OAU has a tradition of canning students found in anti-social acts publicly; they call it maximum shi shi. To some it is barbaric and others the best mechanism for having violence free society. Afolabi Oni, a 400 level student of Education English OAU examines the subject.
Among every twelve, there must be a Judas and among over twenty five thousands, thousands of Judases. No doubt that cultism has been the order of the day on most campuses, because of youthful exuberance, over ambition and the need for security. ‘Variety’ they say ‘is the spice of life’, but when the spices get to be too much, it spoils the broth. One of the most difficult tasks in the world is to checkmate the excesses of men, little wonder we have the law. One of the laws in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-ife which has now become a tradition is maximum shi-shi (MSS).
This tradition circulated around 1999 when students after clamping down massively on the cultists on campus as at that time, they converged in Amphi theatre and chatted a way forward. According to a source, Ife students after critical analysis and intellectual scrutiny on how to deal with all forms of anti-social acts resolved to use cane publicly on erring members of the union and the number of strokes to be determined by the students. The erring student is paraded round all the halls of residence, both male and female. The congress resulted on zero tolerance to cultism and to achieve this assault had to be defined. They resolved that assault ranges from touch to fist to hit, any form of push or pull was also assault. This move placed a compulsory ban on fighting and there was absolutely no need for breaking of bottles. The congress observed that such punishment is best as it will not affect the studentship of the erring student and yet teach him or her lesson. To every law, the right execution must be in place. This may not have been the case in all occasions and due to improper execution many call for the quick disposal of the tradition.
According to a Law part five student of OAU, Olusola Adegbite said that ‘Maximum shishi has incurred odium. Human dignity is not negotiable, not even on the altar of an allegation. Section 36(5) of the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s constitution is clear and apt, and no excuse can cure this irregularity.’
While giving his manifestoes, the Students’ Union President Alaje Paul said the decision on the eradication of maximum shishi lies with the students and such can only be taken at the level of the congress. However, he was of the opinion that erring members of the union after the maximum shishi must be referred to Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN) or University Joint Christian Mission(UJCM) for proper rehabilitation.
Another student of the faculty of Education studying Economics 400 level, Eniayewu Oluwole said maximum shishi is a tool to discipline students whose ways are impure. It should be encouraged to correct abnormalities in the students’ environment. I strongly believe that it needs to be redefined so as not to be an anti-students’ policy. When a student is found in anti-social activities, I see no reason such student should not be dully punished. However, proper investigation should be made in order not to temper with the students’ right.’
On more than one occasion the Register of the University, Mr. Ayorinde Oguruku has referred to maximum shishi with contempt. During ACJ organized open forum in the year 2007, Mr. Oguruku referred to maximum shishi as jungle justice. More so, when the 2008/2009 executives of the ACJ headed by Fatai Abiola Moshood paid a courtesy visit to the Vice Dean of The Division of Students’ Affairs, Dr Yinka Adesina, he said it was barbaric and that no student has the right to beat a fellow student.
A member of the student Representative Council, Raji Saheed in Education Economics 300 level strongly supports the maximum shi shi. ‘The only reason we do not have cultists on this campus is this maximum shi shi. If it is abolished, students will be licensed to kill and the weak will be at the mercy of the strong. It is basically to check excesses.’
Campuslife met with the leader of the Students’ Union judicial council, a law part five student, the Lord Chancellor of the Students’ Union, Obafemi Awolowo University, Mr. Omotoso Adebisi Wasiu aka O’ Black. He said, ‘the Great Ife tradition of Maximum shi-shi is one of long standing that has been accepted as the standard of punishment of anti-social activities such as affray, stealing, bullying, indecent assault etc. This process involves flogging or canning of the offender after being investigated and found guilty by the judicial tribunal-Hall Executive Council, Council Executive Council, Security committee or the judicial council of the Union as the case may be.
To some individuals, the doctrine of MSS is crude and barbaric but it must be understood that canning, or other forms of corporal punishment is rooted in the theory of punishment provided for in the corpus of our criminal law. The Court is empowered by law to sentence an offender to canning in addition to other forms of punishment. For example, by virtue of S.358 of the Criminal Code Act Cap 38 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 states, ‘any person who commits the offence of rape is liable to imprisonment for life with or without canning’ (emphasis mine).
Also, S 77 of the Criminal Code Act and S 384-387 of the Criminal Procedure Act provides for canning as a mode of punishment and sentencing. This evidences the fact that corporal punishment is recognized in law and it is not anomaly where an accused is found guilty of the alleged offence except where he is above the age of 45.
The rationale behind canning is not only to subject the offender to the pain that comes with it but the shame and psychological blow given to his person. This is to serve as deterrence to others. Thus, the Ife doctrine of maximum shi shi is not as odd or barbaric as people may perceive it to be. It may only seem to be barbaric where it is dispensed where due process is not fully adhered to. After all, our Union does not have a penitentiary system or fining mechanism and we cannot afford to expose our members to the obdurate sanctions of the university at even misdemeanor of theirs. We can only subject them to measures that will make them repentant and ashamed. This is the import of maximum shi shi complemented with parading.’
To Adedayo Afolabi a 400 level student of Demography and Social Statistics said, ‘One cannot but mention the excesses of this barbaric act. Some persons will just come from nowhere and say they feel like beating, some will say they feel like slapping the stomach, it is stupid. Some of them are paraded naked or even with only their boxers in female halls, although not in most occasions naked. You need to see the way they beat, crueler than a Roman soldier, hitting all available spot. The victims are always perfectly deformed and terribly difficult to identify. On most occasions the victim is hospitalized after the exercise. More so, even most of them beating are thieves. This law must be abolished.’
Another student who will prefer if his name isn’t mentioned said, this tradition is good, other campuses should emulate it.
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a4 i like your spirit
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