REJOINDER: PROF OLAYINKA IDOWU: A HYPOCRITE IN GOWN?

By Kayode Bello.

For the past, today and tomorrow  I bring to you a somewhat  chronicle of events that negate the post by Prof. Olayinka  Idowu, who is the incumbent Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan on improving  the standard of education  in Nigeria to the effect that he  himself  did not  have such  moral justification for posting it. If another had, maybe this rejoinder would have not have been necessary.  Anyway there have been  a number of issues  I had wanted  to relay but due to time, busy schedules  having to hit the ground running on daily basis, this is coming this time.  Kindly accept my apologies.

It is no news that there is an ongoing legal battle with the State and its agents and I am referring to my case against the Council of Legal Education controlled by the State. But at times the people deserve the kind of leaders they get.  At this time in the Nigerian history, we deserve the kind of leaders we have and we would deserve such come 2019. The ball is in our court. The youths,  the old, the young, the teens,  including myself  are in this ship called Nigeria but we have  a Captain that is like  the man in the Titanic movie that allowed the ship to hit the iceberg  thereby wrecking the ship and leading to a catastrophic ending. Still in the Titanic  analogy,  some of us are the ones rescuing others while we do not care whether ours would end in the process. But a happy ending we envisage.
Before I proceed,  I love to disabuse the minds of the majority as to the fact  that my case is a personal one. My case is a reflection of the whole Nigerian state,  I am just fighting legally on behalf of thousands and millions of Nigerians, and humanity.
Idowu Olayinka,  being the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan would have contributed his own misfortune to the already badly managed Univerity of Ibadan,  I opine. I developed a checklist, and the summation of such is that Olayinka Idowu should hide his head in shame for the following:

2011- THE PROTEST ON LIGHT, WATER

IN 2011, when Prof. Adewole Isaac was the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan,  Prof. Olayinka  Idowu was the  Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic,  and there was  a protest  or planned protest on the state of the University  of Ibadan's welfare where no light,  water for the students  whereas examination was to be held in fact examination was ongoing that  Prof.  Olayinka sent two different messages  to different set of people as conveyed by different authorities, that examinations would hold despite the state of no water,and light in the University of Ibadan and to others that examinations would not hold, this one to the Students' Union. Examinations were ongoing in the University of Ibadan as planned despite the fact that students were not all that prepared for examinations. Remember I stated no water, no light in the University of Ibadan of then. Fast backward, from now 2018 to 2011 that is seven years ago when  Prof. Olayinka was the Deputy Vice Chancellor,  Academic. That time,  Prof. Adewole was not around. And there was somewhat threat of Boko Haram invasion of the University of Ibadan. He went to Uganda so we were told. In my view, Prof. Olayinka created commotion among and between the students union and the faculty and department authorities to the extent that protest broke out. Some students were writing examinations while others were not.

To be contd.

Next: Justice for Sale (A series).

USA VISA DENIAL: OF DISCRIMINATION, POLICY, OR CONSPIRACY?

By Kayode Bello

This forms a harrowing experience in the hands of the consular officer, at Window 4, on March 13^th, 2018, at the premises of the United States of America Embassy, Walter Carrington Crescent, Victoria Island, Lagos. And this is within the knowledge of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama. Also, Mr. Usman Piatu, of the Foreign Affairs Ministry Liaison office in Lagos is very much aware of the story I am about to tell, because they have received my petition on the somewhat discrimination, and indiscriminate denial of the American visa. Not forgetting Mr. Dayo Adeoye, Head, Airport Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Presidential Lounge, Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, and Mr. Nnamdi Nze, Foreign Service Officer, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, and Mary Edekinu, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Presidential Lounge, Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

From the expressway leading to Walter Carrington Crescent, and across the road, lay ambush people who would ask visa applicants sorts of questions like,’’ Passport photograph?’’ ‘’Do you want to keep your phone or possessions?’’ ‘’Do you know you can’t take your phone inside the embassy?’’ ‘‘Photocopy?’’ These are not without a fee. Inquiry showed that the American Embassy area is under the control of the Nigerian Military, and each shop occupant pays about N70,000 (seventy thousand naira) per month. The queue is time-consuming, while the visa officer does not have time to ask questions talk less of germane ones. It is estimated that about ninety percent of the visa applicants are denied visas daily at the American Embassy, while the embassy makes more money than usual. The exchange rate of US dollar to Nigerian Naira is N400 by the American Embassy as against the N305 official rate, thereby depicting excess/extra profit for the American Embassy in Nigeria.

All Nigerians cannot be at the Foreign Affairs Ministry but the above officials especially the Minister of Foreign Affairs, would represent the interests of Nigerians who may have somewhat visa or consular problems. A petition was submitted by me at the Foreign Affairs Ministry Liaison Office, Lagos, on March 13^th, 2018, x-raying my harrowing experience at the United States Embassy. And while still ruminating over the fact that the denial was unjust, a close source at the United States Embassy disclosed that the visa fee would soon be increased from N64,000 to some N100,000 (one hundred thousand naira only). I have read online a comment that to discourage Nigerians from travelling to the United States, just increase the amount of visa fee, but the Nigerians I know who do not want to be faced with the current hardship, and suffering but smiling would not mind going through the Mediterranean sea to get to the greener destination. Thus, increase in visa fee, in own opinion, would not deter Nigerians. Nigerians can sell property to escape the suffering, and be able to boast to others they have made it. Nigeria might not have good image abroad, but just as there are school shootings in the United States, yet I do not conclude all Americans are criminals and insane, so it would be quite unfair to conclude Nigerians would not return to their home country. The Nigerian Representatives may not raise a finger against the visa fee increase. Another which may sound saddening is the fact that some of the foreign affairs officials were so quick to say, ‘’Do you know that Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria was also denied entry visa to the United States?’’ I responded, ‘’ But why was he denied? You need to look into the reasons for the denial whether just or not?’’ There is somewhat written on the faces of the foreign affairs’ officials fear of writing the United States embassy. Or, are there sacred people the foreign affairs Ministry attends to?

One candid thing was the gloom that I was greeted with at the Foreign Affairs division of Nigeria, both in Lagos and Abuja, where the public officers work, and being paid by the government of Nigeria where I belong as a bona fide citizen. I am not an alien here, fellow Nigerians, and I need not be Senator’s son before I could approach any government establishment. It should not be a case of who do I know, or from where do I come from, or who am I? It should be a case of myself as a human, with dignity, respect and rights. There is the reminder of the statement of the President of the United States of America to the fact that Nigeria is a shit-hole country. In a shit-hole country, it is expected that men, women, young and old would love to run away for greener pastures, to find job, and possibly escape biting economic, and socio-political realities- poor water supply, poor power supply, herdsmen killings, Boko Haram bombings, unemployment rate/increasing, snail-like Judiciary, Libya slave-trade, human trafficking, pollution, increased/ increasing illiteracy rate, and most importantly corruption and poverty who are Siamese twins, but all these are not the preserve of Nigeria alone.

To defend or play a devil’s advocate for the American Embassy, the above might form the reasons for the denial of the American or any other country’s visa, but in a situation of somewhat discriminatory or indiscriminate reasons for denial of visa, it comes to question could it be of policy or discrimination? One notable thing at the American Embassy is the pre-printed paper -- either white of blue depending on whether visa granted or not. The blue UNSIGNED paper represents visa denial. The white paper represents visa is granted. The blue Paper without date or name of the applicant has no date, and signature but a space is created for the signature of the consular officer on the letter. This means the document is not tenable as evidence in case of any action in the court of law. This could be because the American Embassy in Nigeria is aware of the fact that the Nigerian System favours these, and that even  the foreign affair ministry  would not move an inch to seek  redress for its citizenry that suffers the kind of fate in the hands of  ‘’make America great again’’ persons. I read again online the statement of Mr. Onyeama that showed outright defence of the United States Immigration on the unlawful deportation of a Nigerian with valid visa. We must look at the body language of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration as to defending the interests of Nigerians, not foreign interests, if truly democracy is government of the people by the people, and for the people.

Also disheartening was the fact that the consular officer mistook me for a financial reporter, instead of a freelance reporter, until the tail end of the interview when he corrected himself without apologizing to me. He had a preconceived judgment I must add, and in my candid view it is not of policy to not listen to a visa applicant before refusal of visa. It could be gleaned, as a matter of opinion, that the foreign  affairs ministry  of Nigeria are aware of this, and other harrowing  experiences, but  with present Nigerian  situation even  the foreign affairs personnel may need the ‘favour’ of the American  embassy either  for themselves, or for their wards, thus the denial of that person  not within  this clique or ‘special’ citizens may mean nothing  to them. And how prompt the Foreign Affairs Ministry responds to complaint is another to be inquired. A long queue is usually witnessed at the Walter Carrington Crescent of the American Embassy.

My voyage to the American Embassy and the Nigerian Foreign Affairs Ministry had showed there might be somewhat diplomatic romance between them, at the expense of the national interest, and such national interest includes the interest of Nigerians. Since we live an interdependent world, it is expected that Americans would want to come to Nigeria, while Nigerians would as well voyage elsewhere. A visa policy hinged on discrimination, in my view is inhumane, erodes person’s dignity and freedom of movement, and the onus rests on the Nigerian Foreign affairs Ministry to address this and others without much ado. A paper, like ours, that is on global warming and climate change to be presented at the Common Ground’s Conference at the University of California, Berkeley, has suffered a blow in the hands of the American government via visa denial, and it might be a pointer to the fact that the Trump’s administration does not believe in climate change, I opine.

NOTE: This has been submitted to The Guardian newspapers for publication, with the hope it would see the light of the day.

Kayode Bello can be reached via finestkay2003@yahoo.com, or 08115480501.

EXPOSED: THOSE THAT EXPELLED KAYODE BELLO, NBA PRESIDENT, MAHMUD, IS FIRST ON THE LIST, AS OSAMOLU THREATENS LAW STUDENT OVER RELEASE OF RESULT

EXPOSED!!!

Those (Council of Legal Education) that expelled Kayode Bello, the Nigerian Law School student over poor facilities and seat reservation, the full list below. First on the list is the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president, Mr. Mahmud, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, whom the expelled student complained to before his expulsion at the Nigerian Law School:

1. A.B. Mahmud SAN, NBA President
2. Prof. Sunday Edeko, Dean, Ambrose Alii University,
3. Dr. B. O. Omoleye, Ag. Dean, Ekiti State University
4. Prof. N. A. Inegbedion, Dean, University of Benin
5. Prof. M.O.U Gasiokwu, Dean, Delta State University
6. Prof. Jummai A.M. Audi, NBA Representative
7. Nkoyo Amah Esq., NBA Representative
8. Mr. J. O. Elenbalulu, NBA Representative
9. Ibrahim S. Mohammed Esq., Attorney-General, Kogi State
10. Prof. E. Smaranda Olarinde, Provost, Afe Babalola University
11. Prof. Mamman Lawan, Dean, Bayero University
12. Prof. E. A. Taiwo, Dean, Adekunle Ajasin University
13. Peter Mrokpur Esq., Attorney-General, Delta State
14. Prof. Frank Asogwah, Dean, Enugu State University
15. Dr. Ajibola Basiru, Attorney General, State of Osun
16. Prof. Nlerum S. Okogbule, Dean, Rivers State University
17. Prof. Godwin N. Okeke, Dean, Nnamdi Azikwe University
18. Prof. A. I. Olatunbosun, Dean, University of Ibadan
19. Dr. Abubakar M. Madaki, Dean, Ahmadu Bello University
20. Dr. (Mrs.) Rose Ohiama Ugbe, Dean, University of Galabar
21. Anaga Kalu Anaga Esq, NBA Representative
22. Prof. Sam Erugo, Dean, Abia State University
23. Prof. Dakas GJ. Dakas SAN, Dean, University of
24. Ghief Ademola Sadipe, NBA Representative
25. Prof. Amari Omaka SAN, Dean, Ebonyi State Ui
26.Prof. J.A.M. Agbonika, Dean, Kogi State University
27. Prof. A. O. Popoola, Dean, Obafemi Awolowo University
28. Umna. A. Hikima, Attorney-General, Kaduna State 29.Prof. Y. M. Yusuf, Dean, University of Maiduguri
30 Dr. K. 1. Adam, Dean, University of llorin
31 Dr. M. D. Mahmud, Dean, Usmanu Dan-Fodiyo University
32 Chief M. E. Eze, Attorney-General, Enugu State
33 Prof. M. S. Abubakar, Dean, Nasarawa State University
34 Haruna N. MuhD, Attorney-General, Kano State
35 Mr. Ibrahim Mark, NBA Representative
36 Aliyu M. Abdullahi, SAN, NBA Representative
37 Mazi Afam Osigwe, NBA Representative
38 Mr. Oseyenim Chukwuma, NBA Representative
39 Yusuf S. Ustnan mni, Attorney-General, Nasarawa State
40 Prof. Olusesan Oliyide, Dean, Olabisi Onabanjo University
41 Umeh Kalu, SAN, Attorney-General, Abia State
42 Prof. R.T. Ijaodoia, Dean, Igbinedion University
43 Mrs. Mandy Asagba, NBA Representatives
44 Ms. Aisha Ado Abdullahi, NBA Representative
45 Kemasuode Wodu, Esq., Attorney-General, Bayelsa State
46 O. 0. Olowokure Esq, NBA Representative
47 O. A. Onadeko, SAN, Director-General
48 Mrs.E.O.Max-Uba
49 Prof. Ayodeie V. Atsenuwa, Dean, University of Lagos
50 Ahmed Mustapha Goniri, Attorney-General, Yobe State
51 Kaka Shehu Lawal, Attorney- General, Borno State
52 Dr. Y.Y Dadem, Deputy Director-General, Kano Campus
53 Dr. Imo J. Udofa, Vice Dean, University of Lagos
54 Prof, Deji Olanrewaju, Rep. Dean, Babcock University
55Prof. S. A, M. Ekwenze, Dean, Chukwuemeka Odumegu Ojukwu University

Meanwhile, the Conscience Post gathered that the students of the Nigerian Law school who were expecting their result may have expressed their displeasure via the social media network as the Nigerian Law School released on its website that the new date for the release of the result would be 20th October, 2017.

However, in a swift reaction to one of the comments on the social medium where the students share ideas and information is a permanently placed Mr. Samuel Osamolu, the Head of the Academics, the Nigerian Law School , who had asked one of the students that expressed displeasure over the new date of the release of result to clarify what was meant by reffering the authorities of the Nigerian Law School as ''being mad'' for not releasing the results on the stipulated dates in a somewhat threatening tone.

However, the facebook page of the Nigeria Bar Association has been awash with the facts that Mr. Samuel Osamolu ought not to have been on the social medium for the students since he is a lecturer not a student.

It would be recalled that the authorities of the Nigerian Law School under the directorship of Mr. Lanre Onadeko, Senior Advocate of Nigeria  have devised means of eroding on the freedom of expression of the students as stories of corruption abound at the Nigerian Law School.

Conscience Post gathered that the delay in release of the  result might be connected with rumours of leaked examination questions prior to the Bar Final examination.

It is  noteworthy to state that passing rate at the Nigerian Law School has constantly been low as students of the school year in year out become scared or afraid of failing.

Also, an online medium has linked a leaked audio http://www.lawyard.ng/kayode-bello-audio-indicting-top-law-school-official-released-as-court-adjourns-case/?utm_campaign=shareaholic&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=socialnetwork credited to Mr. Samuel Osamolu publicly saying in the classroom of July 17, 2017 that the Nigerian Law School was experiencing poor facilities contrary to what is contained on the website of the Nigerian law school.

DOUBTS

By Kay Bello.

Needless to write I almost told myself, but a black ball pen would always inspire. Since April I disembarked from that whale-like bowel en route Doha, Qatar, into the waiting hustling and bustling of the tropical region- Nigeria, I have done what I could. A change panacea had been sold to the people. We all must have bought into it. But just four days ago – November 16, 2015, an evening of Monday- a time HID Awolowo was brought to Ibadan for an eternal rest, someone whispered : ‘’the anti-corruption crusade is a coded one, only the intelligent would know it as a ruse, fluke.’’ From our own end, The Coalition, we should have known- a petition at the Aso Villa, and the other at the Hallow Chambers- both we can’t figure out what ate them up- the special dogs at the President’s place, or the Kwara man’s breed?

After reading through few lines of, ‘’Nineteen Eighty Four,’’ by George Orwell (real name: Eric Arthur Blair), and his thought at its back, ‘’ In a time of universal deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act,’’ some writing spirit came into me as if exorcised from a possessed soul. Old time friends are gone, the one who once flanked the side of Prof. Adewole - the Health Minister. A friend and foe of communication background - and that is Obajuluwa, consumed by the desire to survive the poverty war. A slight war of words broke out in the hallow Chambers of the most populous black country recently over a paltry amount of N5,000 monthly for the unemployed graduates in Nigeria. Some said the All Progressives Congress (APC) kicked against it, while others said the PDP- People Democratic Party brought it up to mar the administration of the President. Then, I remember my friends who had been out of jobs now. Some out of jobs others out of school due to the collapsed system. But days ago, the presidency had promised the start of the N5,000 naira payment in 2016. Bravo, right? But would that solve the basic problems of the unemployed? I doubt.

I can’t pause here I resolved. A number of issues to write on: local, University community, after all their own Adewole came from the University Community I refer as ‘Animal Farm’, national scene, and the international community- but one way or the other all interwoven. Any I could write on, worth the writing I submitted. There is a saying that what happens here changes the world, I suppose. Still on old-time friends but now the supposed foes too. Lai Mohammed, Audu Ogbeh , Rotimi Amaechi, Babatunde Fashola, and a host of others, even Kemi Adeosun had been in different political offices- a recycling move some think. Ben Murray-Bruce-the ‘Nigerian Obama,’ so tagged, had been making some sense, one time via his Silverbird Television, else the Television Continental (TVC) or so would have thrown his voice script into the thrash can. From old-time friends to supposed foes, an energy of youthfulness I had seen, but positions best reserved for them by the ‘Radical Brothers’ and company are that of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), and it had been rumoured Tokunbo Salako has an interest in such. Also, positions quite demeaning for political thuggery may have been reserved as well.

Labzy, a pseudonym, parades the Oyo State secretariat having lost election into the Students’ Unionism with the hope of a comeback in 2019 to tell those who felt he was not good enough that he could deliver from all fronts even the deliverables in terms of emotional satisfaction for the Radical Company. I had heard the scream so loud from the facebook ‘loudspeaker’: ‘’ leave the University of Ibadan for us, your mates are in Abuja riding cars.’’ Few I could pinpoint as riding cars, building houses or have built, getting married in a time of economic downturn, and political bashings and insincerity: ‘Dogara me, I Saraki you’’ or vice versa had dominated the pages and screens, as the fuel scarcity bites harder. The ‘Jagaban’ of Lagos State may have invested politically, but the Atiku’s permutations towards 2019 is what should give the Ebora of Owu sleepless nights. ‘’ PDP woos Saraki, others,’’ is a headline that would make El-Rufai of Kaduna State to immediately call the Code of Conduct Tribunal to hold on to the jugular of Saraki till 2018, if not 2019 or ‘forever’. Femi Falana, Rotimi Akeredolu, and Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s names were missing as ministerial nominees. Someone told others, somewhere in Ibadan before the editorials were unleashed: ‘’ Femi Falana did not go to see that man in Kaduna.’’ But why and for what? ‘’My age would limit my performance,’’ by the President is a statement no Nigerian must take with a pinch of salt.

A duty to screen the likes of Prof. Isaac Adewole, Rotimi Amaechi, Babatunde Fashola is a reflection of how the President can live up to expectations. That I know, the trio had petitions against them in the public domain. ‘’Mr President, your list of Ministers is not worth the long wait.’’ I remember Mr. President hurriedly submitted his ministerial list having arrived from the United Nations General Assembly. The haste revealed to Nigerians the recycling nature of the polity. The second list came within a short time the first was submitted, but did we ask: ‘’ Did Mr. President actually submit those ministerial nominees for screening by the agencies like Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission, and the Department of State Services (DSS) among others, even the Code of Conduct Bureau.

Accused of always discussing more with the foreign media, Mr. President should be told to give some respect and recognition if he has not been doing so to our own ‘’ brown envelope’’ media. At least they write too, and broadcast. Maybe the President had felt the foreign media are more truthful or objective since they are not having Nigerians as their paymasters: he who pays the piper dictates the tune. But the Tinubus should dictate the tune of The Nation, Television Continental (TVC) in Nigeria for the good of APC in particular.

A wave of self-determination or separation is sweeping through the Eastern part of the country – the Biafran agitations, but they must know that this agitation led to the 1967 civil war, and the likes of Gowon and Obasanjo are still around. Gowon and Obasanjo would call the agitators miscreants and different unprintable names since they (Obasanjo and Gowon) saw to the end of the war and oneness of the country. Ojukwu who championed the war fled, later returned to become a political warlord, as Achebe wrote in his favour in, ‘’ There was a country.’’ Achebe today is not alive to see the agitations. During that time, Achebe went on exile in United Kingdom to become refugee. Would the Biafran agitations create refugees just like that of Syria and Iraq? Only time would tell, I love to express.

For a proper self-determination or independence process, I think the ‘Biafrans’ should take some lessons from what happened between Ukraine and Crimea, and Scotland and England, as recent development. Won’t a well-organized referendum do, just like it was done in Scotland? I doubt if the present government of the day would allow such independence or cession especially due to the fact that the so-called Biafran region has oil deposits that some cabals see as their means of livelihood or political power. The agitations may be about a good number of people, but the agitators must know that the cabals who had been in the political history and offices holding sway of the country for too long would stop at nothing to ‘keep’ the country together . This is my shilling for the Biafran agitators that do not belong to the political elite class in Nigeria.

France just declared war against ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Levante) after the killing in Paris, but Nigeria and other countries had been battling insurgency years back. Someone wrote a letter to Mark Zuckerberg of facebook, expressing views on the call that people should pray for France. Should people not pray for Nigeria: on our Chibok girls especially? This was the view of the petitioner which I share part of. But another wrote that the call for the release of the girls from the Boko Haram Marauders went viral at the international community making comparison between the disappeared Malaysian MH370 and the Chibok girls an international debate. I doubt if those bombing actually would ensure rights of civilians especially the most vulnerable (children and women) when Syria or Iraq will be bombed further (as it has been). Migrants, refugees alike from Syria are being rejected by the US States, especially due to the recent development in France. There was a report that the France massacre may have been orchestrated in Syria, executed in France. Remember the Charlie Hebdo’s case? A media organization was attacked in France by terrorists over publication that satirized Muhammad. Any act of terror must be condemned in its totality, but further human rights violation may be underway in Syria and Iraq. Hope the likes of Amnesty International are watching, not only when the military is killing civilians in Nigeria that Amnesty should come with: ‘’ Stars on their shoulders, Blood in their hands.’’ Practically, the terrorists are more or less cowards hiding among the civilians and at times using them as shield, but when that human flesh goes up which will it be: that of the terrorist or of the innocent civilian? I doubt if the ‘assassins’ as carried in the news of days ago would not extend their tentacles to countries like Germany, Switzerland or other neighbouring countries. I read on facebook days ago on the timeline of a friend in the United Kingdom that there is a move or agitation to look into the freedom given the Muslims community in the United Kingdom. Real Muslims must be distinguished from the extremists or terrorists.

Waves of uncertainties or unprecedented negative developments may bring doubts on political, economic or social developments, but as a nation the country under the leadership of Muhammadu Buhari must be sincere with the anti-corruption crusade, though that he had surrounded himself with people of questionable character (Prof. Adewole Isaac as Health Minister inclusive) is enough to cast a shadow of doubt on his promises and plans. However, he can check their excesses, but if the Ministers fail to declare their assets as he promised, it is not morally correct to brandish any anti-corruption weapon or dagger. Before we could wink, a four-year term will be over. And this is a reminder to Mr. President to not renege on his campaign promises as the school children are still salivating for their daily school meals, and the unemployed graduates are impatient for jobs that would provide food, clothing and shelter. When no jobs or money to keep body, soul and spirit together, the teeming youth population becomes readily available tools in the hands of politicians who have their children in oversea institutions receiving better teaching and trainings, then ‘Awelsu’ and ‘Oly myk’ (humans) come to mind: two friends and foes capable of doing ‘follow follow’ ( as sung by late Fela Anikulapo Kuti) for the Nigerian politicians. A stitch in time saves nine.

Punch line: Hope we won’t have ghost unemployed graduates next year!?


First published on November 20, 2015.

REJOINDER TO NIGERIAN LAW SCHOOL'S LIES

By Kay Bello.

First and foremost, I must say a very big thank you all for your support so far, because without you maybe not a single soul would have heard about my illegal expulsion from the Nigerian Law School. All that had happened clearly showed that we cannot rest on our oars. However, it is quite shocking and shameful that the Nigerian Law School which everyone should see as a beacon of light and hope for justice had degraded to an arena of  lies and deception.
Anyway, I would chronicle my response which dates to October 13, 2008, when I was released from detention over hike in school fees. I do not want to bore us with details, but comments of those that knew about it all would show that I was not part of the said protest of the October 13, 2008, but I was already detained at the Sango Police station, and Iyaganku Police station subsequently when the protest broke out.
Today, the report the Nigerian Law School got from Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose, the then Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan was that I was involved in the disruption of peace and tranquility on campus. Please, fellow alumni of the University of Ibadan, who witnessed the 2008 protest on hike in school feesduring Professor Olufemi Bamiro’s regime as the Vice Chancellor of theUniversity of Ibadan, was I in the protest then? I allow those University of Ibadan graduates to be my witnesses. To answer that, if allowed, I was detained for three days without knowing the offence I committed.
One witness whom I withhold his name later inboxed me that I did not even distribute flyers as alleged by the authorities of the University of Ibadan. Moreover, I love to state that at no time did the authorities of the Nigerian Law School wanted to admit me into the Nigerian law school. The case of my unlawful denial of admission to the Nigerian Law School was reported by me to the Public Complaints Commission that stated that I could only reapply to the Nigerian Law School in 2016 admission period.
One of the statements by the Nigerian Law School that caught my attention was , ‘’ the Dean’s confidential report showed that he defied the authorities of the University and continued his programme without serving out the rustication period. It was when his defiance was discovered that he was forced to comply.’’ I think the Nigerian Law School knows what I don’t know of. In the University of Ibadan I know of, immediately the panel or committee rusticates or expels a student, you have to obey, and the Vice Chancellor would direct that the security operatives follow you to pack your belongings from the hostel. Maybe when we get to Court, the Nigerian Law School would provide when I was forced to comply with rustication.
‘’After his studentship was reinstated, he was unrepentant as the report indicated his involvement in a case of gross misconduct (insurbodination), which made the Board of the Faculty of Law to recommend him for further disciplinary action’’: with due respect to those who want us to be fit and proper, this statement is not complete and correct being that when I was recommended for the disciplinary action, what happened? The Dean, Professor Oluyemisi Bamgbose that wrote you did not tell what happened as she and one
Dr. Akintayo John of the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan were hell bent on expelling me from the University of Ibadan. The Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan pasted on its board for information, a summermulti-lateral international programme in Geneva, Switzerland in June, 2012,
I applied and I was admitted, but I needed fund, then I applied for grant to the then Vice Chancellor, Professor Adewole Isaac, the incumbent Health Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but Dr. Akintayo John, the Acting Dean, stood against it, and said because a year before, in 2011 a colleague and now a lawyer, Mr. John Bamgbose in-law to the then Dean of the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan, and myself benefitted from the University of Ibadan because we presented a paper on Climate Change at a conference in the United kingdom, among other reasons he gave in writing to malign the approving authority. We represented our University and our dear  country, Nigeria.
But because that time around the in-law to the then Dean, Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose was not involved it was a sin for me to apply for scholarship or grant from the University of Ibadan, so I opined. Dr. Akintayo later reported me to the then Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose, when she came back that I was rude to him, and that I said he should act reasonably as to his discretion not to sign my request to the approving authorities. The matter was reported to the then Vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan who waded into the matter, and asked the Faculty of Law to drop any allegation against me, having petitioned him especially via the facebook.
A copy of my reply to Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose to act quickly that I would miss the programme if she did not sign my introduction letter to the Swiss Embassy was sent to the then Minister of Education and she wrote me that she received it. It took the intervention of the then Vice chancellor that I eventually went for the Swiss programme in the Switzerland representing my University and country, Nigeria, at the Kofi Annan’s once-attended institution, Geneva, Switzerland, christened Graduate Institute.
I thought all was over at a time as the then Dean of the Faculty of Law reconstituted another panel to go against the decision of the vice chancellor then, Prof. Adewole Isaac, but all were in futility. The then Dean of the Faculty of Law, Professor Oluyemisi Bamgbose waited for me at the time to be mobilized for the Nigerian Law School, as I later got to know through the Public Complaints Commission that an adverse report wasmade against me by the then Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Law School gave me admission in 2012 but was withdrawn from its website without any reason. It took longer period before Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose could process my admission and result to the Nigerian Law School, but at that time I called the attention of the Nigerian Law School to an anomaly that they admitted two students, one Opadare and another Chuckwuemeka without complete results from the University of Ibadan, which the authorities of the University of Ibadan and the Nigerian Law School swept it under the carpet till today, and that my admission was been delayed unnecessarily. Rather they ganged up against me, and delayed my admission to the Nigerian Law School for four years.
But in 2014, after I pursued the Law school admission from 2012 to 2013 through the Public Complaints commission, I left the country to volunteer in the Philippines for the typhoon Yolanda victims with an America-based organization, called the All Hands Volunteers ( Hands.org). In the Philippines, I narrated my ordeals to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and sought asylum which partially gave me the opportunity to start my Master’s programme in Public Administration (in view).
In 2015, when a new government was sworn in promising to fight corruption,and ensure good governance, I asked the Philippines asylum/refugee .authorities to allow me go to Nigeria to pursue my Nigerian Law School case, which was accepted. I was in Nigeria in 2015 and I went to the Public Complaints Commission for my somewhat abandoned case. Noteworthy is the fact that in the Nigerian Law School’s response to the Public Complaints Commission, they stated that I would be communicated once the Council of Legal Education was done with my referred case. I love to state that the Nigerian Law School or the Council of legal Education never communicated me, but I went with a lawyer to thePublic Complaints Commission for the outcome of my somewhat abandoned case since 2013 I petitioned.
Hurriedly, the Public Complaints Commission scribbled something in a document calling it outcome of its investigation that I should reapply in 2016, which I did, but I further contested the decision of the Public Complaints Commission at the National Human Rights Commission, but the Human Rights Commission stated that it could not entertain my case because the Public Complaints Commission had decided my case. Along the line, I contacted Bamidele Aturu , of Blessed memory, before travelling out who later demanded that I pay filing fee to sue the Council of Legal Education, but that time I was even living from hand to mouth. Dr. Tahiru Mamman was the Director General of the Nigerian law School then. I already deposed to an affidavit to sue the Council of Legal Education at theFederal High Court in Lagos but to be filed in Abuja being the place of business of the Council of Legal Education.
I left the country in that 2015, when I saw the Nigerian Law School would not be possible that particular year again. I went back to the Philippines continuing my Master’s programme under the asylum programme. I told them in the Philippines that the travail and the victimization still continued somewhat, yet unresolved because I still wanted to sue the Council of Legal Education and possibly others then, while others advised that I should not, and but wait for the 2016 admission period. At a time, I petitioned the United Nations Human Rights Agency over the denial of my law school admission, but yet to receive any response from them.
In June 2016, I was in the Philippines when a friend and confidant messaged me that the authorities of the Faculty of Law, University of Ibadan needed my result and other documents for Law School admission. At first, I said that all the Faculty of law needed for my admission should be with them especially in terms of when I graduated and whether I had graduated or not. I discovered that my statement of result duly signed by the Exams Officer in the University was doubted, and I was asked by the person helping me in Nigeria to apply to send more documents, I did and I even sent copy of letter sent to the Solicitors’ Regulatory Authorities (SRA) in the United Kingdom that I am a graduate of the University of Ibadan that the University was processing my certificate.
Fellow Nigerians, I must tell that the incumbent Health Minister, Prof. Adewole Isaac did not release my certificate, and I was even referred to as a student of the University of Ibadan even after I became a graduate. For years, the University of Ibadan kept removing my name, up till now, from the Convocation Book without any reason because I wrote about sufferings of the students on campus in theUniversity of Ibadan when a no-cooking policy was declared by the then Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adewole Isaac, of which it became one of the issues the students of the University of Ibadan agitated for that led to suspension of academic activities and Students’ Union by Prof. Abel Olayinka, the incumbent Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan.
Eventually, I forwarded relevant documents to the Faculty of Law authorities, then I was told that my name and documents had been forwarded to the Nigerian Law School for admission purpose. I came to Nigeria again in October, 2016 after taking leave of absence from my graduate school in the Philippines. But before I left, I discovered another anomaly that name was omitted from the Registration list on the portal of the Nigerian law school. I was advised to go to Abuja to pursue the admission, I got toAbuja law school campus with a just one shirt and a pair of trousers thinking it was something I could resolve soonest but I had to return to Ibadan to pack all my load to return to Abuja, else they would deny me admission again.
Lest I forget, when I first got to the Nigerian Law School, they denied they received any document for my admission from the University of Ibadan, but I quickly showed them the decision of the Public Complaints Commission on my case, then they had no choice but to comply. A letter I wrote to Mr. Lanre Onadeko (SAN) on November 09, 2016 on the anomaly on my admission was never replied up till date, but it was rectified after writing the head of the Information and Communication Unit (ICT), Mr Omoyele, and copying the Secretary to Council of Legal Educationbefore it was rectified, during session, not before the academic session. I  must state that the Nigerian Law School and Council of Legal Education never gave me fair hearing when it received report against me from prof. Oluyemisi Bamgbose.
I eventually started admission, and the Council’s communication to me on my admission was given in February 2017 after repeated requests, way long after resumption, for the resumption was in November, 2016, meaning the Council of Legal Education never communicated me on its decision on my law school admission before admission exercise, whereas the Council’s decision had been given since June, 2014. I got to know I would reapply through the Public Complaints Commission in 2015. What was contained in the letter to me by the Council of Legal Education was that I was given a benefit of doubt not ‘’a letter of warning’’ as stated in the law school ‘s statement against me.
I challenge the Nigerian Law school to bring out the polo shirt and inscriptions accused of. As reported by the Punch Newspaper of Monday 24, 2017, a representative of the University said the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) regretted issuing a disclaimer against me. The Nigerian Law School should prove that I had estranged relationship with my colleagues. It is trite that he who asserts or alleges must prove.
The Nigerian Law School or Council of Legal Educaton should provide the iron rod, and necessary convincing evidence to substantiate their allegations. On the issue of letter from the law firm I was, it might interest anyone that for record purpose I have forwarded a voice transcript of how, theperson I complained against at the Equity Law partners, where I was posted, to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) headquarters, she dealt with me insulting me and degradingly.
The Principal Partner, Prof. Akper Peter (SAN) and Managing Partner, Mr. Shankyalu Tersoo were not around at times so the person who signs my log book one day flared up that she would not sign it again, without justifiable reasons. Thus, based on the information on the log book of the Nigerian Law School for attachment, it was written that whenever we have challenges where posted we can report to the NBA chairman or the Nigerian law school for reposting which I did complain to the NBA headquarters. The Nigerian Bar Association headquarters intervened and the vice chairman NBA Abuja Branch, Mr. Oyefeso Tunde was contacted.
I finished the remaining part of my externship with him. My sin was that I reported the partner at the Equity law partners to the NBA when the partner threatened or said she could not sign my log book again which she earlier signed. I reported the issue to a Senior partner at the law firm because the managing partner was not around, and the principal partner was not around too. When I saw that the matter could not be resolved as I was told that the person that threatened not to sign my log book was directly employed by the Principal partner, Peter Akper, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria and that the principal partner told me that the Nigerian Law School had already told them that I was a troublesome person but I said all he must have been told were to defame me as they have always been doing.
Moreover, it is quite sad that the Nigerian law school or the Council of legal education would include a one-sided report against me, without first hearing from me as the externship reports are two sides: one report from the externship employer and the other from me as an intern/extern, then a fair hearing should be given, by comparing both reports. It shows clearly that the Nigerian law school under the directorship of Mr. Lanre Onadeko (SAN), or the Council of Legal Education is indeed biased against me.
Needless for me to respond again to the seat reservation and facility issues since these have been thrashed out in various media, except there is new development worthy of response.


Published on www.lawyard.ng on July 27, 2017.

INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)  at the Kuchingoro Camp, Abuja. photo: Kayode Bello.

The IDP pupils and myself recently. Photo: Kayode Bello.

Kuchingoro is a place located in Abuja, along Lugbe. There are old and new Kuchingoros in the capital of one of the world’s largest oil producers. So, the new Kuchingoro houses them, tucked in a farther place away from the metropolitan sides of Abuja, in a somewhat forest-like camp where lives and property are endangered due to inadequate security. 

Since the Boko Haram insurgents had been asking for the establishment of Islamic caliphates, and the abolition of the Western Education, the booming and detonation of bombs had forced millions to leave where they once called homes.

Many had escaped through the neighbouring borders to Nigeria: Niger, Chad, Cameroun, fleeing through the deserts. Many had been killed while fleeing while many had been killed by the fleeing Boko haram insurgents, so reported.

For Alhaji Usman Adamu, one of the survivors, who hails from Borno State, Gwoza Local Government, he finds a refuge at the Kutchingoro camp for the IDPs. His ordeal started when the Boko Haram insurgents were descending on men or males which made him run through the Cameroun for two weeks, he says, from Adamawa in the North Eastern part of Nigeria.

In terms of educating the children at the camp, there exists a short-fenced space for the children to learn with about six teachers, being a private initiative. The children and women are more vulnerable with the kind of environment they live in at the camp. It was learnt that government takes survival/relief materials to the camp such as food, but they are insufficient to go round. The children who may have lost their loved ones to the Boko Haram insurgency still at large require basic education and provisions to grow and develop. Food is one of the basic necessities of life, it may be seen as the mainstay of life, but enabling environment with adequate shelter and clothing including quality education are quite important and needed at this crucial juncture.

Usman narrated how they arrived at the camp saying they were the first settlers as others followed suit. This means the camp population might grow in days to come.

Usman feels the media need publicize the camp and the challenges of staying at the camp, though he expressed that there are people from the religious sects and other groups who have extended help to them, but much is needed to salvage the situation.

Further findings at the National 

Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, in Nigeria, put the number of the Kuchingoro’s IDPs at about 500 as at the last count, while there are other IDP camps in Kuje, Karu, among others, all in Abuja.

A concerted and genuine effort will be needed to put smiles on the faces of the psychologically troubled victims and survivors of the Boko Haram debacle.

As school term is over for the IDP pupils who receive teachings under 4 or 5 canopies in an open, prone field with a heap of refuse at the back of the fence without lavatories, one wonders if any succour or rescue could come their way any time soon.

I took snapshots of the place and I identified some basic needs they require for survival or as aid ranging from chalk boards, chairs, tables, school uniforms, teachers, class rooms, canopies/tents, among others.

At best, the IDP camps could be seen as temporary shelters or abode, with the expectation that governmental and non-governmental organizations must immediately rise up to the occasion of providing permanent places of abode or ensure their safe and sustainable return home. Or, if they choose to be integrated into the new environment or society they found themselves, plans should be on to ensure these without much ado or delay.

Mike Ikape of the Commission expressed that empowerment programmes for the IDPs are better and more impactful than the usual daily donation of foodstuffs, but he nonetheless opined that food is equally important for daily survival.

‘’My family is away from the village, they are in the town in Maiduguri. My children and wife call me on phone, but I always want to see them. Some of us are carpenters, drivers, commercial motor cyclists, or we get vehicles on hire purchase for commercial purpose,’’ said Usman further.

Field where the IDP pupils use for classes.  Photo: Kayode Bello.

He said some of the IDPs expressed that they were tailors, barbers, among others but the unavailability of fund or equipment to perform such had rendered them jobless or idle in that apart from the daily donations, they could earn some amount for personal daily upkeep.

Besides, my goal is to help out one way or the other in collaboration with any recognized or registered group, governmental or non-governmental agencies or individuals. Thus, I could be reached via: 09093927630 theconsciencenews@gmail.com. 

You can also leave comments here or on consciencepost.blogspot.com

Together, we can put smiles on somebody’s face.

Editor: Kay Bello, Law Graduate, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Master's in Public Administration, Philippines, (In View).

ON MAYOWA'S DEATH, UI STUDENTS' AGITATIONS

source: google.com/oaupeeps.com

Since the death of Mayowa Alaran, a Human Kinetic student in the University of Ibadan, events have been unfolded ranging from protests over his death, Students’ Union Congress held by the students of the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, non-recognition of the Students’ Union Congress by the Dean of Students’ Affairs, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Prof. Alada, who may have claimed that the Students’ Union Congress was not validly constituted, but further investigations revealed that the Students’ Union Congress was validly constituted but the students were scared to append their signatures due to an age-long victimization and oppression by the  University of Ibadan’s authorities. The students in driving home their points boycotted the Students’ Union election slated earlier this year stating that the welfare of students was paramount and germane before the conduct of the Students’ Union election. Issues were subsequently raised at the Welfare Board meeting that was chaired by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adewole Isaac.

To some, the boycotted election was actualized by a group of students that had been perceived as those interested in the Transition Committee for the Students’ Union rather than a democratic Students’ Union, whereas others believe the boycott was necessary. After much suffering especially in the aspect of electricity and water supply, the University management gave a two-week break, and the students have resumed normal academic activities. Electricity and water supply had improved greatly in the University, as investigations indicate.

However, expectations of the students are that the Students’ Union elections should be held this time since some of the Students’ Union candidates had signed that a new date be fixed for the Students’ Union election.

Further findings had revealed that the incumbent Students’ Union President, Odesola known as Huntersola is uncooperative towards the conduct of the Students’ Union election, as he has been seen by the students as pro-management and anti-student.

The event after the death of Mayowa had shown the unpopularity of the Students’ Union President who was reported to be in the Intensive Care Unit of the University College Hospital, University of Ibadan. It was learnt that all efforts to see the hailing President then proved abortive as many saw his confinement as a ploy orchestrated by the University’ authorities under Prof. Adewole’s watch, to douse the agitations for the removal of the Students’ Union President, and the actualization of the students’ demands regarding welfare, among others.

At the moment, the Conscience Post learnt that the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Adewole Isaac may have vowed that there would not be Students’ Union election, any time soon, though it would be recalled that his administration saw to the resuscitation of the Students’ Union.

Nonetheless, inquiries by the Conscience Post have revealed the following on the welfare report submitted by the students concerning the generality of students of the University of Ibadan, as such reveals the reasons for the postponement  of the Students’ Union election.

Introduction

Consequent to the meeting held with the School management on the 14^th of May, 2015, the Dean of Students requested the students’ representatives to come up with a list of challenges and welfare issues facing students’ welfare. It was agreed by both the school management and the students’ representatives that the report on students’ welfare shall be made available for the deliberation of the Students’ Welfare Board which would be sitting on Wednesday, 20^th of May, 2015.

Another meeting of students’ representatives was held on the 16^th of May, 2015. This meeting had in attendance all Hall Chairpersons, some Faculty Presidents, members of the Representative Council, few pressmen and aspirants for the postponed election.    After long, lengthy and logical deliberations and due reports from various Halls of Residence and Faculties, those in attendance agreed on the demands below as the challenges facing students’ welfare on campus:

GENERAL STUDENTS’ WELFARE

Enough of Manual Course Registration

The issue of manual course registration has been a long problem for the students. Manual course registration takes time for completion with stress both on the students and lecturers.  We recommend and request that registration of courses should be done online only, as it is done in many Universities globally, to reduce time spent on registration and the stress that comes with it.

Improvement in Water Supply

Water supply system within the school is very poor as students are seen trekking distances to fetch water as if they are in the rural area. An example can be drawn from IDIATES who trek as far as Indy Hall and New PG hall while Indy hall travel as far as Baptist church close to International School Ibadan (ISI) to fetch water. If this persists, we foresee students travelling to Awba Dam to fetch water for their domestic purposes. And when Awba dam dries, the students may seek solace with Eleyele Dam, in Ibadan, Oyo State. The Central water system perceived to be coming from the maintenance has seized to flow in for a very long time. We believe if this is rejuvenated and water adequately pumped into the halls, the problems of water will be half solved.

Erratic and Irregular Distribution of Power Supply

The issue of electricity on campus has been a challenge that many administrations have had to face in the past. We do understand through explanations from the school management that it may not be feasible to achieve 24 hours of electricity per day.  But, our request is just to remind the school management of its earlier promise as stated by the Vice Chancellor during the Town Hall meeting of 2012 held at Trenchard Hall, where he promised us 18 hours of electricity per day. It should be noted that if this promise has been kept all along by the school management, we may not have had cause to bury one of our own recently, in person of Mr. Mayowa Alaran of the Department of Human Kinetics, faculty of education, University of Ibadan. We don't need to remind the school management that regular power supply is fundamental to the progress of scholarship and academic excellence. When there is blackout or erratic power supply as it has become a norm, practical classes are suspended and researches are greatly affected. Not just that, classrooms become oven-like and the learning environment becomes everything but conducive. We also do not need to remind the school management that many of its lofty programmes like the Wifi and the Kitchenette system depend greatly on a regular power supply to thrive. We hereby wish to reiterate our demand for the fulfilment of the School Management's promise of 18 hours of electricity per day. And most importantly, a further demand of 24 hours uninterrupted power supply is achievable and feasible to key into the in-coming government of the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari’s agendum of tackling the erratic electricity supply nationwide. Thus, it would be a great disservice and hardship when we demand anything less than 24 hours of electricity supply as our demands when met would be towards dispensation of a new government in Nigeria. We are aware that the institution ought to have conquered the issue of electricity or power supply with the existence of departments that could champion other sources of power, or consolidate on the existing sources. The Faculty of Technology in the institution is an example.

It should be specifically noted that the entire Block B in Idia Hall, University of Ibadan is yet to be graced with power supply since resumption. We also need to remind the school management that this particular Block is a new entrants’ Block and this issue has affected the students to the extent that many had to abandon classes due to unavailability of electricity to perform basic things on daily bases that affect learning, proper coordination of activities especially academic activities. The university of Ibadan students are not oblivion of the facilities their counterparts enjoy elsewhere in Nigeria or abroad, but that first university in Nigeria, the University of Ibadan could not cater for their needs is a signal to the failed system, and that the university administration must as matter of urgency embark on total overhaul of the university without politics of interests which had affected the general wellbeing of the inhabitants in the University over the years. The University of Ibadan may as well be prepared to remove the names of the affected new entrants from the University of Ibadan’s list of enrolled students. Such students’ battle with daily survival and adjustment due to gross lack of amenities or facilities, as it would not be surprising to find many of these helpless students' names in the ‘Tsunami’ List, the withdrawal list of those students that could not meet up with required academic grades in the University of Ibadan.

Transportation

The transport system within the campus is not well-coordinated as there is no even distribution of movement to places, a problem attributed to drivers and management of the Intra Campus Transport Committee (ICTC). Some destinations are not covered at all e.g. from the University of Ibadan’s gate to the Veterinary Medicine, from the University of Ibadan’s gate to Awolowo Hall, from the University of Ibadan’s gate to the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, and the likes. Also, we realized that more often the cab drivers stop work at around 7p.m, making students to trek from the University of Ibadan gate to their various destinations. Additionally, most of the cab drivers charge exorbitant fare from the students. We believe that these issues are predominant because the ICTC is under the administration of the University of Ibadan. We request that the ICTC should be fully handed over to Students’ Union, University of Ibadan, because the students are the majority on campus and we can better manage the aforementioned routes in the University for Students’ Convenience.

Inverter Situation in the Halls of Residence

We hereby wish to state our displeasure at the breakdown of inverters in the Halls of residence. It will be recalled that these inverters were built about four years to complement the erratic power supply. The inverters afforded the students an opportunity to read and find their ways around the halls in times of blackout. However, barely two years after the installation of these inverters, what they do now is to decorate our corridors. The situation now is so bad to the extent that when there is blackout in the halls of residence, all activities are paralysed including one of the most fundamental activities on campus, reading. We hereby wish to plead with the University’s authorities to restore these inverters to ease students' living on campus.

Limited Connectivity of Wifi Networks

In the same vein, it should be noted that the Wireless internet connectivity introduced by Prof. Adewole's administration has also been frustrating students. As a point of information, many executives of the Halls of Residence have started installing wireless networks for the residents of their halls at cheaper prices when they abandoned it when it was learnt that the school had a similar plan. One year after the installation of the Wireless network, it gracefully graces our laptops and smart phones with "Limited Connectivity". We understand that the school has a plan of charging students for this service, but the school has refused to provide this service even when the students are ready to pay. We hereby plead with the University management to restore wireless networks to the halls of residence as it goes a long way to help students in research and other academic activities. 

State of Security on Campus

There has been an increased incidence of theft across the various halls of residence. This could be as a result of several factors including the frequent lack of electricity and inexperienced security personnel around the campus especially at night. The management needs to take this issue seriously by providing electricity at night and increasing number of security personnel across the school at night. Also not more than three security men should be posted to each hall of residence. This will help reduce cases of theft especially in the female halls of residence.

Lecture Rooms

Most of the facilities in our lecture rooms are either not available, not enough or they are dilapidated. The facilities include: fan, air conditioners, projectors, public address systems, etc. We urge the management to visit some of these lecture rooms and identify what is needed for repairs or provision.

Poor Lighting System  

Poor lighting within the campus has been a serious issue. This is because darkness is a haven for rapists and thieves. Our girls are not safe at night anymore especially places where darkness has dominated. Example of such places include Faculties of Science-Technology axis, Faculty of Science-Awo Hall axis.  We request the fixing of light along these axes and other places within the school that need this facility at night. This will improve security issues around the campus.

Kitchenette

It has also come to our notice that most of the hotplates with the various kitchenettes across all the halls within the campus are no longer working. This will push students back to cooking in their rooms thereby rendering the effort of the management (stopping student from cooking in the rooms) useless. We urge the management to look into this and help the students as quick as possible because there are some students that cannot afford to eat at the cafeterias.

Service Providers

The various service providers within the campus are not doing enough to alleviate or eradicate the sufferings of students’ e.g University Health Service Centre, University Student Lodging Bureau (USLB) and Maintenance Department.

UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICE CENTRE:

·         The use of Jaja card should be abolished and all student records are to be made electronic. This will create easy access to student records such that matriculation numbers only will be needed to check in any student into the clinic.

·         The staff of the clinic should be friendly to student. Hostile attitudes are not good for students or any patient in a clinic.

·         More drivers should be provided for the ambulances available such that we will have one driver to an ambulance unlike it is currently practised as one driver to three ambulances.

·         Ambulance should be located at specific location at all times to prevent the death of our colleagues. We recommend that an ambulance should be located between Idia-Awo Halls’ axes, another at Zik-Indy Hall axes and another at the Central Administration area in the University of Ibadan.

·         Additional ambulances should be procured for emergency outside the University with regards to University College Hospital (UCH), University of Ibadan.

·         Proper vaccination should be given to students as at when due especially students on clinical duties (Veterinary Medicine and PYTP students). Such vaccinations include anti-rabies and hepatitis.

·         Adequate Fumigation should be carried out per semester across all halls of residence.

UNIVERSITY STUDENT LODGING BUREAU (USLB) AND MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT:

·         The USLB should adequately attend to students’ needs such that one carpenter, plumber and electrician each should be allocated to each hall of residence and faculty. It has been discovered that there are a lot of broken pipes, dysfunctional taps and bad electrical appliances (especially sockets) within our Halls and Faculties as no one is available to adequately attend to them even after proper complaints. Even when those allocated to our halls are called for repairs they do not respond, if they do they respond after three weeks or a month and most times never.

·         The issue of overcrowding has been brought to our notice wherein especially in female halls a six-man room has turned to twelve-man room: this is evident in Queen Elizabeth Hall II and Queen Idia Hall in the University of Ibadan.

·         The issue of plumbing needs to be isolated here, as this has caused serious disgust within our halls especially the bathrooms where bathrooms have turned to swimming pool as a result of broken pipes and poor drainage maintenance. Even in some bathrooms, the deckings are licking thereby producing showers of dirty water. We demand that adequate care and maintenance be adopted to prevent ill-health as a result of this.

Reading Rooms

All the reading rooms within the halls of residence are in a state of comatose as most facilities are not worthy to be called facilities. Most can now be referred to as decoration waiting for the dust that passes every day to inhabit them. Attention need be paid to fans, air conditions, chairs and tables.  Some halls do not have sufficient reading rooms like Idia hall of residence.

Identification Cards

The use of Identity Cards to gain access within our halls of residence is not acceptable. The halls’ ID cards are made for security issues not for access to the hall or a means to intimidate students especially within the female hostels. We must point out here that this production of Hall ID cards has rendered the University ID card useless. The question we keep asking is: what is the need of the University Identity Card if it is not acceptable enough within the campus? In the Universities like the University of Ilorin, in Ilorin, Kwara State, the University Identity cards are like ATM cards used in paying the school fees, hostel fees, making withdrawals as a debit card and some other information technology-related activities but currently in the premier University, a unit of the institution has started discarding the University Student ID cards by going forward to produce separated ID cards. This is a waste on the part of the University and the students who pay for different ID cards within the campus. Additionally, there is extortion going on within the girl’s hostels from the porters with respect to these ID cards. Why collect the sum of #1000 as fine from us when we misplace our ID cards with no explanation or replacement? We demand that this should stop.

No to #5,000 Fines for Late Payment of School Fees

We hereby wish to demand that the 5,000 naira fine of late payment of school fees should be stopped. The University Officials should note that fingers are not equal. When a student has been struggling to put his/her school fees together and then, when he/she is about rejoicing that the money is completed, the school management decides to add a 5,000 naira fine. We hereby wish to plead with the school management to reconsider its stand on the 5,000 naira fine for the sake of the less-privileged students.

SPECIFIC CASES

HALLS OF RESIDENCE

        I.            The Kitchenettes in Mellanby Hall have so far been disconnected from the power source. Complaints have been made yet solutions have not been provided. This makes it difficult for students to prepare their food. Needless to say that the Hotplates in these kitchenettes are not even working anymore.

      II.            The issue of locks being vulnerable to multiple keys should also be looked into in both Mellanby and Bello Halls of Residence as soon as possible as this has contributed to the success of many theft cases in the hall.

    III.            There's also the issue of broken pipes in Block B and Block C inTedder and Bello halls of residence respectively.

    IV.            Residents of Bello, Indy and Zik halls have also complained about the faults in the wiring systems of the halls. A visit to most of the rooms will reveal students sleeping and romancing with live wires in the rooms. This issue is of great threat to students' life if not promptly looked into.

      V.            Awo Hall has been facing the challenges of having pumping machines to pump water to the topmost floors. Awo Hall Residents will be happy if this can be looked into as soon as possible as students go through great stress to fetch and carry water to these topmost floors.

    VI.            We will also wish to request for more cleaners to combat the dirty environment of Awo Hall.

  VII.            There are cases in Queens Hall where the students directly receive blessed showers of rain on their heads whenever, there is rainfall as there are no ceilings to prevent the downpour. This is similar to cases of sunny days that the students have to tolerate extreme hot temperature in an over-crowded room they paid for. 

VIII.            The issue of water supply in Alexander Brown hall has been a perennial problem, in fact, the USLB has come to access and re-access to no avail. Recently, we witnessed a queue of buckets from A block extending down to C block in ABH. The effect of this situation on Brownites is so telling that going to class sometimes could be impossible. Almost everyone fetches from one source. We hereby demand that a long lasting solution should be implemented as soon as possible.

    IX.            There are also accommodation issues in ABH and the solution to this as we have discovered is the construction of a new block. We deem it fit to bring it to the notice of the school management that a whole new set crosses over to UCH without provision for accommodation till the existing final year students leaves the college, a situation that may take six months or more. Eventually, less than 75% of students in UCH get accommodated. This is most inappropriate considering the rigors of Medical school. We humbly appeal to the University management to come to our rescue.

      X.            Residents of Tedder Hall protested a couple of weeks ago against the construction of a gate inside the Hall. After the school management has promised to look into the matter, it is saddening to note that work has resumed in the construction of a cubicle behind the gate. We hereby wish to restate our displeasure on the construction of that gate and its partial lockage. In Tedder Hall, presently, there’s only an emergency exit and the construction of this gate will obviously make the free flow of movement very difficult in the face of stampede. We are talking about a potential threat to students’ lives here and we hope the school will make sure that the hall management stop this project.  

FACULTY

        I.            We hereby request that the road linking the Zoological Garden to the Faculty of Technology in the University of Ibadan should be tarred as soon as possible to put an end to the messy situation students get involved in during the raining season.

      II.            The drainage system in the Faculties of Agriculture and Arts is faulty and this prevents the free flow of water in the toilets which results in accumulation of water and unpleasant smell.

    III.            The issue of inadequacy of classrooms in the Faculty of Technology should be looked into especially with the 300 level to the 500 level classes. This situation makes learning very difficult and cumbersome.

    IV.            There is also agitation from Faculty of Education students on the need to decentralise Teaching practice from just Ibadan North Local Government, thus allowing the students to observe their Teaching Practice program in any school within the state.

      V.            Request to reconsider the exorbitant fee being paid by the students of Archaeology and Anthropology department. It becomes pertinent to question the rationale and appropriateness of paying #20,000 naira for field work when the school levy is just #16,450.

    VI.            Another issue of great concern is the welfare of students of European Studies department in the University. The school needs to be reminded that these students pay as much as #70,000 naira in case of German students and #90,000 naira in case of French students for their Year Abroad Programme. It becomes apparently questionable if these students still have to pay school fees of over #16,000 naira just because they are made to take 2 electives in the University. Our demand is that these students should stop paying school fees and if they must pay because of those 2 electives, then, provisions should be made for them to take these 2 electives before the commencement of the programme. We see this double payment as mere extortion and it should be noted that students from our sister University, Obafemi Awolowo University, do not pay during their Year Abroad Programme.

  VII.            We also need to question the rationale behind the inclusion of #1,000 naira Practical fee in the list of levies of Law Faculty students. It should be noted that no "practical" in any sense has been carried out for Law students in that Faculty. We hereby demand for the exclusion of this ridiculous fee from the school fees of Law Faculty students in the University of Ibadan. If the exclusion of this fee becomes difficult then, we demand justification for the payment immediately.

VIII.            The issue of Timetable in the Faculty of Education and Technology should also be looked into. There are always conflicts in times of classes and these put the students in a confused situation as to select which of the clashing courses they will go for. This is an emergency situation that should be addressed as soon as possible as this has resulted in some students having extra year in the Faculty.

    IX.            Another issue that requires the school's utmost attention is that of Transcript issues. Students in the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine are required to pay before getting their transcripts. We do not know why the students have to pay for transcripts when they have already paid dues relating to all these in their list of levies. It becomes laughable to know that these same transcripts that the students have to pay for have consistently featured errors in their calculation.  In the same vein, students in the departments of Theatre Arts and Philosophy have complained about the non-issuance of transcript. This is a big problem as it becomes difficult for students who want to use such for scholarship and other extra-academic purposes.

      X.            We also demand that the deplorable state of female toilets be looked into in the Faculty of Arts in the University of Ibadan.

    XI.            We also demand the opening of classes and reading rooms 24 hours daily and not restricted to 8 am - 4 pm.

CONCLUSION

From the forgoing, we hereby urge the University of Ibadan authority to immediately look into the aforementioned issues as matters of urgency in that they form the very essence of the existence of the University, the inhabitants in the University of Ibadan.  The age-long complaints that the University may not or cannot provide the basic amenities for the inhabitants of the University had over the years affected the qualities of the students being churned out year in, year out. We further admonish the University authorities to always see the students as integral parts of the University with the essence of ensuring adequate facilities in the 21^st century in order to be able to compete favourably with their counterparts from elsewhere. We the students of the University of Ibadan had over the years suffered either neglect of responsibilities by the University administration or a total and deliberate clampdown on the voices of the students despite the existence of the Students’ Union with its reinstatement in 2011.

We demand full provision of the aforementioned demands which are sacrosanct for our wellbeing and sense of belonging within the University community. It is with frown we have come together as concerned students of the University of Ibadan towards our emancipation from the shackles of oppression from various constituent units of the University of Ibadan.

We ask that the University of Ibadan take a proactive step in addressing all these displeasure as it is glaring that facilities in the University of Ibadan are still inadequate and dilapidating.

Thanks for your prompt and favourable response.

*This is the report of the students’ welfare meeting convened at the SRC on the 16^th of May, 2015.

contact: +2347095987192, theconsciencenews@gmail.com.