FASHOLA SHOCKS LASU STUDENTS AT CONVOCATION, TURNS HERO, BUT….

‘No matter how long the night, the day will dawn’

Although, for every beginning, there is an end; but while you can determine the start, same is not with the later; as in any struggle, there is inestimable puzzle; thus, for if not for risky tussles even in the juggle pursuing marbles, securing a guaranteed society goodness, fairness thrive would be impossible; Therefore, to attain victory, you must pass through the valley of deaths; these are the sacrifices we all must make for the sake of our common good. The end result is the immediate 'reversal to twenty five thousand naira only (N25,000) as new school fee (across board) for the students of the Lagos State University (LASU), as directed by the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN).

History of the Struggle
The struggle leading to this enormous success began three years ago (2011) when a visitation panel to LASU recommended that for the school to function and compete with its counterpart effectively, students had to pay more. Prior to this time, N25,000 was their tuition fees. As expected, they all went on rampage but yielded no tangible result then. Consequently, they were made to between N193,700 and N348,500 respectively.

However, the recent struggle leading to this heart-warming success began in January 22-23, (this year), following a demonstration by some students demanding for the opening of portal registration to enable them register their courses, but degenerated into full scale protestations thereafter. Angered by this development, they (students) started demanding for an urgent downward review of the tuition fee which abnitio caused the hardships of raising cash.

The Influence of Unionism
Since there was no organized union to pursue the cause proactively then, in the absence of a legally constituted Students' Union in place, a forum known as 'Save LASU', Save The Future was formed as a pioneering machinery for the struggle. It was this forum that laid a ground foundation that commenced a radical approach/activism for the actualization of the goals of the struggle. These goals include: (1) Opening of LASU (which then was closed) and registration portal; (2) No payment of reparation/damages by any students involved in the protest; (3) No victimization of students of any sought; (4) Adequate funding of LASU; (5) Democratic Management of LASU; and (6) TOTAL REVERSAL OF FEE HIKE. These were its cardinal objectives.

After a massive media campaign, thanks to Educational Rights Campaign (ERC); Joint Action Front (JAF) and LASU Students (LASUSU), the Governor, Raji Fashola called for a dialogue on April 2rd.

Consequently, the governor asked that the Students' Union executives (students' representatives) should go and prepare a detailed paper - work on what it think the students can afford to pay as school fees. The proposal was sent to him and perused same, but final decision did not come until almost two months during which the Nurideen Yusuf's led SUG had led the students to some important markets, major highways in Lagos in a view to sensitizing them on the need to prevail on the government.

Unrelenting efforts
Already faced with credibility deficit, the government hurriedly took decision few days after the dreaded LASU students went wild by relocating to the governor's office with cooking utensils, mattresses, pillows and musical bands to giga their swanga. An embarrassing image was further created when the online social-media news breakers reported with varied headlines such as: 'LASU students turned Fashola's office into 'Beans and Bread joint' or the one of, 'Fashola Office now Prayer Ground' amongst others. The students had observed their daily salat there, which was zuhr and asr.

I served as the Imam in that prayer right in front of entrance to the governor's office where we prayed to almighty God for his timely intervention in our cause.

Interestingly, God intervened and the government pronounced fee reduction of 34-60 percent or N76,000 and N150,000 respectively on June 11, but the students were dissatisfied with it and continue to press for further reduction which eventually paid –off on August 07, 2014, (the day for the grand finale of the 19th convocation ceremony) when a total reversal of school fees was announced, a view which “Save LASU, Save The Future” and other comrades never doubted.

AT CONVOCATION GROUND
Prior to this announcement at the venue of the Convocation (new auditorium), where the Governor was expected, were various interests groups with placards of varied inscriptions. When the Governor finally arrived, the angry demonstrators mobbed him with different demands but was compelled to return inside his car. They (NASU & SSANU and the Students) chanted solidarity songs such as: 'Fashola ole', 'PDP power' etc., in order to intimidate the Governor'. On their parts, the students were mainly asking for, among other things the extension of school calendar, opening of registration portal (which has now been opened) among others. When the demonstrators could not be cautioned, despite promises amidst avalanche of security presence (which they disregarded), the governor's convoy drove off to another location within the campus to commission School of Transport just completed. The Pro Chancellor, VC and his Governing Council members had experienced same earlier before, as neither of them was spared as well. It was in fact, an exciting drama on that day.

On his return, almost simultaneously with the LASU Management (around noon), tension had subsided and they went into the auditorium straight away, this time with ease, presumably after ground had been watered. In the next couple of hours while the ceremony lasted, more students and other unions had joined forces with those already on ground thereby increasing the hulabaloo around the venue capable of distracting their attention. Students, non-academic staff, family friends who accompanied their well-wishers and those who came to catch first-hand glimpse of Mr. Governor also added glamour to the scene as they all stood arm-akimbo watching.

THE SHOCKING MOMENT
In anticipation and enthusiasm on what to expect when the governor comes out and what they (protestants) would do should they be snubbed, news broke in that the Governor, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), as approved a total reversal of LASU fees to the old N25,000. Immediately, LASU atmosphere was erupted with ecstasy and jubilations as they popped champagne. The jubilant students became excited as they did not hide their joys. They hugged one another in a clear show of happiness for victory at last after almost eight straight-months of struggles. Expectedly, the usual anti-APC-Fashola songs prior to this time surreptitiously vanished and reverted to 'Fashola Baba', 'APC, change'. The news came as a shocker indeed, for not a single student had such premonition.

On his way back to Ikeja, the students accompanied the Governor's convoy up till the main road- LASU-Iba axis, enrout Alausa. Fashola was smiling as I saw him waving hands at us (Students) through his (Range Rover Sport Jeep). Thereafter, around 5:29pm same day, there were party jazzs at the institution's centre of entertainments and social gatherings-Faculty of Arts. A day after, (August 8) the Students' Union president, comrade NURIDEEN, Temilola Yusuf led other members of his (LASUSU) cabinet and students on a thank you visit to Governor Babatunde Fashola. They all smiled back to the Campus in manner that suggests exchange of hands at Alausa.

How Fashola turns hero
The school fees reversal meant so many things to different people. To the destitute, there is no more stressful hustle at the Alaba International market Ojo, or the popular computer village market, Ikeja, trying to raise between N193,500 and N350,000 for school fees. To our parents, there is no more worries thinking of how to lend cash from Comparative Societies Organization, (CSO) or from the more organized lending institutions-Banks. No more undue insult of the Governor. Everything has gone for the good. Bye bye to students' vociferousness in LASU for now.

Thus, Babatunde Raji Fashola has proved his critiques wrong by doing what anyone had thought and as such 'turned hero' while whipping-off tears from the faces of Lagosians. Fashola, you have written your name in gold fore ever in the annals of history.

But…..

Unfortunately, he is yet to be officially 'crowned'. Ask why? Because, the over 1000 students who forfeited their admissions between 2011 till the present, at the instance of the then exorbitant school fees are still groaning.

Please Mr. Governor, refer to the July 11 and 14, 2014 publication of the DailyNewsWatch's article entitled: (Fashola And Agony Of 1000 LASU Dropout') and other online news media in which an article detailing their agonies was graciously published.

To this end, I urge Governor Fashola to consider the victims' plights so as to be ceremoniously crowned in earnest. Nothing else would make lovers of education much happier than this.

That APC and Governor Aregbesola wins the August 9 governorship election in OSUN State is a testament to the fact that, the more political leaders (elite) affects the lives of the masses, the more acceptable they are to the people. Similarly, while no single factor is enough to explain the victory, it must be stated that LASU school fees reversal has a remote effect on it as it sent a political signal to the Osun state's tertiary institutions' students. Hence forth, political parties and politicians must not downplay the roles of the masses. 'So, no matter how long the night, the day will dawn'. Goodbye.

Comrade MOMODU KADIRI WRITES FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY & INT'L STUDIES, LASU. Phone: 08120567606. Email: [email protected]

Disclaimer: "The views expressed on this site are those of the contributors or columnists, and do not necessarily reflect TheNigerianVoice’s position. TheNigerianVoice will not be responsible or liable for any inaccurate or incorrect statements in the contributions or columns here."