Evidently, the Council has strayed from its mandate. It is safe to surmise that some members contested their positions not out of genuine concern for student welfare, but for personal gains, like accommodation, social connections, and other exclusive privileges.
As political scientist Harold Lasswell once observed, “Politics is who gets what, when, and how.” The choice, therefore, rests with the students of the University of Ibadan. Will we choose to remain passive observers, or will we assert our right to determine the conditions of our education and future?
The office of the Students’ Union President is not a title of comfort. It is a seat of responsibility. If Covenant cannot represent and protect over 33,000 students, he should honorably resign. After all, no one forced him to run for the presidency.
Given these responsibilities, the importance of the Council cannot be overstated. Who else, if not the SRC, is positioned to shield students from oppressive administrative actions? In the metaphorical ship of student unionism, the SRC is expected to be the captain. Sincere, reliable, and selfless. Sadly, there exists a disheartening gap between the Council’s constitutional mandate and the way it has continued to execute its duties.
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