EXCLUSIVE: The beautiful ones were born but they turned out to be a stillbirth - Electoral PRO
In this exclusive interview, the Great Ife Students' Union Electoral Commission Public Relations Officer, Olatunbosun Olalekan narrates with OAU KILONSHELE journey prior the union reinstatement and its current state.
"I personally made it a responsibility to resolve these crises before they got to this, I remember a top university official response when I mentioned the inability to pass and rectify the budget as one of the implications of the unsettled parliament and he asked, 'aren't their ways union official get funds without parliamentary approval?' It was at that point I knew it is over."
You were an official of the students' union electoral commission that ushered in the reinstatement of the Union. What was the struggle like?
Being a member of the commission was one of my biggest feats during my course of study. The struggle came in handy with lessons on commitment, managing pressures, and protecting credibility. Summarily, it was adventurous, demanding and enlightening.
Did you in any form encounter challenges as the electoral commission? Tell us more.
As a commission, we encounter quite several challenges. I think it started from the constitution of the commission. The inauguration of this commission came with high expectations that I believe we met and exceeded.
We had quite a lot to deal with in the process. From congresses to security matters to electoral processes. It was a hell of a ride. Working with the set dates, handling the pre-election activities like manifestos and all to the election proper which lasted almost 24hrs for campus-wide counting and declaration of results.
Was the bring back of the union by the university management on a platter of gold or as a result of students' agitation?
I think a lot of factors contributed to it. The reinstatement of the union was long overdue. And from all indications, the former VC, Prof. Ogunbodede who proscribed it initially seems to be keen to return it before leaving office.
However, I can affirm that a load of stakeholders within and outside the university including various students' present and past leaders played a significant role.
READ ALSO: FIVE YEARS LATER, OAU STUDENTS' UNION FINALLY RETAINS ITS MANTLE
To what extent can we conclude that the conducted election was a free, fair, and credible one that captures the students' demands?
I can confidently say the election was free, fair, and credible. No record of irregularities before and after the election. I remember the then VC commending the election as the best in the history of OAUSU. The credibility of the election is obvious to the blind and audible to the deaf.
What is your review of the current students' union administration your commission ushered in, on students' interest pedestal?
On the students' interest pedestal, I think the best way I can describe them is, 'The Beautiful ones were born but they turned out to be a stillbirth'.
I can not say confidently, with the current situation of things, that students' interest is a priority to all blocks of leadership of the union. Without any exclusion.
Are you aware of the current clash between the CEC and SRC that led to the acclaimed suspension of the Speaker in a congress of which both are still at loggerheads, what do you perceive is happening?
I'm fully aware. It is an unfortunate situation that is laying a very bad precedent for our union. It's more unfortunate that none of them seem to care about how much damage the altercation is doing to the sacredness and credibility of our union.
What I perceive is simply. A set of persons obeying their master's directives. Another set wants to ensure the issue is not resolved because it will give attention to the atrocities they have committed or draw attention to their wrongdoings. Another set of people is keen to ensure that the conflict continues because any resolution will threaten their hold on the union and put the student populace on their toes to make demands for their welfarism.
No doubt, a lot of people, from different angles, are beneficiaries of the conflict. However, the student populace remains at the receiving end.
The executive council failed to recognize the Judicial Council order nullifying the Speaker's suspension. What do you consider to be the implication?
I think the most important implication I see is the bad precedent for our union. The CEC is not even the issue. Why do the external entities that shouldn't make decisions for our union have a position and why are they interested in the issue? Maybe I don't necessarily have issues with the CEC not respecting court orders, I'm just curious about the special interest these entities have taken in the matter. This has a great implication for what our union stands for. The question begging for an answer now is whether it is still 'Students' Union' or otherwise.
If there are 3 arms of the union and two of the arms take a similar position on a matter, what does it take to orchestrate a common ground? Absolutely, nothing. But like I said, a lot of people are benefitting from the conflict, and seeing it end is not their wish.
READ ALSO:JUDICIAL COUNCIL ANNULS SPEAKER'S SUSPENSION, ORDERS REINSTATEMENT
The university management wrote to the Speaker, acknowledging the congress that concocted his suspension, vehemently warning him to desist from any activity related to his position of office otherwise be penalized. What's your reaction to that?
This is very laughable and embarrassing but I do not wish to make further comments on it. I have known the management to have taken a position on this matter from the time it started. I personally made it a responsibility to resolve these crises before they got to this, I remember a top university official response when I mentioned the inability to pass and rectify the budget as one of the implications of the unsettled parliament and he asked, "aren't their ways union official get funds without parliamentary approval?" It was at that point I knew it is over.
The keen interest in the position of the congress and the warning imply something serious. But what do I know? If radicality or its ripple effect is the fear, let them take back the union. It is the union of the students, by the students, and for the students. Anything less belittles our union.
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