By Fawaz Balogun

Following a memorandum issued by the Students’ Union President, Adeboye Temidayo Sewanu (Deboye), dissociating the Union from the UI’SRC Odidiomo Legislative Summit, questions and reactions have emerged among students and other members of the university community, particularly on X, where Deboye posted the memorandum.

Recall that on Tuesday September 22, 2026, Deboye announced his dissociation from the summit few hours to the event. 

Reacting to the memo, Michael O. Ajibodu questioned the formality of the memo and suggested that there could be issues surrounding its release.

“This memo is not actually as formal as it may appear from your end. The union is already losing its standard, and I suspect there’s something else happening underground that very many people haven’t noticed yet,” he commented.

Oke Tobiloba questioned the timing of the dissociation, arguing that the event had already been widely publicised by the Union.

“I think the memo is linked to some rational choice or personal interest because the event has been fully publicized by this same so-called union, dissociating yourself at the very day is just absurd and you’ve absolutely turned this whole SU to a joke and a seat of my wish.”

An X user, Itabi001, identified as the president of Obafemi Awolowo University’s Students’ Union, also reacted to the memo.

“You no sabi work, You go call congress, na for congress you go cook an say make the event no hold, if dem born am make e hold. School no release memo you talk say university management no do support something.”

Another commenter, Cyril of UI, questioned the timing of the memo.

“Lmao, una dey sleep since all these days?, why wait till the day of the event to release this?”

Damola The Lawyer questioned the authority behind the memo and the absence of the General Secretary’s signature.

“No General Secretary signature? What do you mean by ‘University of Ibadan Students’ Union’. ‘The Union wishes……..’ Who is the union and do you think you represent the people more than SRC? We are the true representatives of the union.”

Idolo also questioned the possibility of convening a congress to address the matter, writing:

“Lord knows you can’t even call for a congress because we would bombard you with questions one of which is what you intend to do with the ladies bike you received from your political whoring.”

Adebiyi Favour commented: “You dey gba anyhow still carry his useless memo come twitter.”

King Hazard wrote: “SEC suspending SRC, I trust @Akinwande_AJ and my distinguished honorable, next sitting you will come and explain yourself. Gen Sec has first saved himself because he can deny it.”

Frizzy Omo Ekiti Esq. simply described the action as “Childish.”

Speaking with IndyPress, Abayomi, a volunteer with the Odidiomo Legislative Summit, said the development came as a surprise to members of the organising team.

“It is actually very surprising and unexpected, because I am part of the volunteer team, the welfare team and the food coordination team. We are here packing foods. Yesterday we went for a meeting, all the volunteers, the delegate and so on, even there were SRC members.

“Also, the flyers have been going around for about a month now. Before today, there was a UI logo, the SU logo was there. I am very surprised seeing that kind of memo, go even think that it was signed single-handedly by the president alone, in which this kind of memo is usually signed by the president and the general secretary.

“People have been unsure about attending the summit, and to me, I think they are just giving advice because they are unsure about the structure and intention of the programme. But a programme that I have seen the banner at Bodija market before it was publicized in the school, having UI logo and SU logo on it, now coming today that the programme is expected to hold, saying you are not part of it, even though the PRO has been publicizing the event since last week, so it’s funny.”

The reactions have raised questions about the timing and authority of the memo, as well as the process through which the Students’ Union communicated its position on the summit.

While some commenters questioned the absence of certain details from the memo and the timing of its release, others raised broader concerns about representation, communication and accountability within the Students’ Union.

IndyPress’ inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the issuance of the memo proved abortive, as the Students’ Union General Secretary, Shontan Joshua, directed the inquiry to the President.

“The best person to ask this question is the president. Direct the question to him, concerning the letter [memo] and why my signature is not there,” he said.

This further raises questions on how the decision was reached and whether affected stakeholders were consulted before the Students’ Union President issued the notice.