of the General Secretary receiving a letter was on the basis of conniving with the President on the mentioned allegations. After a week of what appeared to be silence, the matter resurfaced. The Press received a letter of the General Secretary’s response to the allegation. In his account, he stated that after he got to know of the event, he immediately inquired and was made aware that the person of Akoem was the grand host while AFAS was the host which means the President had only partnered with the association. He highlighted that he didn’t press further on the issue since the President stated that he would not take money from the association’s purse. To further buttress his point, the General Secretary attached the minute of the meeting of the executive council the day they discussed the call off party. Having stated his case, the General Secretary categorically stated that he is innocent of all charges.

On the same day the Press received the response of the General Secretary, the Press also received another letter which was addressed to the Faculty Legislative Council from the Sub Dean’s office intimating the house that the President had not responded to the summon even though he was served the letter of his summon on November 14, 2022. In the letter, this act was regarded as a “gross disrespect for constitutional authority especially coming from a student leader of the premier faculty”. In the letter, the house was implored to take necessary constitutional measures that are appropriate to deal with the “unruly behaviour”. After the Press received this letter, the Press published its content. The following day, the Press received a letter from the secretariat on the response of the President to the allegations. In the letter, the President iterated that the staff advisers were informed on the event. He also explained that the event was organised under the brand name of Akoem and he had only collaborated with AFAS UI on organising the event. He stated that he only partnered with AFAS to ensure material benefits for AFASites. He, just like the General Secretary, also refuted the allegation levied against him. He stated that he had been straight forward in his dealing since he was elected as President of AFAS. He also denied the allegations that he used the association’s name to get money from sponsors.

To what end now for new and old matter?
There are certain insinuations, call outs and refutations that have been exchanged in this past few weeks as a result of this event. Now that both the General Secretary and the President have responded to the allegations levied against them, most AFASites would become curious of what happens next. It is certainly interesting that in the summon letter, it was stated that the Sub Dean was left with the impression that the staff advisers were not carried along, however, from the President’s response, he stated that they were informed on the event. It is one of the cases of curiosities what the truth is regarding this part of the whole scene displaying in our eyes. Also, many would patiently and some impatiently wait for the next course of action from the faculty management. Also, the Sub Dean had already written to the house regarding the delay of the President in responding to the allegations after he was given a 24-day ultimatum. Although the President stated that his involvement in the recently concluded University of Ibadan convocation play production and other academic activities were the reasons for the delay in responding, it would be interesting to know what stand the house would take concerning the issue.

Also, there is the case of curiosity when the house would lift the ban that prevents the executive members from taking money from the association’s purse, or if that will ever happen. Equally, there is the case of Prime which is hanging in the air and piquing everyone’s interest. AFASites are patiently waiting for the investigation of the 3-man adhoc committee. All of these are matters that would determine the face of AFAS politics in the coming few weeks: if we would have an extremely quiet political and social environment or a rancorous one. Both definitely, have never been missing in AFAS over the years.

The new development
Moving away from the whole executive matters which have engulfed the politics of the faculty, the AFAS Constitutiton review committee, chaired by Rt. Hon. Olasoji Akindejoye, the Speaker of the house has begun works in earnest. The review of the constitution has long been overdue. In fact, some cases that have gone down in the faculty have been of tradition and not particularly stated in the constitution. Also, some parts of the constitution are not interpreted very well. For example, article 38 of the constitution states that “a member of the executive shall be deemed to have deserted his seat if he absents himself 3 consecutive meetings without the permission of the president” subsection Ii further contains that such executive members shall forward his resignation to the FLC”. However, the Sports Director allegedly missed 6 consecutive trainings but was suspended.

Also, some provisions are clearly outdated. For example, the provision of the imprest account of the executive council set at #10,000 is just no longer reasonable. Whilst some parts of the association has been left hanging as to how to proceed from where we have found ourselves, one sure thing is that the review of the constitution is a great occurrence. However, whilst we laud the act of reviewing the constitution, we must implore the committee to carefully scrutinize every aspect of the constitution and come to a review that a large number of AFASites would laud. In fact, a successful review would mean that the committee would leave a footprint in the sand of time of this great association. It is therefore sacrosanct that the committee is extremely deliberate in their efforts.

To conclude
How things will unfold in AFAS during this week and the one beyond is uncertain, but if anything, the only certainty is the surety of AFAS Press bringing undiluted report about every development in the faculty to AFASites.