Department of Mechanical Engineering Triumphs At Yellow House

Success was recorded in the Department of Mechanical Engineering as they once again came out in flying colours at the Department of Mathematics in the just concluded Second Annual Best Brain Quiz competition organized by Department of Mathematics. The competition, which was held at Yellow House(Department of Mathematics), span through Friday 27th- Saturday 28th January 2017.

Keeping in mind that it had been earlier recorded around October/November 2016 that students of the Mechanical Engineering Department dominated the MTH101 results.

The representatives from the department were Odumakinde Ayomide and Akinlolu David, both 300L Students of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

The Electoral Conspiracy- Gracious Egedegbe

By Gracious Egedegbe

There is a big conspiracy going on as the election into representative posts at the level of OAU student union. This big conspiracy is a conglomerate of several conspiracies currently cultivated by various seemingly influential individuals in various camps. These individuals with vested interest have so much at stake that they will be willing to go to lengths to influence the results to favour themselves and alignments.

Before this writer goes forward, there is the need to impress upon the reader the sensitivity and significance of the elections. OAU, like every other entity, have evolved through the ages. There was a time when it rivalled with the University of Ibadan as the hallmark of Student Unionism. Slowly, as the efficacy of mass protests and related acts waned, there was the need for a more up-to-date approach to representing students. Let the reader know that we live in changing times where the need for responsible, informed and proactive leaders cannot be overemphasized. The calibre of representatives elected will reflect in student unionism, how the school will relate with students, improvement or lack of welfare and ultimately the general image of students (and graduates) in the eyes of all observers.

This informs the conspiracies going on in several quarters. While this writer does not claim to have interacted intimately with all parties involve, there is no gainsaying that there are plans on how to sway votes in several camps.

The first camp may be referred to as the modernist. This group hopes to present itself as fitting for 21st century unionism. On the face of it, this represents the students’ need: group of individuals that will use methods that fit well with the changing times. One would expect consultations, intellectual struggles, and social media protests amongst others. It could be argued that this will be most welcomed as students are tired of having the academic calendar disrupted due to unionism related activities.

However, it can also be argued that these sets of individuals are cowards who are only interested in the economic, political and egoistic gains that could be accrued from entering the seat of power. These sets of individuals are wholly concerned of much benefits come to themselves rather than agitate for the rights of student, the ultimate price of rustication notwithstanding. To even postulate further, these individuals are ready to capitulate to the management on any matter of divergence than represent the views of the students.

This informs the views of the second camp who are commonly (and erroneously) all labelled as leftists. While it is in the leftists’ ideology to agitate for a populist society, where the right of the common man is acknowledge and respected, other individuals may also share that view without the necessary label of leftist. These groups of people (leftists or not) believe in the class struggle. As far as they are concerned, the management has a far-reaching power that ultimately makes them the oppressor in any given situation. Their primary aim is to involve students as much as possible in the decision-making process as well as fight exploitation.

While their objectives sound interesting and beneficial to all students, the question that arises it: “to what extent?” While some individuals in this camp are conscious of the students’ frustration with long unnecessary breaks, majority of them believe that the prices of indefinite breaks, victimization, suspension and ultimately rustication are necessary price to win the struggle. They argue that fear will only keep the students in administrative bondage. They fail to realise that in pay their “necessary price,” they adversely affect the lives, aspirations and goals of many students. Furthermore, the cost of living is climbing higher by the day and many are eager to complete their studies and help ameliorate the financial conditions of their families and relations.

To strike a balance, there is a third camp that believes that confrontation with the management is inevitable as well as the consequences that come with them. This group of persons believe that for any true unionism to occur there must be the preparedness in all ramifications to resist any and all exploitations and callous actions (or inactions) towards the student population. However, these individual are not entirely focused on victory that they will sacrifice the convenience of the student community. They believe that certain concessions may be necessary as the need arises.

The only objection to this is their seemingly hypocritical nature. One may tempted to ask, “Why go to battle when you already have the mind to surrender and make compromises?” It would seem that these individuals feel weak to totally confront the myriads of challenges in student unionism and will only go as far as “my legs can carry me, after all, I cannot kill myself.” It would seem that these individuals want to bask in the favour of the students as well as maintain secure relations with other parties.

At this point, the reader might ask, “What exactly is the conspiracy?” The conspiracy lies within the student population. Overtime, there has been a gradual ingraining of individualism. This has manifested itself in exploitative acts by students against students, nonchalant attitude about the welfare of other students and total disregard for the need to aspire for the common good. We have unwittingly conspired amongst ourselves to abdicate our responsibilities to a select few not minding what happens as long as our interests are protected.

This conspiracy reveals itself in mental lethargy, apathy for general student welfare as well as exploitation without the thought of giving back. It is the conspiracy being played out over time that has led to the gradual demise of student unionism. This conspiracy facilitates the growth of individuals with plans and aspirations that are only concerned with their ideologies and vendettas rather than the welfare of the students. It is this conspiracy that (if left unchecked) will sound the knell and herald the deceasing of our great nation, Nigeria .

OAU Students To Vote New Union President, Others February 16

Barring a last minute change in schedule, students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife will once again on Thursday, February 16 go to the polls to decide who next will lead the Students’ Union (SU). This comes after about three months the Professor Anthony Elujoba-led university management lifted the suspension placed on union activities.

According to the time-table released by the SU Electoral Commission, elections into the positions in the Central Executive Council (CEC)will take place on February 16 across all faculties in the university starting from 9am till 3pm. Prior to the election day are the Debate Night and the Manifesto Night.

Five days before the CEC election, February 11, 2016, elections into Hall Executive Council positions will hold in all the eight undergraduate halls of residence. The Student Representative Council election comes up last, on the 20th February. The time-table however did not stipulate the time proposed for the swearing-in of the elected officers.

In April 2015, Omotayo Akande a.k.a TY rode a massive student support to beat his closest rival, Fakorede Seun a.k.a Phakoo to emerge the Union president. The much embattled TY administration was however short-lived by the suspension of activities slammed on the Union by the erstwhile Vice Chancellor, Professor Bamitale Omole. Consequently, three officers, including the President, Secretary General and Public Relations Officer of the Union were rusticated for some semesters.

What Is CGPA This Time Around Mr Electoral Commission Chairman?

If there is one particular period of time since the commencement of the operations of OAU Peeps News Agency that the organization met with serious stifling and its members were attacked by some Union elements, then it was when the Agency relentlessly reported the CGPA saga that ensued after the 2015 SU elections between the erstwhile Secretary General of the Great Ife Students’ Union, Oketooto Oluwaseun a.k.a Hon. Seun and two other contestants for the office of the Secretary General then, Awotiwon Ibiyemi a.k.a Ibiyemi and Adejobi Peter Ola. The press outfit steadily reported events right from the allegation till the case 'politically went down the drain.'

Even though the blatant disregard for the rule of law by the ex-SU President, Omotayo Akande a.ka TY prevailed over the situation at that time, there is seemingly little being done now by the current Show Baba-led Electoral Commission (EC) to address this same serious concern that could turn out to be an issue afterwards.

While I try as much as possible not to spite odd memories which definitely is not in favour of some supposed comrades, I also want Great Ife students to remember or to know (for stale freshmen) that one of the contentious issues that came up during the election hearings held by the Electoral Petition Committee (EPC) then was the definition of CGPA. Pretty good I point out asap; the TY-turned aside valid judgement of the 7-man Adeyemo Akintunde-led EPC also failed to define CGPA in that same case.

Going by the published ‘electoral guidelines for the contestants’ by the Electoral Commission, number 5 of the guidelines read: “Contestants MUST have a minimum CGPA of 2.5 as at the time of submission of this form to be eligible to contest except Part One students for HEC.”

Now the contentious questions once again are: What is CGPA? When is a CGPA obtainable? At the end of an academic session, at the end of a particular semester or at any point in time, as long as I am an active student? Is there any difference between CGPA and GPA?

From my quick check while writing this article, CGPA means Cumulative Grade Point Average. If you still have your student hand book with you, quickly turn with me to page 29 of it; CGPA is defined there as “This is not the summation of GPAs for all semesters. Rather, it is the summation of TCPs ALL SEMESTERS, divided by the summation of TLUs for the said semesters...”

Apparently, arguments in some quarters that the CGPA expected from contestants by the EC for this election is that obtained at the end of Rain semester of the 2014/2015 academic session is wrong. Instead, contestants are required to proceed to their various departments and get their CGPA as at the end of the Harmattan semester of the 2015/2016 academic session.

I have never been a fan of using CGPA to measure the administrative and leadership quality of students and I don’t think I will be any time soon, for certain reasons and several situations I have witnessed. However, since the rule of the game insists on a CGPA of 2.5, then what is worth doing is worth doing well. The last Union executives had a faulty foundation and an ugly start after the last election but we have the option of avoiding a repeat.

Truth Or Dare? Angolan Attempts To Eat Thirty Wraps Of Fufu

There was drama at the Angola Hall of Residence in the late hours of Wednesday when a resident swore he could make thirty wraps of fufu disappear down the canals of his throat.

Not the type to shy away from holding a fellow resident at his words, it didn't take long before Angolans made available the required numbers of fufu and a bowl of soup. The challenge thus commenced amidst cheers from a baffled crowd.

After an intense fifteen minutes of swallowing, the young Angolan started showing signs of slowing down on the tenth wrap. His hand to mouth transits slowed to a crawl and he began begging the crowd to reduce the number of fufus from thirty to twenty to which the throng blatantly refused.

Upon a tumultuous struggle to swallow morsels from the eleventh wrap of fufu, the Angolan gave up and called it a day, to the disappointment of the large number of onlookers.

Gradually the crowd dissipated and students retreated to their individual rooms.

OAUSU: Electoral Commission Releases Guidelines In Preparation For Elections

The Electoral Committee of the Obafemi Awolowo University Students'Union has officially released the guidelines for the conduction of the Union Elections. The guidelines were released with details of the Electoral Calendar and pasted around the Halls. Find the guidelines below;

ELECTORAL GUIDELINES

1. Only ACTIVE students are eligible to VOTE and be VOTED FOR.
2. All completed forms should be returned with photocopies of the following documents:
a. Clearance Certificate for the Session.
b. CGPA confirmation from the Faculty/Department.
c. Accommodation Clearance for Hall Executive Council (HEC) contestants.
d. An extra recent passport photograph with name/post written at the back.
e. A soft copy (jpg) format of a recent passport should be sent to oaudecide2017@gmail.com
3.Contestants MUST BE a registered student of the University i.e he/she must have registered for the current
2015/2016 academic session.
4. Contestants for CEC and SRC must have completed AT LEAST one academic session in the university.
5. Contestants MUST have a minimum CGPA of 2.5 as at the time of submission of this form to be eligible to
contest except Part One students for HEC.
6. Contestants SHOULD come to the venue of Screening Exercise with the following:
a. School Identity Card.
b. Clearance certificate.
c. Stamped original copy of the CGPA confirmation document for Department/Faculty.
d. Accommodation clearance for HEC.
e. A recent passport photograph with name and post written at the back.
7. Each contestant should provide TWO sponsors who are also registered and active students of the University.
8. Each sponsor should provide photocopy of ID Card and Clearance Certificate to be attached to the Nomination
form.
9. Sponsors for HEC candidates should also attach their Accommodation Clearance Certificate.
10. Each Contestant MUST conclude his/her campaign on the Manifesto Night.
11.All campaigns must be issued based; any form of attack on any aspirant, whether verbal, physical,
psychological, or otherwise will attract automatic disqualification.
12. Use of Hall’s Public Address System is PROHIBITED.
13. Contestants MUST not write or post bills on walls or roads; it will attract a fine of N5000.
14. Names of agents should be submitted alongside the Nomination form.
15. Agents MUST provide their University Identity Cards at the Election venue.
16. Agents CANNOT be substituted less than 48hrs before the Election Day.
17. No form of harassment is allowed (from Contestants, their agents or supporters).
18. Diploma students are NOT allowed to vote or be voted for.
19. Late submission of completed forms shall NOT be entertained. Submission of forms ends on 5th of February,
2017.
20. Any contestant who fails to submit on/before 5th of February, 2017 stands DISQUALIFIED.
21. Contestants can submit their completed form to any of the members of the commission.
22. Any contestant who has been indicted on any ground of gross misconduct (as shall be interpreted by the
Electoral Commission) stands automatically disqualified.
23. NO posters, hand bills or any form of campaign at the Election Venue.
24. Anybody whose name and picture are NOT on the Tutorial list shall not be allowed to vote.
25. Voting SHALL be by secret ballot system and shall be counted in the presence of the agents and observers in
an orderly/systematic way.
26. List of contestants SHALL be pasted across all Faculties/Halls of Residence at least 24hrs before any election.
All contestants are advised to confirm their names and position to avoid errors on the Ballot papers as no
complaints will be entertained on the Election Day.
27. ANY CONTESTANT WHO VIOLATES THESE GUIDELINES SHALL BE DISQUALIFIED.�

OAU Students' Union Election: The Task Ahead - Adigun Olayemi Paul

   It is no longer news that the Student Union activities of the Obafemi Awolowo University have come to life again. This  makes it possible to all students interested in one post or the other to have the right to vote and be voted for. At this peculiar period, the franchise of any student can't be underestimated owing him physically and mentally fit to the position he/she is vying for.

   Nevertheless,  the facial appearance of any interested individual is been surfaced either directly or indirectly on  banners, the halls of residence, online social media platform e.g WhatsApp , Facebook and so on. The ban has been lifted and the electoral commission have come out with modalities as well as  date for the election.  The walls are being therefore tampered with with some graphic representation of words of the  post aspirants will be contesting for.

   But the major  task will be on the students who constitute the larger percentage of voters. It is pertinent for them to have a good knowledge of all the contestants so that voting won't be by proxy or by friendship, but would rather  be based  on the integrity, vision and manifestos of the contestants.  They shouldn't be swayed by sweet words which is being dished to them alone. Rather, it should be on the motive of sacrifice, what to offer, some new innovations to be introduced, and many more. Questions pertaining to all these must be asked in other to prepare their mind for the course and put their legs on the track.

   Obviously, there has been many Student Union leaders that had their times on this campus but the spotlight should be shown on those performed excellently well thereby tapping into their wealth of experience and quality leadership. This is  because, experience can't be thrown out at this period. The role of consultation shouldn't be undermined, in as much as they want to achieve greatly than their predecessors. But this can only be done by the students by searching deep to ask  them some terrifying questions so that the task could be achieved.

       Conclusively, it can't be ruled out that the union needs a set of vibrant  people with great vision  to put the union  back on track.

(Adigun Olayemi is a final year student and an opinion contributor on the OAU Peeps Team)