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The fist argument you will bring forward is if I am a member of NAOS or Still a Student to start properly with, No I am none either, but I stand on a good authority to speak about the roads I have been through especially as it has to do with any contemporary issues at any time. My journey in Student Unionism during my days in Kogi State University, Anyigba was a very wonderful one. I found it wonderful because I was so careful to start from the scratch, the very level where it all starts from in every setting.
From being a Secretary to a Five Man standing committee in my class during our One Hundred Level days, to being a Senator representing my Department in our Faculty Association and at this doubled as the Chief Whip, While I was in 200 level, I also had the privilege of serving under my tribal Association —NAES KSU CHAPTER, While in 300 I served as a Senator representing my Local Government Area Student Association at NAKOSS KSU SENATE ARM, at this time memorable time, I performed the role of a Provost Marshal in NAES KSU under the leadership of Comrade Dio Obaro as President, not only this, I was privileged to among Men belong to NAES supreme council the highest decision making body of the Association. At 400 Level, I was to the glory of God elected NAKOSS KSU PRESIDENT in December 2015, at this time, the Interim Government which piloted affairs of SUG in KSU was dissolved, in addition, I was privileged to in acting capacity preside over SUG KSU affairs for a period of 10 weeks until the election that brought in my brother, Shaibu Philip Omepa held.
Still on this, I was privileged to work with three Dean Student Affairs in KSU among which is my own Boss, Dr Usman Ogbo of kogi State University, Two NATIONAL NAKOSS presidents, Comrade Ahmodu Ibrahim Akiti and her present Chief Executive, Comrade Usman Sammy. To a great extent, I maintained a very good and cordial personal and working relationship with my colleagues from other Higher Institutions. Not only that, I was also grateful to God for the opportunity given to me to have a very good relationship with the strong Comrade of our days from across the three Senatorial Districts who were at the time of valid Student Status, not only at local chapters level in KSU but up to the level of National. I had a deep understanding of the peculiarities of almost all the Student Bodies in Kogi State at least, only few could be spared by my interest in building bridges across all lengths as a way of getting it started for good with my peers in the quest for good governance.
From the above, am sure you would get answers to your question as to why I am not a student and neither a member of NAOS but I have chosen to get bothered about what’s happening in NAOS. If not for anything, for the very fact that I have brother who have walked through that path and I wouldn’t watch their image dented as what happens after their exit in office howbeit has a lot to do with them, or that I wouldn’t sit and watch a body I was formerly working with to be rubbished in the public or better still to put that, we are all Kogi Indigenes and I should be my brother’s keeper.
The shameful and regrettable syndrome of adults, some who are married and own children syndrome of constituting themselves into nuisance popularly called Stakeholdership like to be a member of any Association is not enough to qualify one as a stakeholder in that Association. These set of persons are usually people who at one time had served in one capacity or the other served an Association. Funny enough, it is they who are no longer students and by legal dictations a member of such Association that looks at themselves as stakeholders, one wonders what active or valid members of the Association will be.
In actual sense, I can’t kick away the role of past executives in every Association, they exist to advise and guide present executives for the best of the Association, they come in when they are consulted, as a matter of privilege and not of right, they ordinarily should in a good sense contribute to the Association’s development through any positive means.
In cases of NATIONAL BODY of Students Association, they have no source of income except for seeking assistance from private individuals or cooperate bodies, this is called Permutation. But unfortunately the reverse is the case, these so called stakeholders deeps hands into Student matters most times uninvited, they extort from them part of the little they get to execute projects for the interest of their members, they compel them into taking decisions that are of less benefit to their members, most usually, when it’s time for elections, they force the Association to take a different means of electoral process, they sit in their comfort zones to take decision for students, they fight anyone who tries to question their actions by a way of threatening them with either cult boys or security agents by labeling them as threats to the association or the society. They mostly do this with the power and support of some persons in government who are ready to back them up with either finance or state power. So very shameful.
Unfortunately, these same set of persons will still be the ones to get back to the society to seek for mandate to represent the people. When they get there, they start building themselves against the state, they tend to institute certain decisions that will keep serving them even after their days in office. They become a problem in our politics, they feel hands into concerns them not. They do everything possible to remain at the centre of affairs. It is enough to advise when called upon but they won’t know. Some of them, there are mates are Managing Directors of companies, doing well in their given endeavours either in politics or civil service. But these ones, they remain stagnated, nor progress seeked,nor progress found. They make themselves cheaply available to those in government to be used as instruments to help achieve their aims. It is only in Kogi State that you will find government or government officials having interest in students election, such that they are not ashamed to publicly showcase in the public. For those in government, there own is the fear of the unknown, they tend to install people close to them so that in times of industrial crisis they will win over to themselves. At the end, students interest doesn’t matter. So bad.
I am using NAOS as a case study or point of discussion because for more than two weeks it has been on the news controversies surrounding the conduct of the election. I have taken my time to ask questions. I couldn’t ask any further when I was told that two several elections held at two different places , one had the president, senate president and some other active executive of the Association present and the other had no even single executive present except same set of persons parading themselves as stakeholders, people are who neither students nor recognised authorities to take charge of student election. Asking further questions will amount to stupidity. How possible is it for people who are not active executives of the Association to have monopoly of electoral power more than present executives of the Association?
I have been looking up to courageous individuals who will put their emotions and feelings or personal interest around and do the needful to end this ugly situation and ass paining attitude of cabals within the circle of students struggle. Thank God for my Brothers Batun Raph, NAOS SENATE PRESIDENT and President, Habib for taking the lead. You guys have done the needful. They will threaten you but don’t worry you have chosen the right path regardless of your Interest, even if you had a prefer candidate, it is normal, every man has interest, the people you are handing over to that matter, it is normal, but then thank You for doing through the normal way. You may have lobbied, but thank you for lobbying around the right people with equal playing ground for all the aspirants.
To the so called stakeholders, it is simple, if you want to have continuing interest, build people and the chain will keep going. You can’t be the same person yesterday, today and tomorrow.
For government appointees getting too concerned, face your governance, if you are doing the right thing, you don’t need to have fear of the unknown. If it were to be, am sure we can still remember how we did during NAKOSS KSU election. Students interest must always prevail.
I want to urge NAKOSS AS A NATIONAL body, we can’t run away from our shadow, this issue of stakeholder is affecting NAKOSS NATIONAL the most. Certain persons have hijacked it, till forever they want to be in charge, too bad. They can’t contribute to the Association but rather extort the little the body has. Too bad I say. We are tired of people outside NAKOSS running NAKOSS NATIONAL AFFAIRS. It should be strictly students interest.
I urge local chapter NAKOSS presidents starting from the mother chapter under the trusted leadership of Comrade Ojo tina Olorunfemi Olugbemi to begin to get in touch with his colleagues, so that the right thing will be done before these cabals will begin to start it again. The most important thing is to make sure every NAKOSS local chapter gets accredited. To prove that such chapters exist, it won’t take the Senate President and few persons to travel round and verify from the authorities of such school. When it’s time for elections, they get accredited and they vote transparently. No much or huge finance is needed. As a chapter, if you are coming, come with one or two of your executives as witnesses. Request for fund from your association pulse and fiance your expenses. Over dependence on government’s funds is what is killing NAKOSS. You may want to ask why I didn’t fight for all these while in office. I tried my best, at least despite the intimidation, I never found it interesting to place personal interest above that of those who gave me mandate.
I advise NAKOSS NATIONAL as a body to turn around things, it’s becoming too bad. Remember, if you left it the way you met it, you will always remain the way you are. Grateful we are for the government introduction of subvention as a way of assisting the students but using it as an avenue to intimidate students bodies especially when they come out against government’s decision when it affects students is bad. The money is for government, you will come and go. If you want to give, give, but for people to destroy their integrity because of stipends is bad and it makes one to wonder the government we have and how they intend to build the youths with this kind of attitude. If you will starve civil servants, don’t dare students, they are no go area.
SUG across all institutions and NAKOSS both chapters and National should as a matter of urgency meet to end this rubbish. Anointed candidates syndrome must end. We know the truth ourselves, let’s fight against. For those going to take money and seeking their future to deliver candidates of government appointees interest, God go help una. We know you all. Repent and be of unquestionable character.
God bless Kogi State.
– Abdulmalik Hadi Adinoyi.
Former President, National Association of Kogi State Students (NAKOSS)
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