It was jubilation and expectation galore for some students of Obafemi Awolowo University, especially indigenes of Osun state at the declaration of Rauf Aregesola at the Appeal Court Ibadan as the winner of the 2007 Governorship election, Afolabi Oni, media practitioner and 400level student of Education English writes.
The political atmosphere in Osun state weeks before the 26th November judgment had being tensed as many cannot await the verdict that will determine if election will hold for the office of the executive Governor of Osun state come April 2011. Just two days before the declaration, some students had photocopied and pasted copies of releases of Aregbesola Rauf and Osun defender in halls of residence.
For OAU students, it was time for justice as students who registered for the 2007 general election but where not campus are yet to be awoken from the fact that over 30, 000 votes were gotten from Ife. More so, the fact that her former students’ union president, Akinola Saburi’s arrest cannot be disconnected from the political imbroglio made OAU students more interested. More so, the fact that her former union President, Akinola Saburi had to spend three and the half months behind the walls of Ilesa prison was another motivating factor for Students. He was arrested on his was to testifying in the law court assert the fact that OAU students were not on campus during election and over 30, 000 votes from OAU was out of place. On the 26th, many students were gathered at the Students’ Union building waiting for the verdict. Despite the fact that it wasn’t broadcast live, students’ exchange calls with friends and relatives and upon declaration it was jubilation galore as expectations are high.
Speaking with the formal students’ Union president, OAU, Alaje Paul an indigene of Irewole Local Government, a four hundred level student of Economics said, ‘The greatest crime that any man can ever committee is to steal the people’s mandate. If you don’t steal the people’s mandate, you can’t have the opportunity to steal the people’s money at the expense of basic infrastructure that the people need to make life more comfortable. While we celebrate the return of the stolen mandate, we shouldn’t forget to chastise the thief in other to serve as deterrent to other politician.’
While many are happy, others aren’t, Awoyeye Opeola, a two hundred level student English and Social Studies, Osun State college of Education, Ilesa is pessimistic about the new government, he says, ‘Politicians are all the same, we celebrate their emergence and they do nothing. If he can take after Babatunde Fasola, then I can start celebrating. Let him, solve the problem of LAUTECH upon assumption into office, let him reduce the school fees of Osun state University between thirty and fifty thousand, let him bring Law and order to Osun state and halt the problem of environmental pollution. Let him organize competitions at all levels of education; oratory, debate, essay among others for indigenes in Osun State. Let the people’s basic needs be met, then, we can have cause to celebrate,’ he challenged.
The President of Federation of Origbo Students’ Association of Nigeria, Afolabi Kolawole, a student of OAU, said, ‘The verdict by the appeal court is a pointer to the rebirth of justice in Osun state, and at the same time, this shows oppression to our common existence. Imagine few cabals, ganging up and being in custody of our mandate. At a point we lost faith which is now renewed by the judiciary. This judgment is an indication to the total collapse of the PDP.
Oluyomi Olaoye, a 100 student of Sociology and Social Statistics said, ‘Politics to me is a film and the script writers are the cabals. While Omisore’s Senatorial Election was annulled, due to electoral irregularities, better called electoral mal-practices, he did contest in the rerun and won yet again. These cabals know what they are doing. They just want to give Oyinlola enough time to campaign in his senatorial zone, Osun East. We have started seeing the postal and Omisore, who has started campaign for the governor of the State, will be compensated with a ministerial appointment, probably the minister of finance, because he is currently the Chairman, house committee on finance. They decided to lose Osun state Governorship for a more juicy meat.’
Opeola further added, ‘Oyinlola has nothing to lose, he has collected loan that is more than enough for his campaign and I am sure that the Aregbesola will be declaring the debt incurred by Oyinlola. The truth is that the Owaobokun of Ijesaland will now have more political relevance in the state because he supported Aregbesola more than the Oni of Ife who was always on the side of Oyinlola. The silence that was forced on him based on the several insults of Oyinlola will be broken.’
‘That students spend four years on campus only to receive bursary once in OAU is disgusting. A bursary that cannot cater for the needs of students for a month (N5, 000) is expected to last for four sessions. If this vices is corrected the celebration will be worth a while. But for now, let us thank God that the stolen good is back, and we hope it wouldn’t be stole again. If Aregesola doesn’t perform, it would mean that Oyinlola Olagunsoye stole illegally while Aregbesola is stealing legally. Legally or illegally, stealing is stealing,’ those were the words of Demola Adeyeye, a 400 level student of Crop production and Processing, OAU.
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