Baffled by the failure of the leadership of the Federation of Oyo State Students Union to conduct a new election despite the expiration of their tenure, some indigent students of Oyo State have written to demand for the conduct of a new election.
In a statement written and signed on behalf of students from Ibarapa, Ibadan, Ogbomosho and Oyo regions of the state by their Presidents, Ogunjobi Oladimeji, Olalekan Yusuf, Adediran Sunday and Raheem Basit respectively, they described as unconstitutional the continous stay in office of the incumbent FOSSU leadership.
They also demanded for the immediate constitution of a committee that will conduct a free and fair election for the emergence of a new leadership of the union.
The statement read: “It is with the highest level of respect that I applaud and commend the rousingly efforts, resoluteness and demeanour of the leadership of FOSSU National thus far.
“It is on the basics of commendation I wish to call the attention of the leadership of FOSSU National on the thing that may impede the consolidation of the successes they have recorded so far and accomplished as the leadership of the Union (FOSSU). As Martin Luther King JR asscerted “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matters”.
“Therefore, it won’t be good enough to become silent on an impeding danger that may dent your achievement and tarnish your image and also the period of dedication of hard work.
“It is quite lamentable and laughable that problems in higher institutions brews up as the population of students increases in tens over the years. The offices of students’ union officials have become too juicy, leaving Nigerian students in the hands of leaders who are shoddier. Leadership ought to be purpose driven and not that which is backed by financial appetite.
“The crux of the write up is to awake the consciousness of the generality of Oyo state Student on the time limlit accrued to the office of FOSSU National Executive and Senate Arm respectively. According to the Constitution of Federation of Oyo State Student Union (FOSSU National) every FOSSU executive is entitled to a 12 month Parliamentary year, a single term of academic calendar year. Over the year the story has changed but it is expected of this current Leadership of the Union to set a pace by acting accordingly to the Constitution.
“However, Mr President and the Senate President will recall that they were elected In October 2019 and was inaugurated January 9 2020, going by this date you already spent a year and a month. I believe as a leader who remained in the fore for quality and selfless leadership, it is vital that you bow out of office while the ovation are still loud and the lights are still beaming on you guys.
“Believe me there is dignity in quitting when ovation is loud. I will take the Popular Japanese monarchy as a point of illustration and Unique proverb to pass my message to you. He is one of the most revered royal institutions in the world. For the Japanese, the monarch is the symbol of the state. Indeed, he is seen as a god. He exercises unlimited powers over his domain.
“Despite the enormous influence he enjoys, Akihito, the 125th Emperor of Japan, on April 30, 2019, voluntarily abdicated the throne for his 59-year-old son, Naruhito. After sitting on the throne for 30 years, the 85-year-old monarch bowed out to live a private life. In taking the decision, he took into cognisance several factors, particularly his age and health condition.
“Akihito was a humble man who was not carried away by the paraphernalia of his office. He encouraged the advancement of democratic institutions and processes and was in touch with his subjects.
“He is, however, not the first monarch in world history to voluntarily abdicate the throne. In many countries of the world, monarchs have resigned for various reasons. Fanfare and big headlines trailed Akihito’s resignation because he was the first to voluntarily abdicate the world’s oldest monarchy in 200 years.
“But more importantly, his resignation sent a clear message to world leaders, particularly to we Nigerians, to always remember the words of wisdom as contained in Ecclesiastes 3: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens; a time to be born and a time to die.”
“For Akihito, leaders don’t need to wait to die on the throne when there are others to take the baton of leadership. He believes 30 years on the throne was enough. Put differently, a leader should be prepared to shape society such that successors are trained in advance to succeed them. Akihito was popular among his subjects and enjoyed. The last time I checked, you weren’t from a royal house, and FOSSU will never be a Royal Palace of anyone. I hope you take some insight from this submission
“I also hope in no distance time, you will set up Electoral empire to prepare a free, fair and crediblle Elections.
“Mr. President and co-travellers, with great humility, extreme sobriety and solidarity, I implore you to go through this pearl of wisdom with great sense of objectivity and give it a swift demonstration.
“I’ll advice you crest your name in gold in the annals of time and the Organization.”
