A MANIFESTO DAY TO REMEMBER IN OAU

This picture was taken in 2014, shortly before our final departure from OAU campus after being delayed by workers’ industrial actions. It was one of the days of the manifesto and debate for the Student Union election at the great Amphi Theatre

Such days are crucial for outcome of elections in Ife as contests on that campus(then)was issue based. Tough days for the contestants you’ll say.

The role of comperes, which I and Sikiru Akinola assumed for the manifesto day was neither feeble. In fact, it’s what I’d consider...

...the most difficult job on OAU campus on that day. Traditionally, the Association of Campus Journalists(ACJ)takes responsibility for such events but given that the International Campus Journalists Conference (ICJC) was then holding, @RemmyAlex and @oluogunjobi got some of us...

...including Sodiq Oyeleke to shoulder the tough job. The first day (debate) went smoothly but a lot of drama await the second.

Ban on union activities had just been lifted after 3 years' proscription owing to protests on the increase of acceptance fee from N2k to N20k.The 2011 protests were led by Fjay.However,for then upcoming electn, the sch management wasn't comfortable wt d candidacy of some students

"They don't want another stubborn guy," we usually say with half humour. About five students were disqualified by the electoral committee on the allegation that they had once been indicted on several issues.

Trust OAU students’ unyielding doggedness,these ‘disqualified’ showed up for the debate first day, nobody had issues since it was only debate. On d second day, which was for manifesto,even though security was well beefed up,these contestants made their ways to Amphi Theatre again

Unsurprisingly, OAU students rooted for the ‘disqualified’, almost tearing Amphi apart with their plaudits. How will these poor comperes handle the situation?

As a compere, you are at a great disadvantage, midwifing three wranglers and doing all you can not to be lost in the friction. The management don’t want some students’ name on the ballot, the electoral committee disqualified some students, these disqualified students believe...

...in their rights to contest and that they decided 2 http://exercise.You  were never part of the decision making process in any of the 3 sides but you’re called upon 2 handle a major stage of the process.We had a list of contestants wt names which we call at appropriate times

We must not go out of this list, at the same time, we understood the rights of every students to contest and would not deny that. We also understood the volatility of the situation and would not risk an escalation. So, what did we do? @AkinolaDhikru of blessed wisdom came through

When it was the turn of a ‘qualified’, we handed over d mic, they reeled out their proposals and leave.The ‘disqualified’ ones don’t wait to be called, they simply wait for the last ‘qualified’ to speak and then take the stage. Did we struggle to take the mic from them? No!

Once we noticed a ‘disqualified’ approaching the podium, we simply drop the mic, fold arms and look.

And so when ‘disqualified Mandela' came out for his manifesto for the presidency, he held the crowd spell-bound undeterred, when 'disqualified Anchor' took the stage...

she pulled the agitated supporters to a new high and when it was 'disqualified Wole Olubanji's' turn, the crowd went berserk. Engels made many troubles with the management then, the kind of attitude that endears OAU students. Not sure if Tope Akinyode was cleared or not.

They all spoke without being invited, confronted or halted. Isaac Ibikunle eventually won the election, the disqualification stayed.

And that was how we maneuvered the shafts of rearing aggressors.

How you judge this depends on your perspective and the kind of sentiments you hold. Right move or wrong?

Indeed, this is one of the great memories of my days in Ife.