ACJ Breaks Silence Over Hon.Seun, Ibiyemi Battle For Legitimacy

The recent Press Statement of the Association of Campus Journalists has not only addressed the attacks on their members but it has also relayed to the Great Ife community her view on the Hon. Seun versus Ibiyemi issue.

The release reads in part:

OUR VIEW ON THE HON SEUN VERSUS IBIYEMI ISSUE
We cannot put out the blazing fire of our pen’s ballpoint without putting ink to paper on invariably, currently, the most controversial debacle in the Student Union and extensively on this campus – the tussle for power, right to office; and the sudden as well as mysterious interpretations of the OAU SU Constitution.

It yet remains a hot matter as to who is the rightful leader between both parties since no other activity has questioned Ibiyemi’s independence and self-declaration as the Secretary General of the Union and Hon Seun’s Congress-staked approval as the Secretary General of the same Union!

Although this sudden turn of events has caught us not unawares but has surprisingly unsettled our intellectuality and subsequently heightened our thirst for the truth, we are yet to conclude on the mysteries, revelations and prospective resolutions of the protracted issue. Forthwith, the Press refuses to take a side or stand at this crucial moment. And at the same time, we do not seek to undermine the power and decision of the Congress. However, the decision of the Congress can be suggestive to provocations bearing in mind that the submissions of the Electoral Petition Tribunal was refuted and refused acknowledgment and very few or none seemed not to interrogate such.

As of the moment, no concrete answer as regards the class of Hon Seun’s CGPA before and during the elections has been provided by any member of the CEC or even the congress-elected and approved Secretary General himself.

To this end, we hereby put forward a well-known case study which is the debate of the legitimate certification and qualification of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhamamdu Buhari. Let us remember vividly that the allegation was not unearthed during his previous contests in the years 2003, 2007, and 2011 until it appeared that the then incumbent President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was close to exiting the famed Aso Rock. A thought to ponder upon.
While the TY-led administration did promise accountability and transparency during the electioneering process, the ACJ does not for now desire to assert that albeit the accountability status is being proven, the administration’s transparency in all quarters remain profoundly questionable.

Note that the truth is one-sided in all its dealings and implications. And so we resonantly are. Therefore, be assured that we shall keep them on their toes, we shall invade the deepest of oceans for placed mysteries behind their engagements and make reveal the necessary truth at all times irrespective of whose personality or integrity is at stake.

The ACJ is no mouthpiece of the Student Union or the School Management as we only seek and strive to inform and brief the general public of the University community on the spellbinding goings-on of the society that concern them. Without mincing words or mudding information, we shall continue to stand with a stalwart view to asserting the strength of the pen.

Students’ Union PRO Meets Campus Journalists Over Press Attack

Campus Journalists in Obafemi Awolowo University under the aegis of Association of Campus Journalists (ACJ) met with the OAU Students’ Union Public Relations Officer, Ojedokun Emmanuel a.k.a Immanuel Kant over attack on media practitioners on campus.

In a report centralized by the ACJ which reflects on the totality of the discussions that held during the meeting, a host of questions begging answers since the assumption of office of the Central Executive Council of the Students’ Union were presented to the Union through the PRO, Mr Ojedokun Emmanuel.

Some of the questions read thus:
 Was it not ACJ that stood as a representative of the entire student body to monitor the activities of the then Electoral Commission as well as work with them to ensure a free and fair election as we have always been known to do?
 What crimes have campus journalists committed to provoke such treatments?
 And why should individuals who work tirelessly and impartially without a demand for remuneration from any quarter suffer humiliation and rights violation?
 What does the Student Union have to hide, what skeleton is in their cupboard?

The PRO has the following as readied responses to our allegations:

• ON THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
If the ACJ and the Student Union are at loggerheads, the grounds – that is the students – will suffer irreparable losses which range from poor and improper flow of information to general trench of misinformation.

Hence, the Union will never infringe forthwith on the rights of any recognised member of the Association of Campus Journalists of which are you and I. If there is anything we want to achieve as an administration, it is to have a symbiotic relationship with the ACJ.

• ON THE ATTACKS
In every society, crises are bound to erupt, however, it is the duty of every Homo sapien to curb such. The SU PRO claims to have seen a variety of propaganda on different pages in line with the alleged threats on the ACJ member bodies that include OAU PEEPS, Lukmon Fasasi Blog (LFB) and WHAT News Agency (NEONATAR BOARD).

The PRO debunked direct participation in the attacks on the recognised ACJ member bodies and vowed to bring those in question to justice if a repetition of such rape of freedom holds. He said that “We will not do ourselves any good if we continue to portray ourselves as a rascal Union.” Hence, subsequent attacks on campus journalists are not welcome. He further admitted being wrong to have challenged OAU PEEPS and LFB to remove posts on their blogs regarding the case on the basis that the concerned parties did not carry out thorough investigations while admonishing them to objectively write and report.

On the Hon Seun case, he submitted that “whoever are involved are members of the Union and should be treated as equals.”

On the NEONATAR eviction, he reveals that he had from the outset promised to swear an oath of silence but had to voice out due to the unnecessary “political colouration”. He iterated that NEONATAR occupied an illegal structure fashioned out of the SUB with the space directly opposite the Sports Director’s office. He also revealed that all occupants were served evacuation letters since a total revamp of the SUB was intended. And he stated categorically that even if any media body has a right or entitlement to such provision, it shall be the mother body of all press outfits and media set-ups on this campus – being the ACJ – to help ease the burden of their responsibilities and accessibility by the student populace.

On the delay or disapproval of permission to mount banners at the SUB, the PRO said such was only subjected to a decision jointly reached by all members of the Union leadership to embark on a massive renovation of the Student Union Building as well as its surroundings. OYAMAG, a registered member body of the ACJ was at the fore of this particular attack just recently and the PRO claims as a revelation that the erstwhile Student Union leadership charged individuals and associations who mounted banners at the SUB and the then constituted Electoral Commission that saw to this present Student Union’s emergence had some of its members levy individuals as well as associations with payments from #10,000 to #20,000 to mount small-sized banners. Consequently, according to him, the Student Union moves to circumscribe the act and stop the misappropriation that emanates from such end.
THE ACJ RESOLUTIONS AND SUBMISSIONS ON THE ATTACKS
Let it be declared that our silence must never be mistaken for cowardice or trepidation. We are dogged fighters and never shall we be deterred from speaking the truth or reporting corroborated information to the public at any given place or time.

Thus, to curb such and secure futuristic protection for members of the press of this institution, we hereby submitted that an undertaking shall be signed by the Student Union and the ACJ to safeguard, insure and guarantee the safety, protection, security, freedom of expression and enquiry cum investigation of every recognised and registered pressman at all times without preference or prejudice towards their objective tendencies cum priorities and investigative actions cum reportage. And the Vice Chancellor, The Public Relations Officer, Chief Security Officer, Dean, Division of Student Affairs, Hall Wardens, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Non Academic Staff Union (NASU), NAAT, Student Representative Council (SRC), Judicial Council and a crop of others not enumerated shall be copied that:

 The ACJ shall operate without fear of prejudice or any form of victimisation from any angle on and off campus.
 For transparency conditions and reasons of fair reportage, information and news stories that affect the general well-being of the entire studentry shall be relayed by the leadership of the Student Union through the ACJ to the general campus populace at all times.
 The Student Union shall through the ACJ refuse and refute the acknowledgment of any press or media outfit that operates on/for this campus not registered with the ACJ on an annual basis. This has been erstwhile facilitated by the University Management and forthwith supported by the Student Union.
 At all campus events, set up by students or outsiders, the ACJ shall never be denied entry for the purpose of coverage and reportage. This in no way exclude any meeting or sitting of the recognised arms of the Student Union Government irrespective of the manner of its call, that is open or indoor.
 The ACJ shall be kept abreast of all happenings on campus by the Student Union and forthwith by their own efforts garner information themselves.
 The security of the ACJ team must and shall always be guaranteed in so far as they strive for the interest of the University society to inform and notify them at all times.
 The SU, in tandem with the TY’s promised transparency and accountability, shall operate a symbiotic and reciprocated relationship with the ACJ in all its dealings at all times.
 There shall be the integration of all media setups and press outfits in the ACJ as it is the University’s constituted encompassing body. Hence, the ACJ shall as a constituted authority be responsible for the certification of all student media set-ups and press outfits with a physical-based presence and online-based operations, print and broadcast divisions of the University.

At the time and compilation of this release, the ACJ already had the words of the PRO and we hold them as his bound and obligation to present our submissions to the CEC and validate our requirements as soon as possible.

OAU Matriculates Freshmen Today

OAU Peeps Congratulates the freshmen of the Obafemi Awolowo University as they officially become students of the University.

OAU Peeps Say Ramadan Kareem

 

The Entire Management of OAU Peeps News Agency wishes the Muslim community of the Obafemi Awolowo University, ile-ife and beyond Ramadan Kareem as they commence this holy month.  

Vacate Office Of Secretary General, Campus Connect Initiative Tells Hon. Seun

The Campus Connect Initiative (CCI), Obafemi Awolowo University branch has late last week demanded that the congress-reinstated Secretary General of Great Ife Students’ Union, Oketooto Oluwaseun a.k.a Hon. Seun should vacate seat in line with the Tribunal declaration.

In a press conference organized by the Initiative, the leaders argued that the Tribunal maintaining its fairness having been persuaded by evidence presented before it gave a magnanimous decision sacking the 'elected' Secretary General from acting as the Secretary General of the Union for Electoral Fraud and lack of the required 2.5 CGPA and as such, the decision should be respected.

The SU President in person of Omotayo Akande a.k.a TY was also berated for not respecting a judicial order but rather resolving to use a congress to pervert the decision of the Tribunal in favour of Hon. Seun.

“In order to pervert Justice, the President in the person of Omotayo Akande called a Congress of Great Ife students’, a body as provided in the Constitution of the Union and provided with Legislative Power in tandem with the Students representative Council under Section 6 to do a broad day rape of Justice by taking 10 resolutions from his co-preventers of Justice in a Campus which comprises of nothing less than 30 thousand bonafide Students. How can 10 students' speak for majority? Why didn't he ask students to Vote as the power of Voting is more accommodating?”
After several argument, the Initiative came to some resolution which include:
• Seun Oketooto should vacate the office of the Secretary General of our dear Union because he has been declared ineligible by the Tribunal on charges of Electoral Fraud and lack of the required CGPA of 2.5.
• ASUU, Alumni bodies who have been playing advisory role to the Union should intervene.
• The Management, Students, Press and the Public must NEVER recognize Seun Oketooto as the Secretary General of OAU Students' Union.
• All correspondence signed by Seun Oketooto should be disregarded.
• Seun Oketooto must face charges of fraudulent Misrepresentation, false pretence and Perjury.

Present at the meeting are popular campus leaders including Seun Fakorede (Phakoo), Awotiwon Ibiyemi Joseph (Ibiyemi), Comrade Fakiyesi Samuel, Ayo Toluwalase Shedrack (AY-Toes), Ojo Bright I. (Hon. Bright), SI Unit and others.

The Campus Connect Initiative (CCI) made a wave on campus during the 2015 General Election campaign period as they tried unsuccessfully to bring the Nigerian Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo to OAU campus.

PANS Invites You To Her Fresher’s Party

The Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students, OAU invites the entire Students Community of the Obafemi Awolowo University to her freshers party which is scheduled to hold on Saturday June 20, 2015.

The party is simply tagged “OVERDOSE” and the;

Venue- Pharmacy Foyer.

Time- Red Carpet: 7:00 pm

Party: 8:00pm

Performing Artistes- Kezmo, Jaido P, T long, Damova and a lot of other artistes

Host – VJ Lexie, MC Slimz
Gate fee- Guys: 500

Girls: Free

Great Ife Turn Up! It’s simply an Overdose of fun!

OAU Partners With ILRI To Improve Chicken Productivity

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Bamitale Omole, on 26th May, 2015 signed the Collaborative Research Agreement for the African Chicken Genetic Gains (ACGG), signaling the beginning of ACGG implementation in Nigeria. ACGG is a 5-year research-for-development (R4D) partnership being implemented in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania by the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Tanzania Livestock Research Institute, Wageningen University, PICO-Eastern Africa and Koepon.

ACGG aims to develop public-private partnerships that will deliver genetically improved chickens to smallholders, especially women. Past efforts to improve productivity and increase profit in smallholder chicken production in sub-Saharan Africa had little impact because they used exotic breeds developed for intensive feeding systems. Exotic birds are not suited to extensive systems and require high investments in feeds, veterinary support and energy. ACGG will deploy highly productive chicken breeds and work with all the actors along the chicken value chain. The project will test five improved breeds of chickens from Africa and India on-station (to determine their productivity) and on-farm (to determine their adaptability to the low-input systems of the smallholders).

“Improved genetics to be tested and distributed in Nigeria”, the PI said, “include the ShikaBrown® developed by National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Zaria, the FUNAAB Alpha available from Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), the Kuroiler developed by Kegg Farms in India, the Fayoumi developed in the Fayoum Governorate in Egypt and the Fulani ecotype developed by the Bororo clan of the Fulani people. ACGG-Nigeria will work in 5 agro-ecological zones ranging from Kebbi to Rivers, Taraba to Lagos and Nasarawa to Delta States”.

Expected ACGG outcomes are, among others:

i) Determination of the chicken breeds preferred by poor farmers, especially women, based on scientifically gathered production and socio-cultural data;
ii) Smallholders’ access to those preferred breeds that have productivity that is at least 200% more than the unimproved local breeds;
iii) Increased empowerment of women smallholder farmers in the chicken value chain;
iv) A national Innovation Platform, as a network of stakeholders, to ensure sustainable access of smallholder farmers to at least two of the genetically improved breeds.

ACGG-Nigeria is led by Prof. E.B. Sonaiya of the Department of Animal Sciences, OAU, as the Principal Investigator (PI), Prof. Mrs. O.A. Adebambo (FUNAAB) and Prof. I.A. Adeyinka (NAPRI, Ahmadu Bello University) as co-PIs. There is a full-time National Project Coordinator, Dr. O. Bamidele, and 5 Zonal Coordinators: Prof. W.A. Hassan (Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto – North-West), Mr. A. Yakubu (Nasarawa State University, Keffi – North-East), Prof. Mrs. U. Ogundu (Federal University of Technology, Owerri – South-East), Dr. Mrs. F. Ajayi (University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt – South-South) and Dr. Mrs. O. Alabi (Landmark University, Omu-Aran – South-West).