Students’ Union Representatives Council summons Faculty Presidents

By: Tundé Jr. Adé

On Wednesday, 26th of February 2020, the Legislative Arm of the Students’ Union Government ; The Polytechnic, Ibadan sat for their fifth assembly presided over by Deputy Speaker, in person of Senator Sheriff Yekini. In the absence of the Speaker, Senator Ogunlade Johnson

Thereafter, there was a brief introduction of the external body (Press Council) who had sent its correspondent to observe according to the invitation. Later on, the Clerk, Senator Ogunjimi Tunde proceeded to read the minutes of the previous meeting, one that turned out to be a lengthy and dreary speech.

Afterwards, the Deputy Speaker addressed his fellow senators about the matter of the day; and spoke about their guests; which were each faculty associations’ presidents of the institution. The purpose of the summoning was to inquire about the state of things in each faculty and how management might be influencing unionism in the campus. Senator Sheriff reiterated to his comrade that they should appear amiable to the visitors and not to give a hostile appearance to them.

Not long after, the first of the presidents was ushered in, who turned out to be Comrade Ajadi Sodiq, President of the Faculty of Engineering. Comrade Ajadi was questioned on the insecurity reports and radical of the engineering students at the South Campus. This notion was quickly rebuked as a myth people of other faculties share just to make the South look bad. He also assured that the security in the South has been increased to reduce cases of extortion and intimidation of fresh students. In his words, “The thing is that most people causing trouble in the south are mostly not engineering students, they hide under the southerner umbrella and cause trouble.It is unfair to suggest that we’re troublemakers.”

Few other menial questions were asked and after sound answers, and President Ajadi was excused. Promptly, another President was called in, and he was Comrade Oseni Hassan of the Faculty of Environmental Studies. He walked in gallantly just as his alias indicates. He bowed to the mace before taking a stand before the assembly as he introduced himself to the house.

He was firstly asked about the progress of his administration and how well he had promoted educative prosperity. He responded with explanations of his innovative tutorials, computer training on google, programming etc. He was then commended for his creative thinking.

However, things turn sour quickly for him when he was challenged by Senator Abdul Azeez Babatunde, who questioned Comrade Oseni about remarks he made about the SUG during the Portal/Hostel crisis. Oseni affirmed that he did said the words, about questioning the activeness of the SUG during those dark moments. He was accused of saying the SUG was not only hoarding information, but playing politics with students’ welfarism.

He sighted a meeting held between all faculty and departmental presidents and SUG concerning the then state of the campus where they agreed on something else only to notice the union doing the opposite. The SRC denied being privy to the deeds of the SUE led by Comrade Fadare Blessing, and accused Comrade Oseni of misinformation and defamation with his unfounded statement.

Oseni sighted the freedom of expression under the Nigerian constitution, but he was sharply revoked by the house and rubbished in a corrosive manner that would raise a lawyer’s eyebrow. Thereafter, he was coerced into apologizing for besmirching the SUG name instead of being specific with the SUE.

Comrade Oseni was first reluctant but cave in after some veiled words. After tendering his apology, he was ordered to retract the said offensive statement in an interview with his faculty press unit.

After him, came Comrade Adekunle Anthony Fabunmi, of the Faculty of Science. In his own statement, he slightly implied that his actions were getting frustrated by the faculty structure. He also stressed the nonchalant manner at which his departmental presidents handle things. Thus, the meeting was concluded with the basis of keeping all the faculties on their toes so as to accelerate speedy and overall development in the institution.