The Nation Newspaper

Category: Campus Life

  • Row over UNIBEN student’s death

    Row over UNIBEN student’s death

    The death of a final year student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ibrahim Momodu, has sparked a row. The police said he was a robber, but his family disagrees, saying the deceased was a victim of extra-judicial killing. GILBERT ALASA (400-Level Foreign Languages) and LEONARD KOLAWOLE (300-Level Electrical and Electronics Engineering) report.

    The downpour that day in Benin City, the Edo State capital, could not stop the enraged students. They could not even be deterred by the acrid smell of the canisters of tear gas fired by the police. The demonstrators moved round the ancient city, chanting solidarity songs in a synchronised voice: “We want justice for Ibrahim Momodu”.

    The University of Benin (UNIBEN) students took to the streets on Monday to protest the alleged killing of Ibrahim by Mrs Carol Afegbua, a Chief Suprintendent of Police (CSP) and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ogida Police Station, Benin.

    The deceased was a final year student of Science Laboratory Technology. The circumstances surrounding his death appear hazy. Many are asking how he died.

    Ibrahim was allegedly killed by the police led by CSP Afegbua on Monday, May 27 on his way back from where he was undergoing his Industrial Attachment. His remains were allegedly hurriedly buried in a shallow grave at Third Cemetery, Benin by policemen, who approached Egor Local Government Area for permission to do so.

    Maureen Eweka, his girlfriend, said the deceased spoke with her on the phone at 8pm that fateful day. “He told me that he was riding on a bike and that he would be with me shortly. A few minutes later, sounds of gunshot rent the air. I called him immediately to know where he was but I could not get through to him again. His phone rang endlessly.”

    When the victim’s family visited the Ogida Police Station last Sunday, the police, allegedly described the late Ibrahim as one of the robbers that specialised in using motorcycles to rob Ogida residents.

    Another twist was added to the incident when the Edo State Broadcasting Service (EBS), on its Crime Watch programme, portrayed the late Ibrahim as a taxi driver and robber, who was killed on a robbery scene.

    A member of the family, who spoke to our correspondents, said the police were exploring all avenues to cover up their crime. He said the victim could not ride a motorcycle nor could he drive a car.

    Maimuna, the younger sister of the deceased, told our correspondents: “I was in Abraka, Delta State on May 29 when my mother called that my brother had been missing for two days. I know my brother never slept outside. So, I knew something was amiss. I called his number and a policeman picked up the phone. I requested to speak with my brother. But he said my brother was involved in a gun duel with the police around our house. Later, we learnt that he had been killed and buried by the policemen.”

    Rebecca Idehen, the deceased’s aunt, told our correspondents that CSP Afegbua confirmed to her that the late Ibrahim was arrested on a bike around 8pm with a gun at the Textile Mill Junction and killed during a struggle with the policemen that were trying to effect his arrest.

    Idehen said: “Mrs Carol told me that she shot the boy in the leg so as not to pose security threat to her men. We later discovered that Ibrahim bled to death before getting to the station, which is why they went to bury him immediately.”

    CSP Afegbua defended her action when she wrote on her Facebook page: “Does this portray the image of a student…guns and riding of an unregistered motorcycle at 22:30hrs attempting to shoot a policeman, a new syllabus for university students? Let’s face reality and tell ourselves the truth, no sane human being takes pleasure in taking the life of an innocent citizen.”

    Also, a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Eguavoen, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said: “On May 27, 2013 about 8:20pm, operatives at Ogida Division led by the DPO while on routine patrol within the area intercepted a cyclist and another with an unregistered motorcycle at Obayuwana Junction on Siluko Road, Benin City.

    “The suspect immediately brought out a Russian made cut-to-size double barrel gun, but policemen, noticing his action, responded swiftly and shot the suspect later known to be Ibrahim Momodu who died on his way to the hospital.’’

    He added that eight live cartridges, one unregistered red Qlink motorcycle, two mobile phones and a bag containing the firearm were recovered from the suspects.

    CAMPUSLIFE learnt that the remains of the student were buried on May 28 at Third Cemetery after a “permission document” was obtained from the Egor Local Government Area. But when our correspondent visited the Egor Local Government Secretariat on Tuesday, none of the council officials was willing to comment.

    But Kadiri Momodu, a cousin of the deceased, told our correspondents that the late Ibrahim could not drive his mother’s car not to talk of driving a cab. “So, we wonder how he became a taxi driver overnight. We are asking the Edo State government, the Commissioner of Police, the Commissioner for Justice and well-meaning Nigerians to help us. This is another extra-judicial killing by the police,” he said.

    Idehen said: “Ibrahim was neither a taxi driver nor a motorcycle rider. He was on industrial attachment at a pharmaceutical firm on Murtala Mohammed Way in Benin. My brother is not an armed robber. He had never stolen anything before. I know he didn’t die well. I can see him weeping wherever he is now. Nigerians must help us to demand justice for this innocent boy.’’

    Students disrupted activities in Benin during the protest that started at the Akenzua Cultural Centre. The demonstration was led by the president of the UNIBEN Students’ Union Government (SUG), Osifo Osasere.

    Osifo said the protest became necessary given the role the police played in the “extra-judicial” killing of the student. He told the students: “As fellow students, we are aggrieved by the barbaric act of the DPO. We cannot fold our arms and allow some narrow-minded persons to destroy the future of our generation. We will continue to rise against all oppressors of students.”

    The protesters moved to the Edo State Government House to register their grievances. Addressing the students, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Stephen Idehenre, urged them to be peaceful and conduct themselves responsibly. He said: “The government is not happy with this situation and we will ensure a proper and thorough investigation. We are not happy about it. I want to assure you that the governor is aware of this incident and he has since swung into action.”

    The Commissioner of Police, Folusho Adebanjo, said he would not address the aggrieved students because of their rowdiness. He requested that the students appoint delegates to meet with him. Swiftly, the protesters rejected his offer and continued to chant anti-police songs, such as: “CSP Carol is a ritualist’’; “Killer police must be brought to book”, among others.

    In a telephone interview with our correspondents, the UNIBEN Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr H.O. Osarenren, described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the university would await the police investigations before taking a stand.

    Osama Adodo, 500-Level Science Laboratory Technology and the deceased’s class representative, described the late Ibrahim as easygoing. He said: “Ibrahim was a hardworking student. He related with everyone and he was widely admired for his neatness.”

    The Commissioner for Justice, Henry Idahangbo, urged the bereaved family to remain calm, saying the government would investigate the matter.

  • When the Luddites were confounded

    When the Luddites were confounded

    An 19th century United Kingdom (1810), a large group of workers protested against new factory methods of production which later became what we know as the Industrial Revolution. The protesting workers wanted the status quo – traditional methods of work – maintained, but they lost out to sound reasoning when the new system was deemed more beneficial to society. It revolutionised the process of production. The lesson in this is that nothing is static and that change will come no matter how long it takes.

    Inasmuch as I shy away from discussing politics in this column, I am somewhat compelled to do so today because of an encounter with some undergraduates last week. The students were not discussing the challenges facing universities and how tough it is to live on campuses and other sundry issues, but they were discussing, with passion, the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) election and its fallout! As I listened to them, my little hope that this country may change some day was buoyed. Yes, we may have run down universities producing questionable graduates, but mark this: we still have first class students passing through these institutions. I met some of them last week and they challenged me.

    Their argument was on two fronts; leadership and technology. One of the students, while referring to the short video clip of the election which is also on Youtube – asked rhetorically why the other governors allowed Rauf Aregbesola to film the election only to kick when it went viral. Another student provided the answer: “Some of them are still living in the past; they don’t know that you cannot muzzle our generation. They should ask Mr. Shem of ‘my oga at the top’ fame and see how a blunder can go viral in minutes. From the video clip we know an election took place and we knew who won despite every effort to cover it up”.

    All through history you find people who resist change, but change itself is inevitable. The workers I mentioned earlier resisted change, but that didn’t stop change. My students wondered why governors that they look up to as “intelligent leaders” could be so naïve to allow another colleague to record a proceeding that they would now shamelessly want Nigerians to believe never happened. The only answer I could proffer is that they were able to do this because they are luddites – people who oppose technological or industrial progress. They still live in an era of “consensus” or “signing of documents” that places Mr. X as the unopposed governor with “automatic ticket” to contest election.

    From technology, the discussion sliffed to the leadership challenge and they sought my opinion on this issue. My take, as I told them, is that this is diversionary and unnecessary. We are bickering over a NGF that adds virtually nothing to the progress of the polity when our air waves have been taken over by foreign countries showcasing their secondary and tertiary institutions because they know there is an insatiable demand for educational products by Nigerians. When will we be bringing our varsities back on track to compete favourably with their peers in Africa? Some of these varsities produced the likes of Wole Soyinka, JP Clark, Chinua Achebe and the scores of professors and lecturers that we have scattered around the world. The situation is so bad now that some parents have started sending their children to secondary schools in neighbouring Benin, Togo and Ghana.

    While we allowed ourselves to be hoodwinked by a social group bent on setting an agenda that suits purposesly and cover its shortcomings, the leadership in the former desert wasteland of Dubai was busy unveiling plans to build three world-class hospitals and 40 new clinics to promote “medical tourism”. If you guessed who they are targeting, you’d be right on target if you shout Nigeria! Foreign hospitals mainly in India, the Middle East and Europe now advertise in our newspapers just like Indomie, Dano, Glo, MTN and Airtel. Add this to “educational tourism” that has been going on almost unnoticed and you’ll want to weep for this country. Yet a group of “leaders” would want us to dissipate our energies discussing an election that will not improve facilities in our universities!

    After watching a documentary on the transformation of the desert of Dubai to the economic powerhouse it is today, I doffed my hat for its leadership. His Highness Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum said the country’s plan is to build hospitals comparable to any medical facility anywhere in the world. Smart guys, they are not stopping there; since they see the future before it emerges, they are well informed enough to envision the building of five-star hotels next door to the hospital facilities for the relatives of patients. Knowing full well our penchant for living large and extravagance even in precarious situations like ill health and death, they are envisioning facilities for five star deaths.

    They are racing against time to ensure that it is finished on or before 2015 because it will be jampacked with “customers” from a country you and I know too well. The objective is to add another dimension to the successful Dubai story – trade, travel, real estate and now medical tourism. If this is not vision, what is it and if it is not leadership, then what is it?

    Leadership plays a crucial role in the development of any society. A look at the leadership structure of a society says a lot about that society, which is why John Maxwell, who has written and researched on the subject said everything rises and falls on leadership. Leadership can either move a people forward or backward, it can cause incalculable damage that in some cases may require decades to amend. As a student of history and political economy, I’ve taken the pains to study the critical path of nations, and in my studies and research, I’ve discovered that leadership plays a fundamental role.

    Without going too far, let’s take three Southern African nations as a case study here. South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia all share a common thread of history; they were at a point ruled by whites with vocal and militant black opposition movements in tow. In South Africa we have the ANC, in Namibia there is the SWAPO and in Zimbabwe there is ZANU-PF. While South Africa and Namibia were able to rise above the bitterness and oppression of colonial rule and domination to make headway into the 21st century, Zimbabwe remains a basket case of monumental failure, having, at a time the highest inflation rate in the world! South Africa and Namibia had leaders in Nelson Mandela and Sam Nujoma, who were willing to forgive and move on while Robert Mugabe’s stock in trade is to stoke the fire of bitterness in his people and whip them to a state of “patriotic” frenzy in his determination to cling to power perpetually.

    Before leaving my students, hosts we were able to arrive at some conclusion one of which is that technology has changed things. As we told ourselves, the mobile phones in our hands are a very powerful and potent tool, not just for talking, but in determining the course of future events, especially regarding leadership. They are of the opinion that the time for grumbling is far gone, “now is the time for action”, said one of them and “that action starts with not being naïve but to turn ourselves to political animals” and participate fully in the political process by registering to vote and actually voting. But noble as this sounds, there is a snag: most students register in their respective schools when they are in session, but may be systematically disenfranchised because schools are normally closed and they would have to go home during elections because preparations for elections in Nigeria are similar to preparations for war!

    The Luddites had better know that the days of barefaced rigging that remains the hallmark of past elections may be numbered. Recent elections in Edo and Ondo states showed that citizens can communicate from polling station to polling station and can arrive at the estimated figure of an election even before INEC announces the full figure. A BBC reporter asked an INEC official from Rivers State during the 2007 elections how they were able to arrive at a 100 per scent voting figure, “you mean nobody travelled, died, was sick or incapacitated before the election?” he asked The befuddled INEC official simply explained that “the people voted”. Scenes like this are possible because of the loophole of voters, failure to turn up and the systemic disenfranchisement of students.Is this process often deliberate? Nigeria may not change in a flash, but there is little doubt in my mind that most Nigerians want to see the country move forward, whether we do or not, only time will tell.

  • Emergency: Stray bullets kill UNIMAID student

    Emergency: Stray bullets kill UNIMAID student

    Since the declaration of state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa, the states have not been the same. To students of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) in Borno State, the situation has heightened the fear on the campus, following the killing of an undergraduate by stray bullets. TAIWO ISOLA (200-Level Human Anatomy, UNIMAID) reports.

    A student of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) may have fallen victim of the state of emergency in Borno State. Jilpida Samuel Thliza, 100-Level Agricultural Engineering, was reportedly killed by stray bullets a day after a state of emergency was declared in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states on May 14.

    Following the emergency declaration, many residents began to flee their homes, ostensibly to avoid being caught up in the cross fire between soldiers and the Boko Haram insurgents who unleashed terror on the Northeast.

    Lectures in higher institutions in the affected states have been adversely affected by the emergency. UNIMAID students, for instance, have been living in fear. Academic activities in the institution are at a low ebb, even as students are getting ready for their second semester examination.

    Many students, who are not accommodated on the campus, have moved their properties to the school to escape the crisis in town. Movements in and out of campuses are curtailed by the curfew in the three states.

    Samuel’s death has heightened the students’ fears, with many saying the institution may, after all, not be insulated from the crisis affecting many villages in Borno State.

    The late Samuel was said to be returning from school to spend the weekend with his parents when he was hit by stray bullets in Maiduguri. When his obituary was pasted virtually everywhere on campus, his classmates wept. Some of them recalled their last moments with him.

    Idris Suleiman, 200-Level Medical student, said: “The death of Samuel made me scared. I always go to town every weekend to spend time with my family. But, with the death of Samuel, I don’t think I will be able to go home till vacation.”

    The emergency also affects mobile telephone networks. Service providers suspended operations 24 hours after the emergency. At the time of this report, the campus was incommunicado, with students and lecturers lamenting their challenges in reaching one another.

    A student, Lawrence Ayolotu, said: “It was a surprise to us when the network went off. I had thought it was a normal network problem but, two weeks on, telephone service is yet to return to my phone.”

    He added: “It has been hell living in a place like Maiduguri without being able to communicate with my parents and loved ones for more than two weeks. With the reports of bombings and killings in Maiduguri, I am sure my parents will be worried about my well-being, but there is nothing I can do to help this situation.”

    For now, the academic community can only communicate with the outside world through the Internet. The university cyber café, which can accommodate about 60 persons at a time, is the last resort of students; those who have Smartphones log on to the wireless services provided by the institution.

    When CAMPUSLIFE visited last Friday, the cyber café was jampacked by students, who were anxious to contact their families at home. A student, who spoke in Hausa, said: “I am trying to send a message to my parents that I am still alive and nothing negative is happening on the campus.”

    Commercial activities on the campus have also been paralysed. The crisis compounded the students’ woes following an increase in prices of goods.

    Ruth Okechukwu, a student, who lamented the increment, said: “I am stranded here. I cannot communicate with my parents. The increase in prices of food stuff is not helping matter.”

    Though, the university is working towards reducing the duration of the examination, students who will be staying behind for their Teaching Practice (TP) and clinical posting at various locations within Maiduguri metropolis are apprehensive. They are appealing to the management to allow them undergo the training in other states.

    Tobi Agboore, 400-Level Nursing, said: “The situation in Maiduguri is not what somebody will just put his life carelessly on the line for. Many students have been victims of unprovoked attacks even while undergoing trainings. I appeal to the authorities to allow us go to places like Gombe, Bauchi and Taraba which are not affected by the emergency for our clinical posting.”

    Emmanuel Olajide, a graduating student of Ramat Polytechnic, a state-owned institution, said: “The proximity of the police headquarters to my campus is a major concern to us here. We have witnessed many unpalatable incidents. The sad tales are scary. We are only trusting God to help us through our stay here. The pursuit of a good future made us desperate for western education in Maiduguri but today the effects of this decision are beginning to dawn on us. The pain of seeing our colleagues being killed by militants and security forces is making us cry out for help.”

  • Varsity shut over students’ protest

    Varsity shut over students’ protest

    A midnight demonstration against power outage by students of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) has led to the indefinite closure of the institution. HALIMAH AKANBI (200-Level Law) and IBRAHIM JATTO (400-Level Zoology) report.

    EVERYWHERE was bustling with activities as students of the Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) prepared for their first semester examination. But, following a violent night demonstration by students last Monday, the campus has been shut indefinitely.

    The university was closed to prevent further breakdown of law and order.

    The students protested what they described as “a total blackout” in Sokoto, Zamfara and Kebbi states, which affected power supply to the campus.

    It all started on Monday evening when the generator supplying male and female hostels power stopped working because of non-availability of diesel. There had been no power supply to the campus for days because of the blackout in the three states.

    The Dean of Student Affairs, Dr Ibrahim Magawata,visited Jubril Aminu Hall at 7:30 pm to address the students. He explained that the blackout in Sokoto State had increased the demand for diesel, adding that the diesel in the generator had been exhausted.

    He said the situation was under control, adding that palliative measures had been adopted by the management, which he said contracted tankers to supply water to the hostels. He also promised that the generator would be restored to supply electricity to the halls.

    As promised, electricity was restored a few minutes later. But after 45 minutes, there was another outage, a situation that angered the students, who said the management was insensitive to their plight. They marched on the Vice-Chancellor’s quarters, where they vandalised the VC’s generating set and left the quarters in darkness.

    The protesters returned to the campus, beating up female students and harassing their colleagues, who were not in support of the protest.

    At 7am the next day, the management directed students on both campuses of the institution to vacate the premises before noon. The management said the protest was illegal and inimical to the peace of the university.

    As the information spread, the hostels becamse rowdy. They students hurriedly packed their personal effects before the halls were locked. They gathered in twos and threes, discussing how they would leave the campus.

    Students trekked to the main gate of the university, which is more than five kilometres from the school premises, carrying their luggage on their heads.

    At 10am, riot policemen and soldiers were drafted to the campus to enforce the vacation order. The security operatives patrolled the campus to ensure that no student was around at the expiration of the deadline.

    Students expressed displeasure at the incident, blaming it on the Students’ Union Government (SUG) officials, who they said were not available during and after the protests to contain their colleagues’ excesses.

    Usman Tafida, 300-Level Economics, said the lack of information on the situation made the students to go wild.

    Another student, Adama Yabo, queried the essence of the union, saying the students’ leaders could not engage the management before the situation degenerated into chaos. “Why should students go on violent protest when we have the SUG in place to talk to the authorities on our behalf? If you look at it closely, it tells us that the students’ union leaders are not doing their work,” he said.

    At the time of this report, the lecture rooms and hostels had been locked. There was also security patrol around the campus by the combined team of policemen and soldiers.

  • Varsity hosts dialogue on media and communication

    Varsity hosts dialogue on media and communication

    Arrangements are in top gear for the upcoming to second UNN “Dialogue on media and communication” scheduled for June 13-15 at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

    The event, being organised by the Department of Mass Communication and Information and Public Relations Unit of the University will focus on “Research Methods” as the theme, while papers on Public Relations practice will also be presented.

    The facilitators expected for the event are renowned scholars in the field of Communication and Public Relations from different parts of the world, led by the keynote speaker; Prof. Robert White from the Institute of Peace Studies and International Research, Hekima College, Nairobi, Kenya.

    Other speakers will include; Prof Charles Okigbo, Department of Mass Communication, North Dakota State University, United States; Prof Chris Ogbonndah, University of Northern Iowa, USA, Prof. Kate Omenugha, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Mr Chido Nwakanma, Managing Director of Blueflower, and Mr Ifeanyi Mbanefo, Communication Relations Manager, NLNG, Bonny.

    Speaking on the essence of the event, the Head of Department of Mass Comm., UNN Dr Nnanyelugo Okoro, event that the programme is primarily aimed at equipping postgraduate students in the field of communication and other disciplines with the latest research methods to make their postgraduate studies easier.

    “The dialogue is aimed at building a strong research resource base for Mass Communication in particular and the academia in general. It will help strengthen research ideas, enhance research consciousness and excellence in the University of Nigeria and other sister universities,” he said.

    Dr Okoro said the workshop was not limited to students of communication but was open to other sister departments from any part of the country. He advised intended participants to indicate interest by completing an online registration form using the link www.unn.edu.ng/cms/information-and-public-relations-unit-unn. According to him, certificate of participation would be issued to participants at the end of the workshop.

    Dr Okoro further expressed his appreciation to distinguished alumni of the department and other good spirited individuals who are making effort to ensure that the Dialogue becomes a success.

     

  • APC: An alternative or an acronym?

    The hoopla that greeted the merger of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) and All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) the All Progressive Congress (APC) is a testimony that Nigerians are in search of a credible alternative to the leadership of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    While the idea behind this merger is a welcomed, the promise of the Chairman of the Merger Committee, Chief Tom Ikimi, to form a “political party committed to the principles of internal democracy, focused on issues of concern to our people, determined to bring corruption and insecurity to an end, determined to grow our economy and create jobs in their millions through education, housing, agriculture, industrial growth ….” is nothing new to Nigerians.

    Nigerians are used to these well thought-out, well-scripted and crafted political gimmicks. In its formative years, the PDP also promised Nigerians a political party that “would uphold the sanctity of the rule of law, human rights, strong political culture, equitable wealth distribution, minority rights, infrastructural development and high standards of living”. But 14 years after, these promises are far from being achieved.

    What we have in the ruling party is what its national chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, described in 2011 as “an amalgam of diverse groups united only by one purpose -to grab power….” One may then add that the party is without any clear idea of what to do with the power, so it welcomes all manner of elements into its fold.

    Without any clear-cut manifesto and with billion of petrol-dollars accrued to its government; those elected on PDP platform waste public funds implementing bad projects. This is the unique characteristics of the party that is often touted as the largest political party in Africa. This is the characteristics displayed by the party and majority of its members from the local government level to the federal level.

    This is the reason why I am not surprised that a governor elected under the PDP sees nothing wrong in using public money to buy brand new vehicles for councilors, traditional rulers and principals of secondary schools while the same governor delays in paying the N18, 000 minimum wage to civil servants. This is the case with Enugu State.

    It is also for this reason that I am not really surprised that a president that claimed to be elected through popular votes of the majority would have the guts to tell Nigerians on a national television that he did not “give a damn” about his failure to declare his assets to the people that ‘elected’ him. Or which party would, for instance, give a thug, who had taken up arm against a whole local government, its ticket to contest and win a seat in Kogi State House of Assembly? It is only the PDP.

    It is this lack of vision that is responsible for so many uncompleted and abandoned government projects that litter the landscape of this country. One is safe to come to the conclusion that it is the failure of the ruling party results to the emergence of APC as alternative to the PDP’s misrule.

    However, this is my posers: what shall APC be known for? Will it end up as another amalgam of diverse group united only by one reason of grabbing power? Will the progressives in the APC live up to the billing of a political party with comprehensive, cohesive and practical manifesto that will be implemented by the party at all levels?

    For APC to be taken seriously by Nigerians, it will have to, first, do away with those behaviours such as thuggery, intimidation of opponents and imposition of candidates, corruption and lack of creativity and other political vices that have crippled the PDP government.

    In addition, the APC should only admit people who are of proven integrity and character; not just politicians who will jump to another party as soon as their interest is threatened in their former party or moneybag who have enough money to throw around.

    It is the practicable policies of the party, more than anything that will differentiate it and sell it to Nigerians. These policies among other things should be able to explain our revenue generation method outside of oil and the huge oil wealth would be managed. What would also be the stand of the party on oil subsidy? Will they continue the policy of oil importation even when such could be refined in the country?

    What will be the policy of the APC on our dilapidated rail sector? Will hundreds of Nigerians continue to lose their lives to oil-tanker fires on highways? Will the APC provide a method of oil distribution in Nigeria? These are questions on the minds of the electorates.

    Again, one is wont to ask for the party’s policy on security challenges facing the nation such as the problem of Boko Haram and kidnapping? Will it carry on the reactionary policy of the present administration on security?

    What will be the impact of the policy of the APC on our economy, which largely depends on oil? Will it continue to unsustainably exploit and depend on oil revenue to sustain the government without any thought of developing non-oil sector at a time countries such as United Arab Emirate and Angola, which have profitably managed their oil resources, are looking for ways to diversify?

    What plan does the party have for our largely neglected educational sector, which has been so battered that every Nigerian that has means seeks ways of sending their wards to private universities or schools abroad? Will APC continue the policy of establishing more universities without paying attention to the standard and quality of the existing ones?

    Additionally, the manifesto of the party should be able to address key issues such as corruption in Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), which the Economist Magazine of London described as world most “closed oil company”. There is also a need for reforms in the transportation, agriculture, and power sector, which are central to our economic development as a nation. Does APC prepare for this?

    For a political party that seeks to be an alternative to a party that has institutionalised corruption, impoverished Nigerians and glorified inefficiency and lawlessness, it has a huge task before it. It will need to not only show but live by example in every of its policies. It will have to raise the standard of the leadership that is seriously lacking in our country.

    Until the APC show through its policies and programmes that it is different from the PDP and improve the living standard of living of millions of Nigerians languishing in poverty; the difference between her and the PDP will only be found in nomenclature.

     

    Philips, 500-Level Information Technology, MAUTECH YOLA

     

  • Final year students float events for graduation

    It was fun as the Final Year Brethren (FYB) of the Department of Continuing Education (DCE) in the Institute of Education and Language Arts (IED), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife held a picnic to unveil the programmes outlined for their FYB week. The students also held a prayer session to appreciate God for protecting their lives to the end of their studies.

    The picnic, which took place at the Zoological Garden on campus, kicked off at 11:005am with prayer by Shada Olayinka, an English Education student. This was followed by introduction of participants. There was also a dance contest, which was won by Oluwadamilola Odelade.

    The Chairman of the FYB Committee, Shola Undiandeye, addressed the students, urging them to remain in prayers, saying the struggle continued until their final exam in the school. He later announced Aetos Dios (which means golden eagle) as the name by which the DCE and IED class of 2013 would be called. Shola said was selected name to show the world that being an educationist is not the end of the world. He said it would make students more versatile and productive. “Considering the fact that most of the students in the two departments applied to study law but were thrown to the Faculty of Education, we do not look at ourselves like rejected people but life enhancers and value givers. The name indicates the resilient and never die spirit we have built thus far,” he submitted.

    He explained programmes already planned by the committee to mark the students’ final exit from the institution. The event, which is slated for the second semester, includes an excursion, lecture, traditional day and a dinner.

     

  • Kwara students swear in leaders

    The National Association of Kwara State Students (NAKSS), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife chapter, has inaugurated executives for the 2012/2013 academic session.

    The event, which was held at one of the lecture theatres in the Faculty of Law, witnessed a large turnout of students of Kwara State origin, studying in the university. Members of the executive, who are led by Fatai Mohammed, were sworn in by Oluwatobi Garba, chairman of the electoral committee after.

    The event also coincided with the Freshers orientation programme of the association.

    The outgoing president of the association, Mobolaji Abegunde, spoke on the success of his administration and appreciated members of the association for making his administration a success. He also advised the incoming leaders to be good stewards, urging the serve the interest of members fairly.

    The highpoint of the event was a lecture titled: The harmonisation of Kwarans in OAU and Nigeria in generals and delivered by Kayode Alaya, a graduate of Material Science and Engineering and former president of the association.

    Alaya harped on the need for unity among various ethnic groups that make up the country, adding that justice remained panacea to solving the Boko Haram crisis in the North.

    Alaya also admonished the freshers to be humble and learn to share ideas. He urged them to be good ambassadors of the institution and the state. Fatai, in his address, urged members to join him in taking the association to another level.

    Other members of the executive include Modinat Ibrahim, Vice-President, Abiodun Abubakar, General Secretary, Olasunkanmi Kadir, Financial Secretary and Omotola Akegbeyale, Treasurer among others.

  • NGO holds seminar for students

    Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), a women-focused non-governmental organisation (NGO), has held a seminar for students of the University of Calabar (UNICAL).

    Tagged:Winning without compromise, the event was held at the International Conference Centre of the institution and attended by successful women, who were part of the resource persons. They included Head, Corporate Communication, Moni Pulo Limited; Mrs Julia Oku-Jacks, Stanbic IBTC Bank official, Miss Aisha Ahmad, Nollywood actress, Kate Henshaw, Founder, Rainbow Bookclub, Mrs Koko Kalango, Managing Director, Rise Networks, Ms Toyosi Akerele and Dr Bisola Onajin-Obembe, a lecturer in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).

    Henshaw, in her lecture entitled:Societal peer pressure, advised the participants not to be influenced negatively by their peers.

    Oku-Jacks said one of the aims of the programme was to prepare undergraduates for workplace, business and health issues by challenging them at an interactive session to unveil, discuss and resolve their expectations and also share opportunities. She added that the programme had already been held in UNIPORT, University of Lagos (UNILAG), University of Abuja (UNIABUJA) and the University of Ibadan (UI).

    The event, which was well attended by students also, featured stage performance by UNICAL’s Students’ Union Government (SUG) Director of Socials, William Usese, and a comedian known as Koboko.

  • Students protest blackout

    Students protest blackout

    OAU students last Friday night took to the roads on the campus to protest a black-out, which lasted for 48 hours. The protest, which lasted for over an hour, with witnessed by many students who left their rooms and lecture classes to express their displeasure to the management. A 500L student of Medicine, who simply identified himself as Ayo, told CAMPUS LIFE:”This is not the first time such will be happening. They refused to reinstate our Students’ Union and now they’re simply saying we can’t read. Last session, it was a four-day black-out and we all knew the implication when our results were released. Although reasons for the black- out was unknown as at the time of this report, the electricity was restored back at 9:45am on Saturday with shouts of “up Nepa!” renting the air in hostels as students rush to charge their gadgets as well as to iron their clothes.