ASPIRANT CHARGES STUDENTS TO VOTE

 

        Students of Oyo state origin have been charged not to distance themselves in politics as doing so may make incompetent and people of questionable characters to emerge in the next month general elections. Hon Abiodun Awoleye, the action congress candidate Ibadan north federal constituency gave this advice during a orientation programme organized by the The Federation of Ibadan Students Union, (FIBSU), The Polytechnic Ibadan main campus chapter on thursday 24th february 2011.

     

       The colourful welcome special- orientation for ND and HND new students which took place at NLT  north campus of the institution featured the recitation of Ibadan anthem, presentation of the Ibadan North East Bursary Award to the beneficiaries, paper presentations among others was compelld by Adesina Lawal a presenter with the radio Nigeria AMULUDUN FM and also a student with the federal cooperative college Ibadan 

            Dignitaries who graced the occasion include Hon Abiodun Awoleye member Oyo State House of Assembly and also the ACN candidate for Ibadan North Federal constituency, Hon Olaleye Olaniyi ACN candidate for Ibadan North Constituency 11 Oyo State House of Assembly, Baale Ekotedo Oloye Taiwo Ayorinde, Mr M.M. Lawal and representatives of the national body of the union among others.

            In his welcome address to the new intakes the president of the union, Ayodele Adeniran tasked the new students to start how they will succeed now as he described one who fail to plan, plan to fail so that they will not be a failure or slave to others. “I will like to remind you that your primary assignment here is to face your studies squarely, so that you will be a slave to others.”

The event was also a platform for aspirants most especially can candidates in the area to drum support. The chairman of the occasion, Hon Awoleye enjoined the students not to distance themselves as he said keeping distance to politics will give the incompetent people the chance to rig the elections. He called on the students to vote for government that will reduce their school fess like what has happened in Ekiti and Osun states. Hon Olaniyi a former president university of Ibadan students union and also a former NANS president 2000/2001 session charged them to for the party will achievable manifesto, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

Mr AbdulRazak Oladokun from the Accountancy department presented a paper on moral behavior of students on campus. He described moral behavior as those acts in accordance with the rules and regulations of any society. He enjoined them to always remember their source saying though they are from Ibadan no Ibadan lecture of staff will tolerate any act that contradicts the institutions rules.

Mr M.M. Lawal head of department of banking and finance who corroborated Oladokun advised the students to always shun illegal activities that may ridicule their father’s names.

Bale of Ekotedo Oloye Taiwo Ayorinde spoke on our roles as sons and daughters to the development of Ibadan land. The 75 year Baale said their roles to the development of the city should be towards the development to ensure that it is progressing not the other way round. He said they should rise up and organize themselves from compounds to local government areas to the state level to say enough to political manipulation.

CONTROVERSY BETWEEN CCPC, TEAM RIBADU AND JONATHAN STUDENTS ON CAMPUSES

Students on campuses across the federation are divided over the candidature of the presidential candidates of the four major political parties ahead of the next month general elections. Musliudeen Adebayo who graduated from Social Work and Administration, University of Jos revealed the causes of the controversy and the behind the scene moves by some groups to drum support for their preferred candidates.

Students, lecturers and other members of the campus community will continue to remain one of the determinant sections of the society that shapes and determines the popularity political strength acceptability, and victory of candidates during elections.

This is so considering the roles students and lecturers under various associations such as the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Union of Nigeria Universities (SSANU), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), and other state or ethnic based unions have played in the endorsement or victory of many senators, governors and other elected representatives during elections in recent times.

The youth / students wing of political parties during the first and second republics were acknowledged for organised rallies, conferences, to mobilize their colleagues for their preferred parties and this necessitated the victory of some of these parties.

The situation is no doubt far from what was obtained in the days of the Action Group (AG), or the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) during the first and second republics as investigation by our correspondent in major campuses across the six geo-political zones of the country revealed that three is confusion, controversy and confusion among opinion molders, unionists, student-activists and others stake holders on campuses over whom should they vote for as president in the April election and the candidature of the presidential candidates of the four major political parties, General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) , Mallam Nuhr Ribadu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) , the incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Kano State Governor Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP)

The division according to them is based on the political experience integrity boldness courage party manifesto to re-fix the whole system and how to cater for the teeming youth, and improvement in the educational sector in particular. The increasing and the emergence of various student-based pressure groups formed to mobilise the youth and students in particular through pasting of posters of the presidential candidates, conferences, distribution of flyers, bulk SMS and mobilisation of students on behalf of these aspirants in recent times has greatly contributed to the division.

While some thought the best candidate to support is the former head of state General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) due to his patriotism, integrity others are of the opinion that Ribadu of the Action Congress of Nigeria is best to be the president, another group are of the opinion that the incumbent president Jonathan should be allow to complete the Yaradua / Jonathan ticket, others are of the view that the Kano state governor Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau will be the best for the position due to his track record in Kano.

Among these groups are the Campus Congress for Progressive Change (CCPC) which is mobilizing students for General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and Pastor Tunde Bakare, Team Ribadu which is drumming support for   the former economic and financial crimes commission boss , Jude Imagwe led NANS faction and the Goodluck Jonathan students group both had endorsed Jonathan.

The CCPC according to its national coordinator, Muhammed Alabi Abdulkareem a law student with the Nigerian law school Enugu campus was formed to drum support for the retired general “due to his commitment to the building and sustenance of a united , prosperous, and virile Nigeria where democracy and rule of law  thrive with the promise to evolve a people oriented philosophy of selfless service , sacrifice and zero tolerance to corruption and indispline”. The group has Chief (Bar) Mike Ahmba, Chief Tonny Momoh, Buba Galadima as patrons. It has Ishiaq Tunde Idiagbon son of the late General Tunde Idiagbon in HND Business Administration Kwara state polytechnic as north central coordinator, Usman Yakubu in 400 law Amahdu Bello University Zaria (ABU) as north west coordinator, Thomas Biniyat in 500 law University of Jos (UNIJOS) as Plateau state coordinator, Paul Oluwatobi University of Lagos (UNILAG) as South West coordinator, Garba Sulaiman as coordinator for FCT, Benue and Nassarawa states among others. The group has extending its reach from the north to the south in recent time.  

The TEAM RIBADU which has vowed to support Mallam Ribadu in one of its national delegates meetings in Akure the Ondo state capital late last year according to its coordinator Olawale Dada a former NANS deputy coordinator south west said the philosophy of their struggle to ensure that ribadu lead the country from April this year is because of his integrity age as a youth. Nigerians students cannot afford to take the back seat this critical time, Ribadu is capable of leading this country successfully, he said. The meeting was attended by SUG presidents from the federal university of Akure, (FUTA), Federal College of Technology Akure, Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko ,Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo, and representatives from University of Ado Ekiti, Adeyemi college of education Ondo, national vice president for external affairs NANS Oladotun Toye and Bola Ilori the Ondo State coordinator.

The Jude Imagwe led faction of NANS and the Jonathan Students Group (JSG) had endorsed president Jonathan. Although Jude’s declaration for Jonathan had been condemned by Ini Ememobong  a student of the University of Uyo (widely known authentic president of NANS) but Jude a student of the University of Benin maintained that disappearance of queue at petroleum stations, amnesty and other projects will make Jonathan to be a candidate to beat at the poll.

The activities of these groups in drumming support for their candidates through facebook, twitter and other social networks, bulk sms posters flyers room to room and hostel to hostel campaigns on campuses and students dominated  areas have continue to be intensify as the election draw nearer. Students are now taking their time to look at the candidates, why they will support a candidate and why they vowed not to support the others.  

A section of students from the south west who did not disclose whom their candidates are vowed not to vote president Jonathan due to the "deflamatory statement' he made about the leaders in the south western part of the country as "rascals". Jonathan’s statement during the PDP south west zonal campaign at Mapo hall Ibadan the Oyo state capital has been condemned by various groups within and outside the country.

At the University of Ado Ekiti there is a clear indication that UNIADITES and others who attended a public lecture delivered by the Kano state governor Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau who is also the presidential candidate of the all Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) recently will go on his direction. This was disclosed to our correspondent by  a notable campus journalist and a student activist in the institution. They described the lecture on the "challenges of good governance in Nigeria" as interesting and educative. Shekarau who was honour as "man of peace" at the maiden edition of the UNAD student’s union public lecture by the Kehinde Okunduga led administration will no doubt had overwhelm support from UNIADAITES, they both echoed.  He had earlier delivered a lecture in the University of Ibadan last year, and this is making him gaining more support from students here, a student in University of Ibadan said.  

In Plateau state, “Com Sam Toks UNIJOS SUG president 2008/2009 session who is a member of the Shekarau Campaign Team will no doubt mobilize UNIJOS students and their counterparts at the Plateau State Polytechnic, this is because of his track record as a  president of UNIJOS SUG”, an associate of the Plateau state born law student with the Nigerian law school told our correspondent.

Now it is time for students to look critically at these groups, CCPC, Team Ribadu, Jonathan Students and others and who their candidates are and their agenda for national development before the presidential election next month. As at the time of filling this report, students who are bracing up for the April polls are still divided on whom they will vote for, also one cannot really predict whom the over forty three million Nigerian students may go on his way, increasing in the number of these pressure groups and how they can be able to sell their candidates will be another factor that will shape the voting pattern among the students.

CAMPUS PARROT MAKES ITS DEBUCT

                       

                                      

            An inter-campus newspaper which is aimed in addressing some social hills among students of tertiary institutions across the federation, campus parrot has been launched.

            Campus parrot is published by Campus parrot multimedia agency. According to its publisher,  Victor Adeoye in 300 Level Microbiology Federal University of Technology Akure said the ideal was developed lst year having discovered that various students related issues have not been given proper attention by the government, parents, school authorities, to this end he said the newspaper will set a bench mark for other in the area of its content, editing quality of its news items, features , interviews, opinions and the rest. He said at the launching that though there are many newspaper being handled and published by students in  their various campuses,  campus parrot will be one to beat.

            At the launching held at Solab suites international, FUTA south gate road Akure on Wednesday 12th January this year  was the editor of Sunshine Daily Watch Newspaper (the only Ondo State based nespaper) Mr Ebenezer Adeniyan , rector of the Osun State College of Technology Esa Oke represented by his deputy, the general manager of positive FM Akure,Prince Wale Adeboboye, represented,  Dr. Aderibigbe of the general studies department FUTA, student -leaders from FUTA, College of Education Ikere Ekiti, among others.

JOS CRISIS CRIPPLED VARSITY STUDENTS AGAIN

Saturday 8^th January is another black day for students of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) when the news of two students killed in a recent attack was broke. Musliudeen Adebayo reports that over 70 percent of the students have resumed from the break but academic and non academic activities are yet to commence because of tension, fear and frustration on the Plateau.

 

Academic and non academic activities are yet to commence fully at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) since the Christmas and the new year break. Survey of the available number of students had it that over 70 percent of the students have resumed hoping that the atmosphere will allow then to commence lectures in the first week of January. But they are yet to resume, this is no thank to the recent attack on some villages and areas such as Bukuru, Riyom in  the Plateau and the killing of two students of the institution on their way home on Saturday 8^th January this year.

Investigation revealed that it has remain a tragedy for the students and staff of the institution either those in the campus and those who resides in areas such as Bauchi road, Yantrailer, Gada- Biu, Faringada, Rikkos, Tundun-Wada, Shagari corner, Katako , Katako junction often face untold hardship  whenever there is a crisis on plateau.

It is also worrisome that directly and indirectly they have continued to form large casualties. No fewer than five students were killed during the November 2008 crisis. Equally more than six (6) students were among hundred of those killed during the January 2010 crisis while property ranging from laptops, text books, note books, mattresses, food items, cloths, certificates, and other valuables worth millions of naira are yet to be recover by these innocent souls and the unquantifiable loss such as psychological trauma, fear, postponement of the examinations and resumption has continue to be their gains simply they are students of UNIJOS.

Both the authorities and the students have vowed to employ means reducing the casualties. This was demonstrated on Monday 10^th 2011 by the authorities during an emergency “security and welfare meeting” held at the Bauchi road main campus.

This was followed by the students and the management meeting held at the Multipurpose Hall Bauch road where the resolutions of the management’s meeting was read to thir ears. It was presided over by the institution’s eye Prof. Sonni Tyoden with the attendance of other principal officers including deans of all faculties, security agents and the students.

Part of the resolutions was that: “No commercial motor cycle popularly know as “going”  and cabs will hence forte not to be allow to go beyond the Naraguta gate . This means that students both in the Naraguta hostel about one kilometer to the gate and their counterparts in the Abuja hostel or permanent site about two kilometers to the gate had to trek for lectures.

“That all students should be going with their identity cards for identification, they should be going in group and be mindful of where they go. “That female students should avoid carry big bags, that there will be check points, and students should always surrender themselves to the security agents for checking”.

“That all arrangement has been perfected that the lectures earlier slated to commence first week of January will commence on Monday January 17^th  and the first semester examinations will commence on February 7^th  as slated”.

The meetings according to a source was in connection with the recent attacks and how to reduce students casualties, two students of the institution  one a 200 level student of medicine and the other in 200 level education on their way were killed on Saturday, this and others necessitated the emergency meetings he source added.

          Female students mostly in Abuja hostel in block D an E are going through hell. According to our female correspondent .There has been a total black out in the hostel for over one month. We have to charge our phones and boil our water as the cold weather is becoming unfavorable. They appealed to the power holding company of Nigeria PHCN and the concern authorities to come to their aid.

The newly sworned in SUG president Aluta Nantok in 400 level law in one of his addresses appealed to the students as he told the female that though he just came to power his cabinet will soon bring succor to their problems. He promised to liase with appropriate authorities in ensuring adequate water supply, electricity and their security. He told them to be mindful of where they go and always go in group.

As at the time of filling in this report thigh there is optimistic that the school will commence lectures on Monday 17^th, there is high possibility that hungry may continue to bit residents of Abuja and Naraguta hostels as shops owners in Abuja hostel  have ceased to open. Those in Abuja had it worse where only one shop Bulama has continued to open. Only the brave ones who could manage to go to Farin Gada and terminus market could do so in fear to buy food items.

Meanwhile at about 11.30 am on Monday 17th  when our correspondent spoke with two students one from law and the other from education. As at faculty of law some class received lectures but express optimistic that they will start proper on Tuesday. The one in education said the tension had been lowered but they are yet to commence their lectures in the faculty.