On the Protest, Role of the Students’ Union and The Rest of Us
Lawal Maruf
On the 17th of July, August 2024, in the thick of the night, when the whole campus had been drowned in the darkness, an unusual spirit descended in the skyline of University of Ibadan. Due to the circulating memo, announcing electricity rationing by the university management, a fire of rumblings flickered amongst some certain students at the Zik cafeteria, swirled into a wide public outcry, raged throughout the halls of residence, then consumed the vehicular movement and academic academic activities in the early morning of the following day, which attracted a nationwide coverage.
At a critical moment when the students are grappling with the payment of humongous fee, while some are teetering on the edge of dropping their academic pursuits, the university management struck the students with another bout of stifling policy – rationing of electricity supply on campus, one of the surviving utility being enjoyed by the students.
Looking critically at the “fake memo” which ignited the protest, with the proposed duration of time; 6 hours during the day and 4 hours in the night, it is apparent that the essence of the existence of light on campus has been dimmed.
In the following day, the protest became tensed and extremely intense. SU Presiden, Aweda Bolaji had earlier read the resolutions of Students’ Union protest, declaring a mass action starting from 5:00am where no student would attend class and a stoppage of vehicular movement. Also, part of the resolutions was that, “ the school authority in association with the maintenance unit should withdraw the memo on electricity rationing in addition with constant power supply with immediate effect “, There should be total reversal of school fee not reduction, and those who have paid should be refunded.The Union strongly condemned the ongoing victimisation of three students.. “
It is no doubt that the students’ unyielding stance to get their yearnings addressed jolted the Students’ leaders from slumber. Before the protest occurred, UI SU had released a memo, informing the students of the impending negotiation with the university management. It was when students could no longer bear the burden of the evolving stifling policies, which inflamed their displeasure that the Students’ Union deemed it fit to protect the interest of their followers. Apparently, it is a case where the followers lead and the leader follows. Despite that the SU have conducted a series of consultations and extensively exhausted a number of negotiations, their (in)actions appeared as a giant step backward.
However, protests in UI are not unprecedented. Although in a similar pattern but different reactions from the school management. The school has witnessed a series of student protests, demanding the reversal of anti-student policies.
In January 1971, students staying in Nnamdi Azikiwe hall raised an allegation and petitioned the university management on the high-handedness and substandard services of the catering services under Mrs Grace Apampa. In spite of the students discontentment, the school management led by the then Vice Chancellor, late Prof. Thomas Adeoye Lambo, turned deaf ears to their grievances, which sparked a demonstration amongst the students. Prof. Lambo called the police to quench the raging fire of the demonstration. Confrontation ensued between the protesting students, bullets flew in the air, and many scampered for safety. But, Kunle Adepeju wasn’t so lucky. He was hit by a stray bullet, and unfortunately died on the spot.
Also, 7 years ago, on Saturday 27, May 2017, a congress was convened by the SU President, Ojo Aderemi and students gathered at SUB Foyer to voice their grievances about the students’ welfarism and other pressing issues. A two-day ultimatum was given to the school management to constitute the students’ welfare board among others. The following day, the management met with the leadership of the Students’ Union where they appealed to students to embrace peace. Bent on making sure that their demands are met, on Monday 29, May 2017, a protest which shook the whole campus broke out, they marched to the main gate, and blocked the Ojoo- UI road. In response to this, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka went to Diamond FM, where he made a live broadcast announcing the postponement of the first semester examination for undergraduates and also told students residing in halls of residence to vacate their halls.
Conversely, recent protest was able to pull the desired strings. While the previous protests in the previous years saw oppression of the students, infringement on the students’ freedom of expression, termination of academic activities, and eventual closure of school. The recent one has received the university’s calm attention. The management, as a matter of urgency,invited the students’ leaders, had a discussion with them, and granted some of their demands.Even though the issue of school fee is yet to be addressed, as it is to be discussed by the university governing board, according to the explanation offered by the deputy vice chancellor, Prof Peter Olapegba, who met with the protesting students.
Thus, in order to deescalate the situation, the school management came out to dialogue with the unrelenting students and released a memo on reversing the concerns affecting the welfare of the students.
With time, the management’s response to the protest has simultaneously encouraged the students to pull down their placards and calm their frayed nerves. However, it is advisable that the school management should stand by their words and identify the students’ welfarism with utmost attention.
However, this protest would have been a futile effort if it was accompanied by destruction of school property and disrupting the peace of the school environment. As it is evidenced, the recent protest turned out to be a valuable way to speak truth to power and a veritable tool, serving as a driving force for some certain changes in the management’s policies.
Also, it affirmed that we can only achieve our objectives when we speak with one voice and we can create a better environment where every right is guaranteed and everyone is free from oppression. The Students’ Union leadership should bridge the widening gap between the body and the students by renewing students’ trust in them.
