EDITORIAL

BETWEEN PROPER REPRESENTATION AND JOLLIFICATION: UISRC, A LAND OF FALSE PRIORITY

It was Mr. Tobi Idowu, one of the few pressmen I admire for their soft but hard way of expressing their points, who wrote a session ago, an article which I remember was titled "And the SRC decided to do their internship with their political fathers in Abuja". That was a period when there was problem of electricity and water on campus, as students who they claimed to represent found it difficult to take their baths to class, while they enjoyed taking selfie after series of cool bath. As expected, while there were those who agreed with the content of the piece on one hand, we had those who criticized the work and faulted the writer, on the other hand. Well, it is good to note that the 5th Assembly of the SRC went to Abuja for a purpose which I can categorically say was never achieved. What a waste!!!

Fast forward to a year later (now), the great "celestial 6th Assembly" of the SRC has decided to uphold the "legacy" of the previous administration by paying visits to their political fathers AGAIN. The question is WHAT FOR? Even some members of the SRC cannot boldly say the reason for such visit, but since it is 'Abuja', the base of their political role models, they would simply vote YES for such irrelevant trip to be held.

The last time they went, they achieved little or nothing but instead put the name of the Union into disrepute, as it was reported that members of the then Assembly were asked to pick dirts in Abuja, as a punishment for littering the ground with thrash.

While I intend to be brief, I must say that this piece might seem irrelevant to some people but since I have ordained on myself, the right not only to write, but also to bring issues which I think are affecting our union into limelight, I see it as necessary to say that our Union has been thrashed in the loo of false representation. Rather than possess selfless persons in power, what we have is simply the other way round.

Few days ago, the Students Disciplinary Committee met and expelled (as we got to know) two students and rusticated many others for one reason or the other. Whether or not such reasons are justifiable, it was expected that the Students' Union President, Mr. Ojo Nifemi, and the Speaker of the SRC, Rt. Hon. Onifade Bello, will be there to fight for those students or at least, work towards the reduction in their level of punishment. Unfortunately, the President was hindered from taking part in the meeting due to his SDC case cooking up in the management's pot. According to my knowledge, he left without conviction in himself, and more unfortunately, our active Speaker was enjoying the visit in Abuja.

I am still thinking about the purpose in which the visit is meant to fulfill. And how huge such purpose is, that about 45 members of the House had to go. In fact, while the Speaker was unavailable, none of the principal officers of the House was left behind, to handle issues on behalf of the SRC. The Speaker can neither claim that he is ignorant of the pending SDC case of the President, nor he was unaware of the SDC hearing which took place. If true representation was the priority of the principal officers in the SRC, I see no justifiable reason why they should all leave and delegate power to a non-principal officer; an ordinary member of the House.

Well, since the students which the SRC claims to represent have been gradually expelled and rusticated while they enjoy their time in Abuja, since Monday, March 06, 2017, I can also wish them safe journey as they return to 'represent' the remaining students.

Source: UCJUI. Edited by Martial