OAU Fee Hike Novella (Episode 6)

...After waiting for ten minutes and Tunde didnt show up,at exactly 1.15pm Sola left OUI roundabout so he could be on campus by 1.30pm.Tunde on the otherhand totally forgot about their agreement to meet at any location,immediately he saw a bus going to campus, he quickly entered the bus.He got to campus around 1.10pm and immediately he got to school gate,he saw a man selling Eggroll which he bought with the last cash on him.

Getting a bus back to campus wasn't easy, he had to settle for the doorside of a 'Town Igboro', he finally got to campus about ten minutes after his takeoff from school gate, Tunde checked his pocket and was glad that he could still find his HB pencil which he kept specially to use for SER001 exam,he saw different people with rough shirts, hairs amongst different funny dressings, thanks to the Aluta.

 SER001 exam was just simple and Tunde found himself smiling while reading some questions. Tunde finished the exam within 15minutes, immediately he left the exam hall he picked his G.S.M from pocket and dialled Similoluwa's  number,Similoluwa sounded very happy and told Tunde that the Aluta was interesting,she expressed eagerness for another Aluta to take place.Your SER001 nko? Tunde asked,it was just there jawe,even if i no be university student,i go pass am,Similoluwa replied. Hmm Iwe! Tunde teased her on Phone and after some few seconds of talking,Similoluwa and Tunde agreed to see each other at Anglomoz car park,later in the night. Tunde dropped the call and checked his pocket to see how much was left on him,then reality dawned on him that he has spent the last hundred naira he had buying Gala and Eggroll.

Tunde wasnt expecting any money till Monday of the following week,his weekly Pocket Money is one thousand Naira.Sensing the consequence of that,Tunde thought aloud,'well,i have Garri,Small Rice and Beans, Man no fit die jare,he concluded'.Thinking of what he could eat in the afternoon,he picked up his Phone and flashed Similoluwa,who called back almost immediately.What do you want to cook in your hostel, Tunde asked Similoluwa,well Rice and Dodo,Similoluwa replied.Cook my own o, Tunde said, and Similoluwa promised to call him when it is ready.

Immediately he dropped the call,someone tapped his head hard from behind...

Watch out for episode 7!

The writer of this story, Oyedeji Olanrewaju is a Part 2 student of  the Department of Accounting, Obafemi Awolowo University. You can reach Oyedeji through his e-mail: Olanrewajusamuel8@gmail.com

Victory Is Always Certain

" He who Passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it.  He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it" -Martin Luther King Jr.

Few days ago which unavoidable looks like months to me, I was banished from the Great Ife Page by the powers that be because of my un-shaking stance of standing and not being brainwashed by suicidal releases and Propagandas aimed at K-legging our Democratically elected Union leaders.

I roped my self and stood against oppression as imbibed in me, comments flew in both appalling and "solidaritory". Many spoke and bluffed but I was mostly disgusted by the suggestion of me begging for my right not a privilege o!(Singing) "Great Ife yi ti gbo gbo wa ni"!

Gone are those days of mediocratic students who are oppressed and they keep shut wailing in silence.

Meanwhile, Tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by people but the silence over that by the Good people.

I saluate the doggedness of students and blogs that responded with "aluta against all Oppression". May God in his infinite mercies stand by You in your trying times.

"The future rewards those who press on. I don't have time to feel sorry for myself. I don't have time to complain. I 'am going to Press on"- Barrack Obama

Conclusively, I congratulate LASU for their feat. Great ife students 'ti wa nor a to de', it is high time we put aside our differences because "We must learn to live together as brothers or perish as fools"- Martin Luther King Jr.


The writer of this Opinion, Damilola Toblan Dspice is a student of  the Faculty of Law, Obafemi Awolowo University. You can reach Dspice through his e-mail: dotowobola@yahoo.com

South-West Governors Meet Over Ebola

GOVERNORS in South-West states, on Wednesday, met in Lagos, to hold an emergency meeting over concerted efforts to be deployed in containing the Ebola virus disease in the states.

This came as the Lagos State government confirmed the death of one of the nurses who had first degree contact with the dead Liberian, Patrick Sawyer, who died of Ebola virus disease in Lagos.

Speaking through the Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, at the Government House, Alausa, Lagos, the governors told newsmen that cross-border movements were major constraints in combating Ebola, while appealing to the Federal Government to deploy manpower and resources to curtail the spread.

Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun lamented that despite 58 Hilux vans patrolling the over 70 illegal borders between Lagos and Ogun, there was still the need for the Federal Government to assist with more vehicles and security forces.

Also, the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, called on all Nigerians to be stakeholders in the quest to combat Ebola, by being conscious of their personal hygiene.

Speaking on the case of the latest Ebola victim, the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, at a press briefing with newsmen at Alausa, on Wednesday, said the nurse (names withheld) reportedly died on Tuesday at 2.06 p.m.

The development made the number of deaths recorded in Nigeria as a result the Ebola virus disease two.

According to Idris, of the six persons whose samples were taken for a laboratory test, four had tested positive to the virus, one came out negative and the last was still inconclusive.

Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, in another press briefing in Abuja, also confirmed the development, saying that Nigeria has now recorded seven confirmed cases of the Ebola virus disease, with the first case being that of Sawyer.

“The other five cases are currently being treated at the isolation ward in Lagos,” he said.
According to Idris, of the total 70 people being monitored, based on contact tracing from the index case that came into the country from Liberia, eight was admitted with their blood samples taken.

He added, however, that secondary contact tracing of all the admitted had commenced, noting that 27 of them had been reached, while efforts were on to trace others.

The commissioner also said more volunteers were needed, especially contact trackers; case management personnel, especially those with experience in but not restricted to infectious disease control.

He allayed the fears of health workers who had the required expertise, as, according to him, the government was willing to take care of such volunteers in terms of safety to personal health, life insurance cover and whatever genuine assurance they might require.

“The bottom line is that we cannot provide the requisite quality and quantity of health workers needed for the management of these cases. Outsiders would find it difficult to come in and help as is the case in scarce human resource in health settings,” he said.

Idris also appealed to businessmen and women who sold materials and equipment needed in the management of the virus not to cash in on the unfortunate situation by unduly increasing the prices of their commodities.

Professor Chukwu also revealed that emergency operations centre would be set up and fully functional by today and would, according to him, be headed by Dr Faisal Shuaibu as the incident manager.

“He (Dr Shuaibu) will later today (Wednesday) lead a six-man inter agaency team drawn from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the United States Centre for Disease Control (CDC), World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to Lagos to complete the setting up of the centre,” the minister said.

“Within the week, the Minister of Information and I would be visiting Lagos State to assess the situation on ground. I wish to, once again, reassure Nigerians that the government is working hard to ensure the containment of the outbreak,” he added.

Source: Nigerian Tribune

Fashola Reverses LASU School Fees To Status Quo Of N25,000

Mr. Fashola stated this on Thursday at the convocation programme of the university.

The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has directed that the controversial fee hike at the Lagos State University, LASU, be reversed.

Mr. Fashola stated this on Thursday at the convocation programme of the university.

He said the fees would now be returned to the old charges.

The reversal comes after months of protests by students and lecturers of the university.

The Lagos State Government had, earlier in 2011, increased the fees from N25, 000 to N198, 000 for humanities and education, while medical students were to pay N350, 000.

After the protests, the state government approved a reduction by 34 to 60 per cent. That reduction would have seen students pay between N76, 750 and N158, 250 depending on the faculty and year of study.

That reduction was still opposed by the students and the lecturers.

Thursday’s announcement by the governor could, however, lead to a reversal to the 2011 charges.


Source: Premium Times NG

OAU Fee Hike Novella (Episode 5)

 (continuation)

...What happened! Tunde shouted from the boot.Tunde's bus was full of Ladies,while Tunde and three other guys sat in the boot.He was amused when he heard them saying 'The driver, he runs too much na, he just used the brake like that' What should i now do? Me that i am in the boot,Tunde quipped as he continued singing his Aluta Song 'Omole ti se wa ....'.

They got to OUI roundabout sooner than thought and Tunde quickly rushed down from the boot to team up with his rummies Sola and Segun who unlike Tunde came with their girlfriends.The guys soon left the ladies (their Girlfriends) alone to participate in watching a guy who acted like 'Sango' with his regalia. See this guy o,if Sango gangan cum,the guy go comot Regelia, Tunde said.Sango gan go fear Aluta na,Sola also contributed to the discussion in his funny Language.

Tunde looked sideways and he saw Similoluwa,he was surprised to see her there,after he told her not to come,suspecting what he was thinking, Similoluwa said,so make me i miss my first Aluta for OAU abi? Am here to catch fun,with that she playfully smacked Tunde and was out of sight within few seconds. This girl sha,Tunde thought aloud. Policemen arrived the scene in their Numbers soon after, but on sighting them, OAU Students starting Singing Aluta songs, this got the policemen smiling and they told the students to remain peaceful and to avoid disorderliness.

Una for cum shoot us, Tunde whispered to himself,scared of talking aloud. Tunde sat on the mainroad with some other guys and they kept on chatting. After about hours of Road-blocking,  Students started rushing back for their SER001, but Sola looked for Tunde at the joint they agreed to meet when it was time to leave for SER001, but Tunde was nowhere to be found.Where could he have gone to? Sola asked worried...


The writer of this story, Oyedeji Olanrewaju is a Part 2 student of  the Department of Accounting, Obafemi Awolowo University. You can reach Oyedeji through his e-mail: Olanrewajusamuel8@gmail.com

OAU Fee Hike Novella (Episode 4)

(Continuation)

...Just as the SU President was about to speak,someone tapped Tunde and with the laughter said 'i don't even know what they are struggling for,is 40,000naira too much ni'? He was expecting an answer from Tunde but instead Tunde walked away,wanting to avoid any fracas there though he was annoyed.

Ibikunle started talking and emphasised that students should move enmass to SUB so everyone can move to OUI roundabout en-mass.Despite the troubles of Tunde,he isnt the type that joke with food,so immediately he heard OUI, he asked Ibikunle if students were going to walk to OUI roundabout or a provision has been made for a bus,Ibikunle said that will be sorted out,'as if i have any option' Tunde said as he hissed and walked away. I didnt tell you Tunde has a girlfriend, Similoluwa, Tunde's girlfriend showed up unexpected and tapped Tunde who was eating gala like a real hungry man. On seeing Similoluwa, Tunde smiled and his mood brightened a bit,they chatted till they got to SUB.

On getting to SUB,popular buses called Town-Igboro,wer eat the receiving end of the protest as they were made to convey students to OUI,Tunde told Similoluwa to stay back,he didnt want her to experience the roughness of the Aluta.Don't forget you have SER001 exam oo,Similoluwa told Tunde as he was about to leave,Tunde stood for a while and said,ah,i have forgotten,i will return to campus by 1.30pm sha,with that he bade Similoluwa goodbye and joined some guys trying to get a hitchhike(ride) to OUI,he eventually saw a bus,tho it was full,he sat in the boot with 3 other guys,and they were singing Aluta songs most notably 'Omole ti se wa, Omole ti gewaje,awa students dehinleyin re,Omiloma gbe lo' suddenly everybody in the bus screamed,almost making Tunde fall down. What happened! Tunde shouted from the 'boot'...


The writer of this story, Oyedeji Olanrewaju is a Part 2 student of  the Department of Accounting, Obafemi Awolowo University. You can reach Oyedeji through his e-mail: Olanrewajusamuel8@gmail.com

OAU Fee Hike Novella (Episode 3)

 (Continuation)

...Later at night that same day Tunde,Sola and Segun went to the congress together with high expectations. The congress was filled with drama but after arguments and counter arguments,it was agreed that a massive should be held outside the campus.Tunde was very happy that it was established at the congress that stalites fee hasnt been increased,he never knew that it was the evil day that was postponed.

Later that night around 11pm,Tunde's longtime friend Niyi phoned him to enquire if the NEWS making round about increment in fee is true,Niyi got the shocker of his life when Tunde told him the new amount. Niyi was given admission to study Economics,thoug h he has a father,his father is a pensioner. Niyi also is the 4th born in a family of six.Niyi on hearing that he will pay about 85,000 Naira kept quiet over the phone for few seconds before speaking again,he said 'Tunde, if this fee no reduce, i no fit afford am o,you knw say my Dad na pensioneer,i go first go work thank God,i have my HND,i will think of furthering my Education later' without waiting for Tunde to respond, Niyi dropped the call.Tunde was hurt, and couldn't sleep,he kept on counting the ceiling till the next Morning.

Early the next day at about 8am,acting on the congressional resolutions,the OAU SU Leaders,stormed Angola(Tunde's hostel) and ordered everybody out within 30miutes, Tunde didnt have any option than to come out,if he doesn't join the struggle,he risks dropping out of Med. Rehab,after his first year. In the Mozambique hostel,ladies with different rough hairs and mismatching shoes and shirts came out in haste due to the ultimatum of 30miutes given by the SU.Just outside AngloMoz car park stood,the SU President Ibikunle Isaac with the P.A system,ready to address the students,he was about to talk when something funny happened...


The writer of this story, Oyedeji Olanrewaju is a Part 2 student of  the Department of Accounting, Obafemi Awolowo University. You can reach Oyedeji through his e-mail: Olanrewajusamuel8@gmail.com