Take It Back Campus Movement Express Disappointment In Union Officers

By Onyekpe Okechukwu

Due  to the rate at which price exploitation on campus has increased, coupled with sudden hike of transportation fees and ASUU strike, a press statement was released by the "TAKE IT BACK CAMPUS WING MOVEMENT, OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY BRANCH, ILE-IFE"  during the early hours of Wednesday, 2nd March, 2022  calling out the union to come out and fight for the rights of the students and stop hiding behind the guise of “ELECT”. The Statement of the Press Release read thus:

"No doubt, this present days has been so harsh on the Great Ife Students', with a sudden hike on the transportation fee, increase in commodity prices, and to worsen the matter, ASUU strike. These are very hard times which calls for an action from the Great Ife Students' Union, however, unfortunately, the union has become so handicapped that it can't even help matters.

It is disappointing, that while students are made to face hardships like this, we have union leaders who can not exhibit the purpose for which they were elected by students, on the excuse of not being inaugurated. Great Ife Students' Union leaders have been making use of the title "elect" for months now and have being hiding like a baby behind this title to run away from her duty. We find this so unfortunate that students are being left to cater for themselves.

Recently, we felt a little glimpse of light was about to show on the state of the union, when we started seeing a release claiming the Union leaders will be inaugurated on March 3,2022 - at least we will do away with the excuse of "elect". Only until today, the Association of Campus Journalists, in a news, reported that the inauguration had been postponed, funny enough, it was postponed with no definite date!.

This is a total mockery of the Great Ife Students' Union, that in a time like this where Students are in dire need of their union, to take prompt actions on matters that are affecting them, the management refuse to speed up the inauguration of leaders that were duly elected by students into different positions. The postponement is condemned in all ramifications and we enjoined the Great Ife Students to speak up against this.

However, it is also important to display, without mincing word, a total disappointment in the union leaders who have failed woefully in representing the union. In a time where  union of other universities are making release concerning ASUU strike, we have union leaders who do not deem it fit to make any progressive stand over the ASUU strike, not even a single release to intimate Students about why some lecturers are on strike and why some are not and provide way forward in that line. We have a union who could not demand Justice for Heritage and cowardly, buried down the justice cry for Heritage, Great Ife, we have union leaders who stylishly avoid having intellectual engagement with the bus drivers over the sudden hike in the transportation price. To mention but little, are the countless exhibit of incapacity that this union leaders have displayed, all ok the excuse of "elect".

We hope to make it clear to the union leaders, that the students do not invest their precious time to vote them in, only for them to start hiding under the "elect" title, hence avoiding struggles that needs their actions. Great Ife Students need their union now, more than ever, and we need a vibrant union that will represent us boldly, not a toothless union!.

We encourage students to stat calling out their elected honorables out in different faculty and department, pointing out their failures right into their face. The Union is our strength and as our strength, it can't be week.

Let's not forget the words of Frantz Fanon that said "Every Generation, out of relative obscurity, finds it's mission, to betray it or to fulfil it".

Speaking to our correspondent the PRO Elect of the Union, Comrade Ogunperi Taofeek Olalekan, Tao said  "The elected officers of the Union have not been hiding. You will recall that we have been making various efforts about issues that concern students, including but not only welfare and security issues. We have made several and widely circulated releases on those issues. All such releases can be found on the Telegram channel of the Students' Union (https://t.me/greatifestudentsunion). 

Particularly, on the issue of transportation, not only have we been able to put in place an instant solution, which is the provision of a ₦30 Marcopolo bus which helped eliminate the transportation impasse, we have actually regulated the costs of transportation of motorcycles which had gone as high as ₦250 before. Yes, we know there are still many problems to resolve on transportation, especially with the Town-Igboro drivers. We did acknowledge this in our most recent release published on Sunday, 27 February 2022 (please check).

We are not relenting in our efforts. We are not hiding. We are doing all that we do, regardless of the fact that inauguration has not been done, using our resources because we are committed to upholding the mandate the students gave us, despite all challenges that doing so come with. For us, there is no compromising the principles and cultures of our esteemed Union."

Students' Union Inauguration And Swearing Ceremony New Date Revealed

The Electoral Commission of the  Great Ife Student's Union has announced the new date for the inauguration and swearing in of the elected officers. 

Recall that  it was earlier reported by OAUPeeps News Agency that the inauguration date which was earlier stated for 3rd of March, 2022 has been postponed and a new date will be communicated shortly. 

However, in a statement made available to the OAU Peeps News Agency by the Electoral Commision of the Union. The inauguration and swearing-in ceremony of the Union Officers will now hold on Tuesday, 8th March 2022 at Afrika Amphitheater by 12:00PM Prompt.  

FASAOAU: Is It True That The President Embezzled?

By Ajibade Abdullah Adewale

The road to FASA remains dusty.

 Tell those who wish to tread this path to avoid putting on white garments.

Otherwise, they should be ready to get dirty.

When there is fire on the mountain, what’s foreseen of anyone is to either find a panacea or abscond. Here, what they do is maintain a “siddon look” stance as the fire munches deeper while they comfortably patronise beer parlours and lavish the limited resources that are not theirs on “shapes and bottles”. A financial boost for the seller, but to the detriment of the progress of a larger audience, the students.

Riddles!

The puzzle besieging the Faculty of Arts Students’ Association, Obafemi Awolowo University, has invariably inflicted a headache for the genius that even a typical student wouldn’t try cracking. A friend who has lost hope in the association would always say, “This puzzle doesn’t deserve our Time “. To me, it is worth whatever time we have dedicated to demanding a change. 

We can no longer afford unnecessary postponement of elections at the expense of limited resources, which the association can direct to a productive cause. It has to stop. As the world develops, civilization refines culture, and so,  if not conducting an election once is the norm, we can easily improvise to not conducting at all. 

The association gets praised for being politically oriented, with an outstanding record of participation within and beyond. Meanwhile, the praise, to me, is just irony. You know, students are productively busy these days; they have got a lot to do that, they would unrepentantly call Buhari “Putin” just to have their way. So, what’s the honour of being politically inclined while everything has always ended inadequately?

“Godfatherism” 

“Godfatherism” has always been an existing imbroglio in the political terrain of Nigeria. It’s a problem that has spread across all levels, including FASAOAU. While Osun APC is having a hard time because a godson wants to become a godfather, there are also claims that FASAOAU is an abode for graduates who won’t stop tampering with the political configuration of the association. Obviously, they have programmed the association in a certain way that debugging would seem impossible soon. They are political leaders and they have plenty of sons and daughters in the faculty.

During elections, there are permutations from one department to another, and the thought would be that it is for the progress of the association. However, circumstances have proven that whatever permutations taking place in the association is not always in the interest of the students but those who don’t want to leave the Association and their godsons and daughters.

Is It True That Our President Embezzled?

Seriously, I don’t know why students have tarnished the image of our darling President. They claim that he has embezzled, yet they could not prove it. What is wrong with FASAites? When are they going to realize that our president is as holy as a Nigerian politician? Yes, Nigerian politicians are a truthful set of people. Keeping their campaign promises is the least of their achievements.

Our president has done everything to improve the association by stimulating an atmosphere of unification. He has left it better than he met it. Just that he doesn’t have a successor.

The road to FASA remains dusty. 

Tell those who wish to tread this path to avoid putting on a white garment. 

Otherwise, be ready to get dirty.

Riddles!

Just In: Students' Union Inauguration And Swearing In Postponed, New Date To Be Communicated Shortly

By Ayomide Emmanuel

The Inauguration and swearing  ceremony of the  Students’ Union leaders for academic which was  scheduled to hold on Thursday, 3rd of March, 2022 has been postponed.

Recall it was earlier reported by OAU Peeps News Agency that the elected Students' Union leaders will be inaugurated after five months of election. 

Speaking to our Correspondent, the PRO of the Great Ife Students' Union Electoral Commission, Comrade Olalekan Olatunbosun, Catalyst confirmed the postponment and he said, "I can confirm this is very true. 

We wish we could keep it from happening but we couldn't. Trust me, it is for the best. Further information on the new date will be communicated shortly. Thank you."

Great Ife Students' Union Respond To Increase In Transportation Prices On Campus

By Data Writing Pencil

The Great Ife Students' Union has responded to the increment in the cost of the transportation and number of passenger that the Ife mini bus drivers adopted on 23rd of February 2022. 

Recall it was earlier reported on OAUPeeps News Agency how the ife mini bus popularly known as town-igboro released a new price list. 

However, the development was not only on the price alone but also on the increase in number of passengers which was three on a row before the price hike but now four on a row. 

Speaking to OAU Peeps Correspondent, Adeleke Adedotun a Philosophy Part 3 student said "the increase in price is affecting and its not making it easier for students, imagine having #1000 and you have to spend it all on transport fare. Not only that, the drivers are now becoming aggressive to students then before. Something must be done concerning it either the school management or the Students' Union body."

Onatola Ayomide Victor a Religious Studies Part 2 said "it's not convenient at all and the increase has caused a lot of damages to students because most students couldn't bear the cost due to the fact that most students are managing. So couldn't come to class because they couldn't bear the cost of the price of transportation to campus"

In a Press Statement made available to OAU Peeps News Agency, the Students' Union body has responded to the increase in Transportation Issues. The Statement read thus:

The Students' Union announces to Union members that the recent increments in costs of transportation and number of passengers are and will not be maintained without the Union reviewing them to ameliorate the difficult financial implications they are already having on students. The Union has taken, is taking and will take more steps to check all issues regarding transportation.

With a view to preventing such occurrence as the transportation impasse of February 23, the Union had earlier met with transporters. The Union had on February 19 particularly met with motorcyclists' association to correct issues, including but not only hike as high as ₦250 for a place which had previously cost ₦100 to transit to. For places which previously cost ₦50/₦60/₦70, the Union noticed that the hike went as high as ₦100 and ₦150.

As efforts are being made to review the bus fares, students are to note the following about costs of transportation for motorcycles:

Notwithstanding the entire price list being reviewed, here are places with tentative costs of transportation (by motorcycle) on campus:

Main Gate to Hall Of Residence ₦120

Main Gate to Market ₦150

Main Gate to Spider ₦150

For this period, the following still remain the same, just as had earlier announced before fuel scarcity:

Main Gate to Bus Stop ₦100

Main Gate to DSA/Agric ₦120

Bus Stop to Hall of Residence ₦50

Bus Stop to Market ₦50

Bus Stop to Ajose ₦50

Bus Stop to Road Block ₦50

Bus Stop to Religious Ground ₦50

Bus Stop to Spider ₦50

Bus Stop to Tonkere ₦60

Hall to Hall ₦50

Hall to Academics Area ₦50

Hall to ICT Centre ₦50

Hall to Central Market ₦50

Hall to Spider ₦70

Hall to Religious Ground ₦70

Hall to Tonkere ₦80

Again, Union members are assured that the complaints about hikes in buses, increase in passengers are not only noted but being acted upon for favorable solutions. On a general note, the Union will continue to review the prices to discourage extortion and unscrupulous hikes.

For the Union, the welfarism of Great Ife students is not the modicum but the core, nonnegotiable essence of its being. It is understood that Union members want instant reverses and readjustments, especially with buses. The Union is with alacrity working so that the issues with transportation are completely arrested.

While the Union hastens to ensure that the yet unsolved raised issues are resolved, the cooperation of Union members is highly solicited. Union members are assured that the current issues shall not be burdens for them to continue to bear.

Five Months After Election, Great Ife Students' Union Leaders Sets To Be Inuagrated And Sworn Into Office

The Great Ife Students' Union Leaders Elects are set to be Inaugurated and Swear In into office after five months of Election. The Election which cut across the different arms of government ranging from the HEC, SRC and CEC produce leader in every arms of the government. 

In A Press Release made available to OAUPeeps News Agency  by the Electoral Commission of Great Ife Students' Union, the inaugration and swearing in of the Union Officers will take place on Thursday 3rd 2022 at Oduduwa Hall by 12:00pm. 

The Statement Read Thus:

INAUGURATION AND SWEARING-IN CEREMONY

The past months have been characterized by our unswerving efforts to ensure the swearing-in and inauguration and leadership retreat of/for the elected union officers at the CEC, SRC and HEC levels were done as stipulated in the election calendar until unforeseen circumstances took over the course.

However, we are elated to announce that the CEC, Leadership of the SRC and HEC's Chairpersons will proceed on a leadership training by next week and the Inauguration and Swearing-in Ceremony will hold unfailing as follows;

Thursday, 3rd March 2022

12:00PM Prompt

Oduduwa Hall

We enjoin Great Ife Students to join us as the elected officers officially take the oath of office and mantle.

Fuel Scarcity: Ife Mini Bus, Sabo Lagere Release New Price List

By Data Writing Pencil

Following the Nationwide Fuel Scarcity, the town-igboro Drivers  stopped operation to hold a meeting among its members to decide on a new price list for transportation.

However, the sudden stop in operation led to students been stranded on campus with no much means of transportation. A long queue of students was at the school bus stop.

The students Union leaders however swing into action  by providing a bus to transport students out of the school. 

Speaking to our Correspondent, the financial secretary elect of Great Ife Students' Union said the union spring into action immediately they got wind of the information and they provided bus to convey students to campus gate at the rate of #30. 

In an interview with a student about how the sudden stop of operation by the mini bus drivers has affeted students, Sir Philip the director of sports department of mathematics said he paid #150 to a bike man who transported him from gate to yellow house which was not so before the scarcity of buses on campus.   

Following the outcome of the meeting, the Ife mini bus has released a new price list that will be used and a closer look at the new price list sees changes in the price of a drop at the rate of #100 which was #70 before the fuel scarity