SUTC And The Future Of Students' Unionism

By Kazeem Olalekan Israel GCAF

Some months ago, the school management came out with a statement suspending some Students' Union Leader, TY, Kant and Oketooto Seun. As if that was not enough, the management went ahead to the extent of banning Students' Union activities on campus. There were agitations by the majority of Great Ife Students mandating the management to reinstate the suspended Union Leaders and lifting of ban on Students' Union activities on campus.

This led to the intervention of the leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone D. But, it is so unfortunate that the protest was sold-off by the leadership of NANS by holding a meeting with the management on the said day of intervention. The outcome of the meeting was the conditional reinstatement of the suspended Union Leaders but which does not automatically mean the lifting of ban on Union activities.

However, we are very much aware of the plan by the school management and some unscrupulous elements among the Students to impose on the generality of Great Ife Students some persons who would be saddled with the responsibility of paddling the ship of the Students without putting into consideration the number of the Students. In fact, speculations and plans is ongoing by the management to impose on us some persons through the formation of Students' Union Transition Committee (SUTC).

The silence of the major persons that are believe to be among those agitating for the SUTC and the reluctance of the CSO to constitute an electoral committee which would usher in new leadership of the Union is only fuelling the speculations.

Let us get something straight; we cannot for any reason accept the ban on Students' Unionism and the introduction of a SUTC in our University just because we asked for an improved welfare condition of Students on campus.

Despite the news of ban, OAU students have collectively resolved not to be cowed by the management and to prove to the management that this is our Union which can never be ban. That's why we're very vigilant and conscious of what the next step of the school management would be in introducing their SUTC. "There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but, there must never be a time to speak out vehemently against any form of dictatorship."

Today marks a day since our Students' Union was snatched away by the management due to the cowardice of our leaders. Today marks a day since the incompetency and nonchalant attitude of our leaders threw a clog in the wheel of the progress of our Union.

I think it's high time we started telling ourselves the truth. The self-seeking attitude of our leaders has made us to be where we are today. One thing I am sure of is that we will achieve this demand of improved welfare condition and ensure it is effected sooner than later.

Until our Union is brought back and our request granted, whirlwinds of revolt will shake this community (OAU) to its core. We call on the generality of Great Ife Students not to treat this issue of SUTC lightly; our consciousness is the only security we have.

We must resist it with everything in us and demand for the immediate reinstatement of Union activities on campus. It is on this note that I am calling on all Great Ife Students to mount pressure on the CSO to lead the Students in agitating for the reinstatement of Students' Union activities on campus.

Though, it might be risky as some persons are ready to let go our Union just to enrich their own selfish interest. We've been too compliant. We've stuck too much to the rules. We've kept quiet in the face of injustice. We've left other people to fight our battles. We've sold ourselves out. This is the time to write our wrongs and retrace our steps. We may have allowed the management to make fools of us in the past, but we have opportunity to set things straight.

We need to speak with one voice. The era of sitting at the comfort of our home and waiting is over; it's time to get out and occupy the streets of OAU if the management is not ready to give back to us our Union to show our dissatisfaction with management's nonchalant attitude to our well-being. If we all sit at home and keep quiet, they'll think we are probably enjoying how things is going on on campus, but if we troop out enmasse to register our displeasure, it'll send a strong message to the management that we aren't taking nonsense anymore. We are fed up with sitting in a lecture theatre without the necessary conveniences.

We are tired of having to pay huge amount of school fees and yet be cramped in an uncomfortable lecture room. If we are to get the desired change, we can't sit down idly; we need to speak up. We are not unaware that the voices that should speak up concerning this matter have been choked with cash.

We will not give up! We will fight this till we win.

LA LUCHA CONTINUA NO TERMINARA FACILMENTE! Kazeem Olalekan Israel (GANI)

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