Editorial: Before Aweda Bolaji-Led UISU Wastes the Momentum

If it were left to the University of Ibadan Student’s Union (UISU) President Aweda Bolaji and his executives, the historic protests of July 16th and 17th would never have happened. For months, even as far back as the last academic session, students had been urging the UISU leadership to confront the looming issue of fee hikes head-on. Instead of proactive resistance, the Aweda Bolaji-led UISU employed evasiveness, shying away from their responsibility to coordinate and mobilize students against this unjust financial burden.

The electricity rationing announcement was the final straw, igniting spontaneous protests on the evening of July 16th. This protest could have fizzled out that night if not for the resolve of conscientious students who insisted on continuing the demonstration the following morning. The sustained protest on July 17th led to significant concessions from the university management, marking a momentous victory for the student body. However, the momentum and heightened consciousness generated from these actions are on the verge of being squandered due to the union leadership’s continued evasiveness.

A responsible and forward-thinking union would have immediately called for a congress following the protests to consolidate the gains achieved and plan the way forward. Instead, the UISU leadership stalled, requiring the constitutionally mandated 250 signatories from individual students to call for a congress. Even then, the union leadership delayed, citing the need to verify the signatories for over a week. It was only after a group of students petitioned the union’s inaction that the complicit UI Students Representative Council (SRC) intervened, issuing a three-day ultimatum to the UISU executives to convene a congress.

Rather than complying, President Aweda Bolaji responded with the laughable excuse that the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests made it impossible to hold a congress. This claim is both sardonic and absurd, given the peaceful nature of these protests in the South-West region, particularly in Ibadan. The ongoing protests have not disrupted classes, inaugural lectures, or other university activities, yet a general meeting for students to deliberate on their pressing issues is somehow deemed impossible.

This blatant evasion is a continuation of the UISU leadership’s pattern of avoidance. The history books will not be kind to this crop of UISU leaders if they allow the momentum and consciousness generated from the mass actions of July 16th and 17th to dissipate without achieving concrete results. It is naïve and ignorant to believe that the university management will uphold the resolutions of the meeting with students without continued pressure and vigilance.

The fee issue remains unresolved. The UISU had advised students to withhold their payments, yet the university management, through the faculties, has made course forms—accessible only after fee payment—mandatory for students. Many students, placing their faith in the union, adhered to this directive. If the Aweda-led administration allows this hard-earned momentum to dissipate, they will be judged harshly by posterity.

The UISU leadership’s failure to harness the energy and resolve of the student body for meaningful change is a gross dereliction of duty. The July protests were not just about fee hikes; they were a manifestation of the students’ pent-up frustrations and a change in the narrative of the average Uites who are known to be docile and passive in the face of oppression in recent years. To let this opportunity slip away is to betray the trust and efforts of the students who stood up for their rights.

It is of utmost pertinence that the Aweda-led UISU executives understand that leadership is not about evasion but about taking decisive actions that reflect the will and best interests of the students. They must call for a congress immediately to review the state of affairs, consolidate the gains made, and strategize on the next steps. The students have shown that they are willing to fight for their rights, and it is the union’s responsibility to lead that fight with courage and integrity.

In conclusion, the UISU, under Aweda Bolaji’s leadership, stands at a critical juncture. They can either rise to the occasion, take the lead in calling for a general meeting of Uites, and push forward with unwavering determination, or they can continue to evade responsibility and let this pivotal moment pass by. The choice they make will define their legacy as students leaders in the University of Ibadan. The time to act is now, and history will judge them by their actions.