In a Press Conference organised by the office of the Public Relations Officer of the Obafemi Awolowo University Students Union, Mr Okediji Simeon in collaboration with the Association of Campus Journalists, the recently elected Central Executive Council of the Students' Union represented by the President of the Union, Mr Oyekan Ibukun, has come out to clear the air on a number of issues affecting the students of the institution.
Commenting on the recent power outages on campus and even in town, the President stated that the problem was majorly from the power distribution plant in Ajebamidele. According to him, the plant was in a very bad state as there had not been any thorough maintenance at the plant in the last 20 years. As much as the President expressed that his administration was doing all it could to mount pressure on the school as regards its own generators, he clarified that the power outages might not end anytime soon as the Ajebamidele plant might not be replaceable anytime soon.
Commenting on the allegations that the University management recently purchased a 44.1 million naira for the University's Pro-chancellor, Dr Yomi Ogunjobi, he stated that the rumours remained unfounded as the Pro-chancellor personally denied receiving any such vehicle. He however further went on to comment that if any such vehicle was discovered, the union was ready to put it out for sale.
Also addressing comments on the conventional Scientific Maximum Shishi as a method of punishment, the President, citing historical references, clarified that the act was established by a congress of great Ife students in 1999 and only another congress could override it. He however stated that several forms of corporate punishment were already being utilised in punishment with the Scientific Maximum Shishi being utilised only in Cult-like cases.
On the suspension of the Financial Secretary of the Union, the President commented that he had tried to look into the matter but the tardy responses of the Consulted members of the faculty had not given him anything to work with.
In his reaction to questions surrounding the actions of the Union on the increasing amount of queues at ATM stands, the President of the Union stated that steps had already been taken on reducing the queues as letters had been sent to several bank managers, especially those with ATM stands in the campus area. Citing further that Guarantee Trust Bank had responded that its locking its machines from 8:00pm was a directive from its headquarters.
In clarification to some claims that some members of the Executive council have not been active, the President stated that all members of the Council had been active in one way or the other even though some activities might not be as apparent.
However whilst some students remain hopeful that the Oyekan Ibukun led administration might be bringing the rebranding it promised, some other students have continued to express their disbelief in the new administration, citing their acclaimed activities as all too familiar rhetorics. But then again, only time will tell...
