The Students’ House of Senate, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) has formally shows their displeasure in the interference of the management into the constitution of the ECO and PECO in the Student Union Government forthcoming election.
The Students’ House of Senate stated that the current Electoral Committee (ECO) and Petition Electoral Committee (PECO) is not capable of conducting a free and fair election. He further stated that the committee has been accused of favoritism and bias towards certain candidates, which is against the principles of democracy.
In light of these allegations, the SHS has requested the intervention of NANS to ensure a transparent and credible election process. The SHS believes that NANS, being a reputable and independent body, can help to restore the integrity of the election process and ensure that the will of the students is respected.
However, in a surprising twist, the Students’ House of Senate also denied knowledge of a Judicial Council that was allegedly set up by the outgoing SUG administration.
The Leaders of the Students’ House of Senate henceforth wants to inform Mr. WALIYU TEMITOPE AZEEZ to desist from presenting himself as the head of the Judicial Council that doesn’t exist as it is unclear why such an important body would be established without the knowledge of the Students’ House of Senate.
Read The Full Memo Below.
THE STAND OF THE STUDENTS’ HOUSE OF SENATE LEADERS, OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY ON THE PRESENT STATE OF THE UNION*
*_”Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover it’s mission, fulfill it, or betray it”._*
“`Frantz Fanon“`
The Student House of Senate (SHS) of Olabisi Onabanjo University Student Union Government is the legislative arm of the Union, saddled with the responsibility to formulate policies that will ensure students’ comfortability and harmonious co-habitation amidst themselves vis-à-vis the school’s student code of conduct.
Recently, there have been various circulars flying around after the dissolution and the constitution of the Independent Electoral Commission (ECO) and the Petition Electoral Commission (PECO). The leaders of the Senate have been since silent over the matter because we felt that the issue will be addressed justly and constitutionally as intellectuals .
*HIGHLIGHTS*
1. Position of the Constitution on the Judicial Arm of the Union.
2. Faculty Presidents and Speakers being the ECO and PECO respectively, what is the constitution’s stand?
3. What does the Management stand to gain?
4. NANS, hope for the hopeless Nigerian Students from time immemorial.
*POSITION OF THE CONSTITUTION ON THE JUDICIARY ARM OF GOVERNMENT FOR THE UNION*
Recently, there have been various circulars being signed by a student of the University in person of *WALIYU TEMITOPE AZEEZ*, who claims to be the head of the Judicial Council for the Union.
Section 38 of the OOUSUG Constitution 2014 (as amended) highlights the provisions for constituting the Judicial Council for the Union. *Part of this Section provides that the appointment of the OOUSUG Judicial Council except for the Chief Justice shall be made at the first sitting of the SHS. Section 43(2) also provided that the appointment of a person to the office of the Chief Justice of the Union shall be made by the President of the Union on the recommendation of the Law Students’ Society of the University subject to confirmation of such appointment by the SHS.*
Throughout the Feyi led administration, the Students’ House of Senate was not opportune to constitute this arm of government due to some unexpected reasons.It is therefore surprising to hear and see someone going around to claim to be the head of such council. We want the Students’ populace to be informed that there is nobody responsible to call themselves the Judicial Council because none was legally constituted by the Students’ House of Senate (35th Hallowed Chamber).
The President, Comr. Feyi Adeogun personally, and single handedly appointed an Acting Chief Judge who was not recognized by the Students’ House of Senate because his emergence was not even communicated to the Students’ House of Senate. It is so unfortunate to think that the President purposely appointed the Acting Chief Judge to serve as an instrument to stain the dignity of our Dear constitution.
The Leaders of the Students’ House of Senate henceforth wants to inform *Mr. WALIYU TEMITOPE AZEEZ* to desist from presenting himself as the head of the Judicial Council that doesn’t exist.
*FACULTY PRESIDENTS AND SPEAKERS BEING THE ECO AND PECO RESPECTIVELY, WHAT IS THE CONSTITUTION’S STAND?*
Sections 66 and 68 of the OOUSUG Constitution 2014 (as amended) made provisions for the constitution of the Petition Electoral Commission (PECO) and Independent Electoral Commission (ECO) respectively. The ECO and PECO are suppose to be an independent body, free from any form of affiliation and interest.
The Students’ House of Senate at their last and dissolution sitting which was held on the 31st August, 2023 ushered in a commission responsible for the conduct of a free, fair and credible election but unfortunately was outturned by a petition written by the head of a Judicial Council which never existed. This is so disheartening, unjust and unconstitutional.
During the meeting with the school management, the leaders of the Senate through the Senate President, Dist. Sen. Adetunji Faith Pelumi made it known to the members of the school management that there never existed a Judicial Council and also that the constitution of the ECO and PECO is constitutional but unfortunately, the Senate President was outnumbered and his observation was ruled out. We (VC, DVC Admin., Comr. Feyi, Senate President, Comr. Feyi’s Ag. Chief Judge, DSA and the CSO) later agreed that he (VC) should call on the Presidents and the Speakers of the faculties to advice on what the next step should be but it’s very disheartening to be informed that the VC said otherwise at the meeting with the Presidents and the Speakers. What the VC told them was that we (VC, DVC Admin., Comr. Feyi, Senate President, Comr. Feyi’s Ag. Chief Judge, DSA and the CSO) agreed to make the Presidents and Speakers the ECO and PECO which we never agreed on.
Constitutionally, the ECO and PECO are supposed to be an independent body free from any affiliation and interest. How then do we expect a Faculty President and Speaker be free from any affiliation?
*WHAT DOES THE MANAGEMENT STAND TO GAIN?*
The school management is expected and supposed to be a shield for every student of the prestigious Olabisi Onabanjo University. The school management also is supposed and expected to respect and regard the SUG’s constitution especially when it have to rule over students’ matter but unfortunately, it was not so when the management was ruling over the petitions submitted by senators who were pained by their loss to an agreed course knowing fully well that the management will favour them as against the constitution.
The management is supposed to be neutral, apolitical and approachable by all, not having the fear that the management may be biased.
The Leaders of the Senate of the 35th Hallowed Chamber shows their displeasure in the interference of the management into the constitution of the ECO and PECO because their act is unconstitutional and biased.
*NANS, A HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS NIGERIA STUDENTS*
It is an established fact that the National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) have from time immemorial been a unifying umbrella for every Student Unions across the nation. They are saddled with the responsibility and fundamental obligation of making sure that the Students’ interest and rights are being defended and students are free from any form of intimidation, victimization and oppression. NANS is not a faceless body , rather it is a body recognized by the Federal Republic of Nigeria and they have branches across 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
Knowing fully well that the process of constituting the ECO and PECO have been compromised, we the leaders of the Senate hereby call upon NANS to come to our aid as we believe that they are the only body that can help to defend our Dear constitution and protect the rights of every students without being biased in accordance with the role they have been saddled with by the entirety of Nigerian Students. It is worthy of note that on 10th of July 2023 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) engaged officials and members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to monitor its sponsored projects, physical and otherwise, in their various institutions.
*CONCLUSION*
Conclusively, we want to assure the highly knowledgeable students’ populace to be rest assured as we are working tirelessly to make sure that our Dear Constitution doesn’t loose it’s relevancy and dignity. We also need our collect moral supports and prayers as we fight this just course of making sure that justice prevails and our Dear Students’ Union and her constitution is protected from the manipulation and abuse it is facing. We are not unaware of plans to frustrate us for standing for what is morally right however we are optimistic that posterity will judge us right . We suspect that the management is desperate at hijacking the Union so as for their planned anti student’s policies to be introduced and unchallenged by the students populace.
Finally “For to be free is not merely to cast off ones chains , but to live a life that respects and enhances the freedom of others “Madiba .
*_Yours in meaningful struggle,_*
DIST. SEN. ADETUNJI FAITH PELUMI
(p.k.a. Sen. ALFA)
35th SENATE PRESIDENT
SEN. ADEOYE TOBILOBA ENOCH
(p.k.a. SEN. ADEOYE)
35th DEPUTY SENATE PRESIDENT
SEN. ADEKUNLE SAMUEL ADESHINA
(SEN. PELLER)
35th CLERK
SEN. ADEMILUWA SAMAD ABIDEMI
(SEN. SAMAD)
35th CHIEF WHIP
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