Dear AFAS Excos, a cursory glance at your manifesto won’t kill you, will it?

There can only be two reasons why prospective leaders come up with a manifesto when are they contesting for a position either in the department, faculty or at the UI SU level. The first reason could be that they genuinely have reflected on the issues that affect students and have come up with some plans to make student lives better in the University. The other reason is that prospective leaders just come up with a manifesto for the sake for it – having a manifesto.

In recent weeks, Indy Press, Law Press and NUESA Press have all done a detailed review of the manifestoes of the current leaders of Indy Hall of residence, Faculty of Law, and Faculty of Education. Interestingly, it can be seen that a large percentage of the promises made on the manifestoes of these leaders have gone unfulfilled. In fact, leaders would rather give excuses than actually put plans in place towards fulfilling these promises they made when they were yet aspirants. This gives the suggestion that immediately after assumption to office; student leaders completely discard their manifestoes, unfazed by building their legacy on lies, deception and unaccountability.

There can only be one explanation for this, these manifestoes are not theirs to begin with. They were probably drafted in a rush by a friend who simply goes online to look up some things. Or perhaps they indeed drafted them themselves but they can’t care any less what happens with the white pieces of papers that number whatever page long they want it to number. At least, they had something to give the Press during the Press night. Good riddance it is then.

This trend of unfulfilled promises is also playing out in AFAS. It would seem that members of the executive, the moment they assume office all forget that they had a manifesto when they were canvassing for votes. They simply just settle for the jobs that come with their traditional roles which would not make them think so much about implementing the promises they had made to AFASites.

This is the 8th week of the second semester, and it is not insane for anyone to expect that AFAS excos would have fulfilled a large percentage of their manifestoes. At least 70% is not too much to ask for, is it? But, it would seem that it is better to have higher expectations of Nigerian Politicians in the mainstream than AFAS politicians, and believe us, that is telling a lot.

The Vice President of the association, Olajumoke is one story to behold. It is one thing to having litters of promises and fulfills just one, but it is another to have litters and forget everything. Madam VP promised us heaven and earth but nothing good came out of her Nazareth. It is interesting that the Madam VP had 5 items on her manifesto and she failed to fulfill any of them, not even one – in fact, not even half. As if that is not enough, from her actions, it would seem that being accountable is not one of the leadership traits she holds in high esteem. The Press reached out to her to discuss her manifesto and to pose questions why she is yet to fulfill any of her promises or even attempt to fulfill, but there was no response from her.

It is obvious that Madam VP had not even taken a glance at what she wrote on her manifesto. It would be a safe guess to hold that she probably would not remember the items listed in her manifesto. This shows that the 2 paged papers filled with words that are evidently lies have gone with the winds, never to be seen again.

There is the Treasurer and the Financial Secretary who promised a seminar on financial literacy but hitherto, none has shown up. In fact, the Treasurer just like the VP will not be bothered to respond to the Press’ message to hold an account of themselves to AFASites.

However, in the midst of the myriad of disappointment, the PRO of the association did take a peek at his manifesto. It is worth noting that he fulfilled all but one item on his manifesto. From his response to the Press, upgrading the interface of the AFAS website is too expensive and that is why he could not fulfill that promise. This calls for prospective leaders to do a feasibility check of their plans before they put it out there. It is better to have one promise and fulfill it than have 10 and be a passerby.

It is not asking too much if student leaders are implored to take a glance at what they promised the electorates who trooped in to see them assume office but were simply left heartbroken. This will ultimately facilitate mistrust in the administration and even in the next as the general populace would feel that no one who contests for political positions can be trusted since they would just come with flowery words and false manifestoes just to sweet talk them into getting their votes. This definitely can breed apathy and a certain tendency of people not wanting to have anything to do with the associations/unions.