A few weeks left for the second semester to come to an end. This means that there is likely going to be another election as the term for the current administration will come to an end soon. The ends of these terms are nothing to worry about anyway, but the end of a futile administration with a bleak optimism of reestablishing the essence of Students’ Union Government in MAPOLY, that has not witnessed a students governing body for a while, is of utmost concern.
Prior to this time, the alacrity and optimism in the students when the news that a students leader would be selected was solid and mountainous. The news was received with a replenishment and in a very high spirit that shows that majority, if not all, of the students had been looking forward to voting that day so as to elect a leader, their leader.
However, despite that the election was a delegate one — a roomful of students representing and taking decision on behalf of a fieldful of students, many were, in the shoes of no choice, welcomed it then with the hope that performing the role, duties and obligations as expected of a responsible leader representing the students was what mattered. Nevertheless, the condition of underrepresented, if that is the word, is what the students are experiencing now. They are feeling like nothing really changed since the new development. Nothing!
To be candid, something did change, and if, as my knowledge is minute, it was or is anything, it is the reboot of a notable activity in the school, which is the SUG football competition. The competition revived the students veins that was running stiff ok the heels of being starved of any sport activity for a long time – not two years ago as I know. Even at that, the competition petered out abruptly and shamefully.
The question, however, is: after the SUG Cup, what else does Babs-cum-cabinet have in stock for the students populace?
This question and others that it encompasses bring to mind the electioneering campaign promises. Those that were campaigners for this present administration might have forgotten those promises but the opponents, even though now passive, would not forget as well as majority of the students because the transportation tussle, which the management had left to the care of the SUG, is yet unsolved.
Likewise, the mouth-watering promise of all: Digital Mapoly, the headline for Bab’s campaign, is yet to be focused on. It seems not likely to take place as the administration will soon finish its term. Unfortunately, no second term as structured in the Nigerian political system. It is the second term that a failed government in Nigeria usually promise to rejig to solve the people’s problem that he could not solve in his first term (4 years) in office. That is a larger political context as compared to a minutest of it – a tiny section of government, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. The SUG has a term lasting for 2 sessions — first semester and second semester.
As every student would probably agree that if digitalisation of MAPOLY is all that this administration could provide, it would be enough. The reason is because, the remark passed by friends of MAPOLY students in other schools who do registrations online is usually embarassing. Imagine hundreds of students queueing under the harsh, scorching sun for days for registrations. This is the first outcry of new students in MAPOLY. We met it, soon, we would leave it behind and the obsolete form of students data collection still remain as it is.
Sir Babs, the rim of your glasses has seen this strenuous processes, look microscopically into this and, like a computer scientist that you are, map out the panel to take this reputable school out of its redundancy.
Besides, and as common in your role models, the Nigerian politicians, that always promises
all-inclusive government, I wonder what you, Babs, and your cabinet, especially the PRO arm understood by the word ALL-INCLUSIVE. To help you with a dictionary meaning, that’s if your leadership has a listening ears. According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (9th edition), all-inclusive means including everything or everyone. And thus, you should by now, if not too late, done everything that you promised and also carry everyone along while fulfilling those promises.
Frankly, we saw your WhatsApp posts here and there about leadership training in Oyo state and various visitations to dignitaries in Ogun state, the question is: what value did you bring from those places and its bearing on the students populace, and have you begun to implement them – if any?
A chiming bell at 7am is to wake the heavy-sleeper with heavy-duties to perform. This bell is reminding Babs-led administration about the promises made.
Personally, I doubted if Babs-led admin had anything to offer except this SUG Cup stuff. Perhaps, Babs forgot that the Cup could not be used to drink water by thousand of students who have to jostle all the time for transportation. Students who have to line-up for hours just to submit files.
Though the time to assert any substantial change might be improbable, however, history won’t forget all these inadequacies colouring the Babs administration.
To majority of the followers, vying for the post of leadership is a taxing and laborious job. And whoever comes next should know of this. And also, know that volunteering to take up the position of that of the SUG President demands responsibility for all and to all because all are watching.
