The Students’ Union leadership continues to act like the proverbial simpleton who hopelessly chase after a rat while his house is on fire. It has been about three months since the University of Ibadan management without consultation with the student community increased school fees. Unfortunately, the unconscionable Students’ Union leadership seems to be the bane of the struggle; the opium that dulls the consciousness of the student community; and the weapon fashioned against the struggle.
The selective mutism of the Union leadership is appalling. It hypocritically continues to wallow in hedonistic frivolities (think of a Union unleashing powerless powers as Freshers Welcome Week ends) while jettisoning the cardinal challenge that threatens the studentship of many; the outrageous and unjustifiable school fee hike. How long will the Union President and his council continue to feign ignorance about the urgency and grave implications of their inactions? When will the Executive Council, beyond lip service and empty promises, begin to take conscious and actionable steps towards remediating the fate of the student community? Have we a Union?
Many ironies have characterized the hike in school fees struggle. However, the most notable irony is the irreconcilability of the near-deafening silence of the Students’ Union leadership, as against the constant spotlighting of the struggle by and through solidarity from external agencies. Despite several entreaties from conscious groups and unions, wisdom is yet to prevail upon the Students’ Union leadership to categorically condemn both the cardinal issue of fee increment and the unjustifiable dehumanization and victimization of UI’tes who peacefully protested and as democratically provided for during the inauguration of current entire Students’ Union officers. It begs so many questions — doesn’t the Union leadership in its unreasonable oath of silence find the solidarity of external agencies morally indicting of its inactions? Have we no leaders? Have we a Union in the only sense that the word means?
In conversations with students regarding the school fee, the conflicting position of the Union is usually re-echoed. The cognitive dissonance that results from a Union that pretentiously tells students not to pay in the face of a near-approaching deadline whilst doing little or nothing assuring, is inevitable. No statement or communique has been released to reaffirm the Union’s stance against the unjustifiable hike in school fees, as the student community is thrown into limbo. August 4, 2024 is the day of the Lord, the deadline for school fees payment. The day stares all defiantly. Both students and parents alike are caught in the middle, curious and confused. “What is the Union doing about it?”, they ask. The same Union leaders continue to betray their stance against the hike in school fees by her attempt to organise a bursary. Where in the world except here do a wise farmer put a cart before a horse?
On the 27th of June 2024, the Union President disregarded the consensus resolution for a Congress as resolved by the Students’ Representative Council. Despite the late timing of a congress which was supposed to address the issue of school fees, the President arbitrarily and unconstitutionally postponed the congress he never called in the first place. Regardless of the several contingencies provided by the constitution in the event of the absence of the President, his council and the Speaker of the House. Not only has the Union leadership shied from its responsibility, (the Students’ Union President, Vice President and the Speaker particularly), but it has continued to frustrate every attempt at charting a new course for the struggle.
The silence, passiveness and complicity of the Union leadership is no longer acceptable. The principle of social contract demands, commands and enforces responsibility on the Union leaders. Reconstructing the American Declaration of Independence statement without offending its essence, “It is to these ends that governments are instituted among men; and in the event, any government becomes destructive to these ends, it should be altered or abolished”. If the Union leaders believe their responsibilities are too heavy to bear, they should honourably resign. Silence is no longer permissible! It has become fatiguing, being drawn back seven steps backwards after a step forward. Enough of lip services, empty promises and pretentious solidarity. Outrageous fees shall fall, but first do we have a Union?
Aluta Continua, Victoria Ascerta!
CONTRIBUTOR
Midé Gbádégẹṣin is a postgraduate student of the Institute of African Studies. He is a creative, photographer and researcher. He is an Afro-optimist who is passionate about nation building, social justice and Pan-Africanism.
