•Katsina varsity is to blame for the alleged misrepresentation in its memo
WHAT was supposed to be an internal memo by the authorities of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua University (UMYU), Katsina, Katsina State, has elicited angry reactions from many Nigerians outside of the university campus than it has within. This is not surprising; as the memo, among other things, touched on a sensitive aspect of the country’s life: religion. Indeed, if the rejoinder to the memo by the university that its intention was misconstrued was correct, then the university authorities and indeed all those in charge of information management have to be careful about their choice of words.
The memo, titled “Re: Registration of Students Clubs/Associations.” issued by the acting dean of student affairs, Dr Sulaiman Kankara, on January 17, gave the impression that no other religious groups would be allowed on the campus except the Muslim Students Society (MSS). The memo read in part, ”The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria is the only religious association allowed to operate in the university.
“All tribal and local government associations are prohibited by the university. Duly registered departmental associations should be allowed to operate, but they should observe item (I) above.”
According to Kankara, the decision was part of the resolutions of the institution’s management at its 59th meeting on January 10.
The ink with which the memo was printed had hardly dried when Nigerians began to condemn the decision. Although certain aspects of the memo were seen as unconstitutional, the area purportedly banning all religious groups except the MSS naturally attracted the most virulent criticisms. Religious issues are as emotive and explosive in the country and this is why people purveying information concerning it must say what they mean and mean what they say. There should be no ambiguity because retracting the story may not sufficiently correct the damage that the original story might have done.
The university, rather than accept in its rejoinder of January 24 that there was a problem with the wordings of the earlier memo, resorted to blaming the “social media and part of the print media” for an alleged misrepresentation. Unless the university is saying that the dean’s memo did not contain the controversial sentence: “The Muslim Students Society of Nigeria is the only religious (emphasis ours) association allowed to operate in the university,” there is no other interpretation beyond what the media reported. The language is clear, and so is its sentiment.
The university may be concerned about the mushrooming of religious organisations, especially in the light of the country’s experience in recent times. But then, that has to be done within the ambit of the law.
Moreover, since the issue emanated from a memo, it is our view that its correction (or reversal) should also have been via a memo. Again, for a matter that had been in the public domain to attract a rejoinder about a week after naturally gave the impression that the volte face was an afterthought. Once the counter memo is issued, it should be made public. Until then, the language of the memo classes the university as intolerant of religious differences.
The other part of the memo also occludes social and tribal organisations. this is unconstitutional. Freedom of association isingrained in our law and it amounts to impunity to do otherwise.
Again, it is part of the university concept to allow a thousand ideas tussle, and that is how great institutions are built and great leaders made. the onus is now on UMYU to live up to such great ideals.