OAU Students' Union: The Audacity of Hope?

If Dr. Goodluck Jonathan could grant presidential pardons to criminals, thieves, looters and political vampires, I think his god-sons should not be blamed for receiving an 'Aluta Jet' from someone who had been condemned by great leaders of the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University. Now, it is evident that the 'Persona Non Grata' status of Omisore on OAU campus has been traded with a bus.

Again, I may want to agree with the union leaders for accepting the 'political' largesse because the Union needs a vehicle to convey student leaders whenever the Aluta gods call for swift action, and also considering the fact that the management has taken full control of the Students' Union 30-seater.

Notwithstanding, the comradic spirits in me and other great Ife students wouldn't have given any demonic spirit a chance to maneuver its ways nor bamboozle and hoodwink the 'vibrant' union with a bus; It's sardonic, highly reprehensible, delinquent, ignoble, opprobrious, and very shameful.

While some student leaders may see it as an avenue to gallivant around with a fancy bus, I'm pretty sure that an average Great Ife student would be indignant and hacked off by the morass and mire in which the union lords have driven the institution into, given the fact that the students are still in a state of quagmire over the closure of the school.

One of the past student leaders of OAU, who prefers anonymity, even said it was a show of shame on the generality of OAU students. According to him, it was like receiving a Greek gift from the devil and at the same time, wining and dining with him.

A right-minded leader should even wonder why the gift was withheld for so long and later presented few days to election. The union was always neutral, especially during elections; one of the reasons the exemplary former President of the Students' Union, Akinola Saburi was remanded in Ilesha maximum prison for 6 months just because he rejected an offer of N1.5million personal grant from an ex Minister who wanted the SU president to support his party's electoral malpractices and also scoring the party some cheap points from OAU campus. Other bogus allegations were leveled against him by the management though, he ensured that the sanctity of the Students' Union and the school in general, remain.

I can't claim to be holier than thou, but I'm pretty disappointed because the students all expect the best from this union, and like the proverbial Esau who sold his birthright, the leaders are also on the verge of receiving the receipt of the 'profitable' sales of the OAU Students Union. The unilateral decision made by the union is capable of destabilizing the structure.

History and posterity will never forget how this same Omisore was driven away from the school campus by OAU students, led by Adelu Monehin James (Bobby) a former PRO of the Students' Union.

Some 4 years ago, Omisore was to represent the then governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, who was also on the list of people declared persona non grata. A very calculating Oyinlola, who was pretty aware of the doggedness of Great Ife students and their battle-ready mood, called on Omisore, a serving Senator in faraway Abuja to come down to OAU to represent him at Prof. Bamitale Omole's inaugural lecture. Few hours to the program, Omisore gave Jasper, a 'leader' of the students' union the sum of seventy one thousand naira with the believe that Jasper would calm the students. Unfortunately for him, he landed with his helicopter at the school main bowl and was sent parking just two minutes upon landing. A disgraced Omisore then vowed never to enter OAU again.

It is expedient to let the union leaders know that receiving a bus from Omisore won't change the minds of OAU students. A lot of alumni and corporate bodies out there would even donate more than a bus to OAU Students' Union. If First Bank could donate buses to secondary school students, why would OAU Students' Union prefer to fraternize with politicians when it's expected to play a neutral role and be non-partisan.

Future leaders should think deep before receiving gifts from people. Even OAU management does not receive all donations, and there is always a body that takes meticulous and scrupulous look at all donations before they are accepted. They should try as much as possible to retain their glory and avoid anything that could tarnish the good image of the SU and the school.

Can we still trust these leaders?
Is OAU still saying 'NO'?

Nonetheless, I urge all great Ife students not to disown their leaders at this trying period as the battle with the university management continues...

Please do not see this article as a form of animosity against anyone, not Jonathan, Omisore, or the union leaders; it's just an expression of displeasure.

God bless Great Ife Students' Union, God bless OAU, God bless Osun State and God bless Nigeria.

I wish the leaders the very best in their endeavours.

Sam Adegbola is the President of the Student Leaders' Alliance of Nigeria.