By: Isaac Festus

Just along Barth Road, there is a long-standing signpost in the middle of the road — or, more appropriately, the roundabout. It is a signpost featuring an image of Wole Soyinka, one of the most celebrated products of this school. Next to the image is a popular quote by Soyinka himself, taken from his prison notes, The Man Died (see “The Unacknowledged,” The Man Died). The quote simply reads: Books and all forms of writing have always been objects of terror to those who seek to suppress truth.

For some time now, a particular class of the student community, to which most of the so-called “student politicians” belong, has held, hawked, and peddled the drawn-from-the-gutter narrative that members of the press are nothing more than a malevolent group deriving sadistic pleasure in portraying fellow students, particularly political players, in a bad light. In their eyes, the citizens of the fourth estate are little more than snoops who are constantly up to no good—or blind to every good. With this pretext, student politicians make it a habit to dissociate from, or almost ostracize, campus journalists in a bid to keep “gists,” “secrets,” and “important information” hidden among themselves.

Against the darkness of these godless narratives, it is necessary for the press to raise the torch of truth and light. Ordinarily, the inherent deficiency of the thought process behind “gate-keeping ‘gist’” (see gist as a synonym for important public information or a euphemism for institutional impropriety and maladministration) from the press (the public, by extension), along with the false trope that paints the press as 15th-century flagellants from central Italy, deriving pleasure in mortifying student politicians, is immediately apparent. However, because, as Orwell puts it, “we have now sunk to a depth at which restatement of the obvious is the first duty of intelligent men,” it is necessary for the press to indeed restate the obvious. Thus, this piece will do no more than that.

The most fundamental purpose of the press is to support and sustain the quest for social justice. The aspiration for fairness and social justice is inherently an aspiration for transparency. In other words, social justice cannot be separated from the ideals that the press represents. Injustices exist at all levels, and students — sadly and especially Nigerian students — are firsthand victims. As Nigerian students, we face the hydra-headed injustices of fee hikes, insecurity, and hyperinflation. But that is not all. There is also exploitation, consistent blackouts, poor hostel conditions, sexual harassment, and economic exploitation, among others. Sadly, most of these issues have gone unreported or underreported, forcing students to suffer in silence. Interestingly, injustice thrives in the absence of a voice.

Quite certainly, it is the commitment to the pursuit of social justice that has guided the press across the campus. As we ask in our creed, the Press Prayer, “may we be bold to confront injustice,” members of the press across the various registered LPOs within the University of Ibadan have, over the years, exhibited a faithful and staunch commitment to exposing injustice selflessly.

On July 20, 2024, IndyPress published an article written by Toluwalope Ayeye, titled “Ssshhh’ : The Prevalence of Sexual Harassment in UI.” The piece exposed the existing but hushed problem of the instances of sexual assault suffered by students of this very campus — to be clear, assaults suffered by your female friends and roommates. In two separate articles, “Breaking Barriers: Accessibility Failures in UI Students’ Union Building and Beyond” by Ayeye Toluwalope and “Is Inclusivity For Special Students Too Much To Ask For?” by Sonaike Peter, IndyPress spotlighted the unresolved problems embattling the exclusion of students with disabilities within the campus. Over a couple of articles as well, IndyPress tackled the ordeal of students living in the ruinous and grimy environment of Agbowo [Agbowo’s Growing Filth: A Looming Threat to Its Residents and The Path to Cleanliness, Agbowo’s Dangerous Roads & Infrastructure: The People’s Anthem (II)].

In the two most significant struggles we have experienced as a union in recent times—the fee hike and the UCH blackout—the leading voices that fronted the struggle (alongside the radical voices of concerned students) were those of various press organizations, particularly UIMSA Press, IndyPress, AfasPress, and UCJ’s editorial arm. Amid other internal conflicts, such as religious strife, noise pollution, poor hostel conditions, and overcrowding, the press has consistently upheld its position as a voice of reason.

Sadly, in spite of the pathfinding arguments, reasoning, investigations, and solutions churned out by the press, it is the members of the political class and other governing bodies who have appeared incapacitated in their duty to implement clear-cut solutions to these problems and instances of injustice. For example, one would have thought that in response to the article exposing the perpetuation of sexual harassment on campus, authoritative actions like investigations and punishments would have followed, but that was not the case. Unfortunately, and quietly, sexual harassment seeps through the student community, unmitigated.

The naysayers have consistently claimed that the press is up to no good — a rage-driven, spiteful set of people who never see anything good and are obsessed with nothing but ungainly comments, articles, and statements about others.

Ever since the establishment of the first campus press organization to date, there has hardly been, if at all, any group or organization that has documented the continuous historical progress of the student community — individually, as a whole, and across all spheres. Local press organizations (LPOs) have consistently accounted for the milestones, achievements, breakthroughs, victories, and feats, not leaving out the honorable losses that students of this university have recorded — whether academic, social, or sports-related. It does not matter if such a feat concerns the university at large or an individual student alone.

Besides, even when no particular achievement is involved, press organisations constantly spotlighted individuals who have stood out in their own ventures, business, or even academics. For instance, on the 10th of October, 2023, IndyPress’s article, ‘Beyond the Classroom: UI’s Triumph in National Contests’, spotlighted the experiences of UI students who have participated in various national competitions. In 2024, Kuti Hall Press adequately spotlighted the rise-to-fame journey of the Kuti Hall Literary and Debating Society in the article titled “A Tale of The Evolution of Ransome Kuti Hall`s Literary and Debating Society”. There are many other “spotlight”-based articles, for example, IndyPress’ ‘bold & beautiful’, ‘Katanga Spotlight’, UIMSA Press’ “Spotlighting Creatives”, ‘Sportlight’. The list is endless across every other LPOs. Essentially, at no point in the history of the press within the University of Ibadan has it been found that the men and women of the fourth estate have been one-sided in what they do.

Perhaps the pesky thing about the press that unsettles detractors is the fact that within the student community, few institutions exist that are committed to openly upholding ideal institutional and civic standards like the press. Through transparency, positive criticism, and evaluation, the press has always held the so-called “student leaders” to a credible degree of accountability (mind you, the press has always held itself to those same standards too). It is perhaps this vocal demand for accountability, adherence to due process, and responsible leadership that upsets detractors who are themselves up to no good.

Over the years, the press has exposed cases of corruption within the Union, impunity, and violation of codes of conduct, among others. For instance, it was through the efforts of the press that the then PRO of the Union, Olalekan Micheal (OMA OUR PRO), the current SIGMA Chief was exposed for “financial impropriety, institutional irregularity” and for violating the constitution of the Union. He would be later recommended for suspension by the SRC Disciplinary Committee on the 3rd of December, 2022.

It was equally through the amplification by the press that Adegoke Ayomide Faith (WeHaveFaith) — one of the so-called ‘student leaders’ — was exposed for sexual harassment. The school would later become ‘faithless’ ten months after, following Faith’s rustication over the incident. Through another investigation conducted by the press, the ignoble exploits of Abraham Ologundudu, a 400L Law student and documented serial fraudster, were detailed and amplified.

Undoubtedly, the press within the University of Ibadan has maintained its basic duty of upholding transparency, openness, and accountability within the university. Importantly, it has discharged this duty with a great deal of professionalism and integrity. In spite of this, myopic cynics, detractors, and so-called “student leaders” have only openly and brazenly sought to misrepresent the efforts of the press.

On the 25th of September, 2024, IndyPress reported a news where the erstwhile Vice President, Nafisat Boluwatife Aboderin (Tife), stated that the bursary raised to cater for students’ fees have been disbursed. Following the publication, the Aweda-led union was quick to castigate IndyPress via an official statement, branding the release as “false.” Unable to resist the tantalizing pride common with preachers, in that moment of vain self-righteousness, the President, Aweda, and his team advised the press “to publish only accurate information and not misinform the public.”

However, in a subsequent release by IndyPress, the LPO backed up its publication with a recording of the call where Nafisat confirmed the fact that the amounts raised for students’ fees have been paid out. Curiously, Mr Aweda and his cohort never thought it appropriate to apologize for detractions made against IndyPress.

Bound by the regulations of the student handbook, UI, and the basic ethics of journalism, the fourth estate of the university is not bound to kowtow to the caprices and prejudices of any individual. Saddled with the demands of responsible journalism and the burden to uproot or uncover evil within a vicious society, the fourth estate (the press) will only, as it has always done, use its power and duty “with respect and integrity,” unscathed and unshaken by the comments of those driven by unscrupulous motives and those who are too comfortable or dishonest to commit to a just and worthy cause.

After all has been said, written, and documented for all with a clear conscience to see and judge, to anyone who chooses to peddle baseless and malicious narratives against campus press organizations — may God not bless your flawed reasoning.