by Adewale Onagbesan

As it is always called; ‘the university of first choice and nation’s pride’ has done nothing but produced vibrant products, who are currently of great benefits to the nation, Africa as a continent, and also dominating the world. Starting with the likes of Barrister Adebisi Adegbuyi, Dr. D.K Olukoya of M.F.M, and so many personalities doing great exploits.

With the various relevance of the past alumni of this great institution, my question for the present various student’s leaders is that; of what level and extent is to be their own impact?. However, I answer myself by saying “the present student’s leaders possess no political and moral usefulness, and they are all bunch of irresponsible youths, and disappointment to the students”.

Furthermore, concentrating on my own alma mater to-be; the various students’ leaders lack political sincerity, starting with the council of faculty presidents. Am not so surprised at the council activities, because; I see them as Shoprite presidents, who are self-centered, and also lack political vitamins. I believe as a student leader; getting to a political office is based on their personal interest to serve the students, and to an extent where the tickets are gotten with their personal money.

To be factual, the spirit of corruption is the main theme of various faculty presidents’ administration that has joined the race of money politics operating at the national level of the National association of Nigerian students (NANS). Starting with the College of medicine pharmaceutical science students association (COMPSSA) president –  Babatunde Ismail Balogun who was impeached on 30th of August, 2014 by the legislature of the college, known as ‘House of Lords’ due to 3-basic count charges, which centers on political misconducts and  maladministration. Also, the faculty of business administration president, Olanrewaju Ogundipe who is chairman of the council of presidents, is nothing but a personality full of errors and failures, who was also the vice-chairman of the constitution drafting committee, for the proposed university of Lagos student’s union (ULSU). Olanrewaju, after been tagged as a pounded yam president, also failed to coordinate other members of the committee; in order to provide the institution with a well-suitable constitution, after having a lot of nice period at a great and expensive resort provided by the school.

However, my concern centers on the faculty of education of the institution, with the Nigerian union of education students association (NUESA), which is currently under the control of Comrade Rasak Olamilekan- the NUESA president, and to be concise his administration is tagged “ a period with no head, no tail”. Olamilekan has the same way of political life as Yinka Gbadebo, the NANS president, who operates money politics and stomach democracy. Olamilekan is nothing but a keg of failure, a confused man, a snake under the grass, the acidic rain that falls after the cool sun, and a leader who lacks political inner vision. Olamilekan’s administration is the first I know who failed to respect the constitution provided, due to the fact that he wants to run his selfish missions, before leaving the institution by December 6 of 2014. He did all he could just because he wants to fulfill his main agenda which is to enthrone ‘corrupt practices’. The financial secretary is sidelined in all financial matters of the faculty, all in the name of stealing students hard-earned and paid dues. It is however estimated that the president and his cabinet is in control of students’ dues worth over 3million naira, and at this time, with no single achievement to mention. The confused administration has failed to provide the whole students with any financial statements since the beginning of the session. Even just of recent, the administration through the welfare director, Comrade Babatunde, has failed to provide all students of the faculty with the ID cards which shows the spirit of association and unity. The same welfare director was reported to have collected the sum of 60,000naira for the purpose of getting public address system(PAS) for the faculty. However, the welfare director is nothing but a visionless students leader and a shameless thief, who can never be worthy of been emulated.  If that was all, like I have said, the financial secretary is incompetent and lacks vision, and as well as the fact that he does not realized the reason why is in that office. The financial secretary, Comrade Eze Joseph, is man that has no vision.

However, all this happened on the platform of the fact that the NUESA house of parliament under the administration of Rt. Hon. Adebowale Titus, is a toothless organ, who might be scared to carry out the duties expected of them, or might have been bought, on a friendship relationship which is against the key points of the operation of rule of law, which is the main element of the operation of representative democracy.

In fact, I feel they are not really worthy to be casted, because their lives might have been laid on the foundation of past and irresponsible leaders of this great nation, with the likes of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida who acted against the elective principle of Nigerian democracy with annulation of Chief M.K.O Abiola; Gen. Muhammed Buhari, Gen. Sanni Abacha and so on, who are all anti-democratic policies agents.

But as a youth, I believed they should emulate the enigmatic passions and strength of great people of the past, present in order to create a better future. This will possible if they do not imbibe the stomach-politics culture of students leaders in the nation, which include people like Yinka Gbadebo who according to me does not deserve to be called a COMRADE, because I perceive not his achievements, but only for him to conferred on president Goodluck Jonathan “the grand commander of Nigerian Students” excluding me. To be concise, on what necessity is President Jonathan worthy of that title? Is it the same President whose country’s future agents of changes academics were jeopardized for 6months, and 10months in universities and polytechnics, colleges of education respectively? Or whose administration has done nothing but fuelled the jets of corrupt practices every hour? Or the same person whose administration is incapable to refine the major mineral resources like crude oil, bitumen, etc. for the benefit of the majority? Or under whose administration houses failed sector of the economy starting with the ministry works, labour and productivity, finance and economy, petroleum, defense, ICT, and also the educational sector?

I feel the youth should try to look up to epitomes of emulations like Nelson Mandela of south Africa whose achievements cannot be forgotten, Menes of Ancient Egypt who can be remembered for his spirit of Uniting his nation, Queen Al-Kahina of North Africa, Mansa Musa of West Africa who is remembered for his generosities, and the Likes of Nigerian leaders like Herbert Macaulay, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Anthony Enahoro, Dr D.K Olukoya, and so many others.

I also believe there should be a formal and legal arrangements towards the activities of various leaders, most especially students leaders. There should also be a proper political orientation for them, and they must be constitutionally checked.

To rest my voice for now, I hereby challenge all the students of various institutions, most especially university of lagos, faculty of education to identify, fight, and defend their rights and interest, if the various students’ leaders are not capable of defending our interest. Also, I want advice all students to be politically active, because; we are the light of this nation, and the leaders of today.

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Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija