The Gospel of the Don: Is Active Don using AFAS TV for his own political gains?
Oluwapelumi King
AFAS WhatsApp TV in recent months has become very influential and well-organised. It is not difficult to admit, especially among Afasites that it is mostly due to it being well run by the current PRO, Oluseye Oluwaseun aka Active Don. Many people have complimented the structure and scheduling of AFAS TV and have rated it very highly even far more highly than UI’SU Television, however, there seems to be a blight in the running of the system as regards the promotion of certain candidates on the platform. It seems only certain candidates are receiving promotion on the TV despite there being no official endorsements for any candidates from the faculty.
One thing that is extremely important in the conduct of any faculty-related event is the concept of equity and fairness, especially in terms of AFASites. Once it is tainted, it opens up an existential problem, causes a divide and makes certain people feel left out and secluded from the whole process. It will also give rise to divisive politics and dangerous rhetoric solely based on the said exclusion and partisan politics seen in the promotion of candidates on the platform. This article will solely focus on how only certain candidates (Afasites) are only promoted on the platform.
It is no secret or maybe an open secret that there is a huge possibility of the current PRO contesting for the position of public relation officer of the University of Ibadan Student Union. There have been designs and posts to that effect.
See the images below:
While this is within his rights as a bona fide student of the University of Ibadan to do, it is the strategy employed to achieve that purpose, especially as regards the use of AFAS TV that is being called into question.
There are two questions emanating from the whole campaign process:
1 Is AFAS TV used to promote only his interests and that of those he supports?
2 Has AFAS TV been fair to the other candidates involved?
This article will seek to address these questions, one after the other, to give more perspective to the story.
1. Is AFAS Tv used to promote only his interests and that of those he supports?
AFAS TV can be compared to a citadel. With proper good organisation and scheduling, it has become one of the most influential and well-known WhatsApp Television on campus. Simply put, the reach of AFAS TV spread beyond the faculty as even non-Afasites and students, not from the University of Ibadan view it. The influence is beyond reach. This influence and reach have not only attracted advertisers but also made the contents of the television reliable and have also made it easier for the TV to sell, goods, products, concepts, ideas and most importantly people.
It was observed by this writer that over the past few months, even on Easter Sunday before the final writing of this article, AFAS TV has only promoted the interest of certain candidates for a post, despite there being more than one Afasite going for the post and despite not being an official endorsement by the faculty.
AFAS TV only promotes Addo and of course, Active Don for their posts despite ABS and Meeky (Afasites) being their rivals and opponents for the same posts.
Since no other candidate’s posters have been posted on the TV, it can then be concluded that Active Don has taken advantage of his position and used the TV to promote his political interests and those he supports. This begs another question: If Active Don is not perhaps endorsed by AFAS, will the interests of the endorsed candidate be promoted on the TV he is in charge of or will his interests be promoted alongside? Time will tell.
2. Has AFAS TV been fair to other candidates?
The exclusion of certain candidates by AFAS TV despite there not being an official endorsement makes things unfair to other candidates. Interestingly, the two candidates involved are from departments whose members generally feel excluded and treated unfairly in the affairs of AFAS Politics. It was very evident in the last congress whose after-effects are still being felt now. The deliberate exclusion of ABS of European Studies and Meeky of Philosophy from AFAS TV borders on unfairness, misuse of power and unequal treatment given that both are Afasites.
In conclusion, the use of AFAS TV to promote only certain candidates raises questions about fairness and equity in AFAS politics. While the TV has been well-organized and highly rated by many Afasites and non-Afasites alike, its use to promote the political interests of the PRO and those he supports at the expense of other candidates is a cause for concern. The exclusion of certain candidates, particularly those from departments that already feel excluded and treated unfairly in AFAS politics, only adds to the perception of unfairness and unequal treatment.
Therefore, AFAS TV needs to promote the interests of all candidates and strive to maintain equity and fairness among Afasites and kill the narrative of deliberate exclusion. This will not only help to eradicate divisive politics but also ensure that all Afasites feel included and represented in all affairs of the faculty.
