In a few weeks, students of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State, will go to the poll to elect those that will take over from the Abubakar Aliyu Rafindadi-led Students’ Union Government (SUG). What is the legacy of the outgoing executive? ABDULRAHAMAN ZAKARIYAU (300-Level Mass Communication) writes.
HIS election as president of Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Kaduna State, was momentous. Abubakar Aliyu Rafindadi, 22, was seen as the golden jubilee leader because he emerged when the institution was preparing to mark its 50th anniversary.
Abubakar, who had no intention to contest for the SUG leadership, was gunning for the leadership of the National Association of Social Sciences Students (NASSS). However, because of crisis in the NASSS, which led to its ban 2012, Abubakar stepped up his political game; he declared for SUG presidency. He was sworn in by the Vice Chancellor, Prof Abdullahi Mustapha on November 5, 2012.
On its advent, Abubakar administration’s first task was to improve students’ welfare. He liaised with vendors and business operators on campus to regulate prices of commodities and services to what students could afford. He also drew attention to the poor service in the sick bay, threatening to shut it down sickbay if the service was not improved. The intervention led to the employment of more doctors and nurses in the sickbay.
The Abubakar-led SUG organised public lectures where eminent people such as Prof Aminu Dorayi, first SUG president in ABU, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Prof. Ango Abdullahi, former Vice Chancellor of the institution, Dr Maitama Sule, Senator Geoge Akume and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) boss, among others, discussed topical issues with students. Papers presented at these symposia were compiled and distributed to students free.
The administration renovated and equipped the union’s secretariat on Zaria and Kongo campuses with modern facilities. An official car was purchased for the union while two buses were also procured to help the movement of students at subsidised rate. The union revived its Keke NAPEP’s business to reduce students’ stress in moving from one faculty to another.
Among the students, Abubakar is fondly called “subsidy president”, because of his administration’s control of price of goods and services through Consumer Regulatory Task Force Committee, which union constituted immediately after it was inaugurated. Abubakar administration’s biggest social event, Etisalat Campus Promo, will linger in the minds of students, who won a car, laptops, Ipads, mobile phones and t-shirts.
The expiring Abubakar’s administration is leaving a good legacy, Farouk Bello, a 400-Level Mass Communication student said.
Abdullahi Sani Shauibu, president of Faculty of Environmental Design, believes Abubakar, propelled collective interest of students, describing the union leader as a visionary leader. “He has been involved in many struggle, but Abubakar-led administration has written its name in gold given its achievement in academics, sport and students’ welfare,” Abdullahi said.
Abubakar has done a lot to promote students’ welfare, Macpherson Eze Brown, president of National Association of Geography Students in ABU, said, saying the students’ leader stunned his opponent with his achievement.
Abdullahi Abdulrahaman, a 300-Level Electrical Engineering student, described Abubakar-led union as “one-sided organisation”, saying the union did not intervene in the leadership tussle that rocked his department.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC), Prof Ibrahim Na’Iya Sada, said the Abubakar-led students’ union was obedient and listened to students’ views. The DVC said since inception of the union, it has maintained a cordial relationship with the management, noting that the institution did not witness students’ unrest because Abubakar was diplomatic in its approach to leadership.
The Dean Students’ Affair (DSA), Prof Mohammed Sani Shehu, said he was surprised to be learn that the union has a task force going round to ensure that prices of services were controlled. The DSA said the Abubakar-led SUG would be remembered for publishing a book on students’ unionism in the university since 1962.
According to the university Chief Security Officer, Col. Abubakar Sadiq Oguche (rtd), there has not been any students’ union regime that actively collaborated with the school security outfit to engender peace on the campus more than outgoing administration led by Abubakar. He described union as focused.
Despite challenges faced by his executive, Abubakar said he achieved his promises to students because of his passion for selfless service. Would the incoming students’ union leadership maintain the tempo of achievements by the Abubakar-led administration?
