“Injustice is censured because the censures are afraid of suffering, and not from any fear which they have of doing injustice” – Plato
Within 20days in office as the SUG President, University of Ibadan, Ojo Aderemi presided over a congress with a resolution that he should lead a peaceful protest in 2017 over the school’s inability to provide identity cards for students after consultations have failed them. He obeyed the decision of the congress and led a protest that was peaceful and well organised in 2017. The union was suspended by the school’s management in 2017 and the president of the suspended union has been handed a four-semester suspension in 2019.
“Students paid #1500 each for identity cards and the school management failed to produce these cards till second semester. They did not appeal to students for failure of duty because they are masters and slaves dare not challenge the actions of their masters. Give a job to someone and if that person fails to do it and you get angry. It is sane in advanced countries where citizens are not Nigerians if the former begs the latter for understanding or the latter possibly charge the former to court for compromise of agreements. Students protested and the body (union) of the students they ought to appeal to was suspended. They questioned the rights of the students’ leaders to know if these funds were diverted or the school has been duped. In a twinkle of an eye, complaints became accusers, this kind of narratives happens in societies where injustice prevails and Nigeria is no different. What a tale!
My thoughts are with Ojo Aderemi because I know that things would not be easy at all. The story of Ojo Aderemi is similar to stories of many students regularly intimidated and oppressed by school managements. If you lead protest, you will be expelled or suspended by school management and if you write critical articles to express concerns about social issues, you will be expelled or suspended by school authorities.
That academic institutions where criticisms should be respected and encouraged have become “dens of lions and evil angels” where they feed on critics and people of different opinions on societal issues.
This has become a social nuisance in our campuses, a social nuisance that portrays academic communities as inferiors and the silence of the government through members of governing council who are political appointees is worse.
Wickedness is like a food. The more you put in, the more it tends to expand the gut to take more and more. I have reasons to doubt the sanity and wellness of some vice-chancellors and deans of students affairs of our institutions and Idowu Olayinka, vice-chancellor of University of Ibadan is taking the lead role. He is a perpetual intimidator, very persky and unforgiving in evil ways. Under his leadership, billions disappeared from the coffers of the institution, Kunle Adebajo; one of the finest writers in our campuses was suspended over critical article, union was proscribed over identity cards issue, a lecturer committed suicide after 22years of doctorate degree pursuit in the school and finally, the head of the union has been suspended for four-semester because he led a peaceful protest ratified by congress, the true owners of the union.
That persons of crude characters like Idowu Olayinka who is not worthy to lead a primary school could be the vice-chancellor of the premier university is not only an insult on the sensibilities of every elements of the academic community but it is a great revilement that Idowu Olayinka could still retain the seat of the vice-chancellor inspite all. Idowu has subjected the core values of the premier university to great ridicule and many people have began to wonder if the greatness University of Ibadan is known for is still in existence.
In a society where evil men of no conscience rule characterised by “papertigers” and “comrades of sale”, social injustice tends to prevail.
I have read reactions of civil societies and pressure groups about the issue but I have a bad feeling that this issue would be dragged till Ojo Aderemi finishes his four-semester suspension. Obstinancy, betrayal of struggle and conspiracy may possibly serve as obstacles. Once again, I have lost hope in this nation.
*As Aminu Zubairu takes the final bow*
University of Ibadan is just an overrated abbatoir. The difference between normal abbatoir and U.I is “they kill animals in the former while they kill humans in the latter”. Aminu Zubairu was a lecturer II at the department of mathematics in University of Ibadan. He was a man of high native intelligence with uncommon teaching skills.
He was a lively man and lived all his life for the growth and progress of his department and University of Ibadan at large. I read short stories written by some students of the university and I come to the conclusion that he was a brilliant man. As brilliant as he was, in possession of high native intelligence, he was denied doctorate degree for 22years, the same degree politicians recieve honorarily or lobbied with half a million.
No sleep for the wicked ones. The university authority quickly rushed to the press to inform the people that Zubairu committed suicide and his apartment got burnt as a result of fire hazard. The writer of the piece is brilliant but not wise. Like Zubairu like the writer. He could not hide the excitement of the authority that a man who willingly resigned 2years ago has not left staffs quarters of the said institution as Aminu Zubairu could not figure out that he needs to belong to the right caucus on campus to survive tensions.
They told us that Aminu Zubairu was a perfectionist. They are right. Perfectionists who will never succumb to the dictates of unholy caucus don’t live in Nigeria, they live in heaven and advanced countries and he has finally gone to where they sent him.
School management did not tell us about #60,000 reduction from his monthly salary. They did not tell us about how students he taught have become associate professors in the same institution he tutored them. Ask around, students will always tell you about the super brilliancy traits of this gentle Muslim brother. School management did not tell us that Aminu Zubairu has been on the run for 2years to leave University of Ibadan but they refused to sign his papers. They denied him both liberty and doctorate degree. He was oppressed, intimidated and frustrated by these elements. Please permit me to borrow the words of Femi Adeyeye, a student of Building Technology who was expelled by the mamagement of the university of Lagos over a piece where he described the senate of the school as a “conglomerate of academic ignorami”. Dear Femi Adeyeye, these people are everywhere and there is nothing we can do about it because this is Nigeria.
There are hundreds of Aminu Zubairu in our campuses. They live in fears and forcefully act in line with the dictates of the powerful ones we have in our campuses. This cult group is fearfully expanding as they kill, frustrate and make life difficult for whoever that is not in agreement with their resolutions. They appoint vice-chancellors, rectors and provosts of schools. Either you are a Christian, muslim or traditional worshippers, you are entitled to membership in as much as you are a staff. Those who have issuez with them are intimidated and If they are not victimised, they won’t allow them to attain top positions. There are many lecturers who have become victims of their evil plans, different set-ups and other mischievous plans yet Aminu Zubairu has bided a bad bye.
Aminu Zubairu is gone. Ojo Aderemi has been suspended for four-semester. Kunle Adebajo, Femi Adeyeye and many others have been suspended for semesters. Intelligent write-ups and protests could not reverse their suspension. Aminu Zubairu is gone and free from these evil men in caucus but what would be the fate of other lecturers in chains? Ojo Aderemi has been suspended for four semesters, will Ojo Aderemi also join the historical book of records that his suspension was not reversed? What is the fate of other students in the school if the head of the union could be treated in such manner?
If the owners of the morning pray for our public officials especially heads of schools that they will livelong and enjoy prosperity, the owners of the evening will not accept such prayers and prosperity will be harsh on them.
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