Hypocrisy is a poison so lethal that it can ruin the future of a generation. Anywhere hypocrisy reigns, injustice is the order of the day. A people with a single law for same people but with double application for each member of the group depending on the direction of the sentiments of the administrator will end up becoming a people of yesterday with a despicable story to tell about their existence. No peace-loving people should allow any form of injustice under any disguise.
The analogy above is what the current Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin will become in no time. He has done a scientific research in spillage control mechanism but has not developed the best mechanism for hatred control and sentiments management. His attitude towards a particular section of the University Community since his inglorious ascension on that throne can visibly be seen even under the darkness without a spot light.
This is not the first time. The tactical preclusion of a particular potential candidate from Ilorin for the position of Registrar is not unnoticed.
The VC has been waging a war against a people who made him everything he is today, saving him from every cluster of death, including the curation of his ill-health. Eni to ba tanna wa oro, oma ri.
Ingratitude as a compensation to a kindness is not less abhorred by God, he should not pluck himself one more fruit of pile, he could be moulding the brick for his own stoning.
It is painful that the University we all jointly helped in building at one time or another is on the verge of being destroyed by a man driven by hatred, empty arrogance, conceit, condescension and ignorance.
Nothing more would make a Head of a prestigious Institution like University of Ilorin break an age-long rule set long before his coming than the blind drive to self destruction. It's an irony of authority.
Students Union matters in Universities are always like gun powder that it's sensitivity should not be toyed with. Smart administrators thread softly and do not on their own plant discord.
Only a witless administrator will attempt to arbitrarily and illegally attempt to alter a written rule not just to favour a particular candidate but to deny another who by coincidence comes from a Community - ILORIN - the VC hates so much.
Playing tribal-ethnic card in a very sensitive heterogeneous academic Community like UNILORIN by the VC is not only shocking to me, it is also a dumb move by a man who wants to succeed.
It is one thing to wave a rule, it is another thing to deny justice. This is not just an illegal conspiracy to manipulate events, it is also an orchestrated stigmatisation and denial to a larger population. I hate to talk about ethnic drive as motives for hates in this direction, but this VC is poor at doing things right and smart. It is so written all over his face.
It is a written rule that any candidate vying for the position of Students' Union President of the University MUST be on atleast 3.5 CGPA and 60% in case of medical students, at the time of contest.
The mischief the rule is set out to correct is to ensure that anyone who would lead the Union would be one who values his studies, focus on graduation and pilot the affairs of the Union without being carried away in the euphoria of needless "aluta"; for he has gotten alot to lose if the school is closed down.
The rule is also set not to distract such struggling students from concentrating on his/her studies.
Those who made this rule have probably done their research and arrived at the findings that students union leader with low CGPA careless about locking down the University. May be they do.
The rule no doubt has greatly helped to control Students' Union incessant restiveness in the University and it's one of the many strategic secrets of unbroken academic calendar the University has been enjoying in two decades.
No VC has dared to alter this rule. Of course no one would for its attending benefits except one with zero knowledge of pragmatic University administrative strategies.
The VC's serial gaffe continues to embarrass the University Community and its members have decided to be acquiescent, counting dates on their calender to the departure of this misplaced priority. Afterall, soldier go, soldier come, barracks no dey go anywhere.
The current quagmire is caused when the VC chose to allow a certain candidate to contest an election he is not qualified for in the first place (and manipulated same to victory).
The annointed candidate in question has below the approved CGPA threshold. This wasn't just done, another candidate, a contestant against the annointed one who is more "fit and proper" in academic status was proportionately disadvantaged for no just reason. It's sad.
One candidate has approximately 54% being the formula for CGPA calculation for Medical Students, (equivalent of 2.9 CGPA) while another candidate with a resounding CGPA of 3.9 is disenfranchised. It's is not only abnormal it is absurd to even mull this let alone executing same.
A VC who would come out to preach "anti-corruption" and claim to be holier in rectitude than an angel is now the one manipulating rules not just to favour a candidate but to despise another one.
Nothing can be more despicable and vile in character than the exhibition of this sub-normal behaviour.
You are teaching the students not just academic knowledge but also for them to be fit and proper in character, alas, the eyes of this dignity are often plucked by the one who should protect it.
How comfortable would the VC be to stand on the podium during these students graduation to say "...they have proved themselves worthy in character and learning" when he himself is deficient in such good character. It's a shame.
It is important to advice Mr. Vice-Chancellor to consult some of his staff who were former Students' Union activists, who have experiences in students affairs matters to advise him accordingly.
I can say with a bare chest that Dr. Wasiu Raji of Geology Department Dr. Alex Akanmu of Science Education Department and a few others should be able to tell him how not to tamper with the sensitivity of students union matters, except these people have been browbeaten to "yes sir mode".
It's a bad precedence the VC might not be able to manage.
It is also important to note that the serene academic environment the VC is opportunistically enjoying today didn't come by magic, people made sacrifices for that - some people paid with their lives, some with their academic career and many have to make do with a Third Class because they paid too much attention to the Students' Union affairs rather than face their studies just to make the University what it is today. The VC should not take this for granted and upset the peace.
This peace precedes the VC and will definitely outlive his tenure, notwithstanding the systemic orchestrated promotion of injustice.
If the soul of the University still matters to the VC and his lieutenants, and justice is germane in their hearts, I want to freely advise the VC not to dent his remaining integrity. He should allow the rule to take precedence above all things and should do the needful.
The candidate who is not qualified to contest election in the first place should be disqualified and the one who is, should be allowed to claim the mandates freely given to him by the Better By Far greatest Unilorites.
You cannot build something on nothing and expect it to stand.
Oppression and injustice do not suppress agitation, they encourage it.
The VC should be fit and proper in character and should stop waging wars against integrity, he may end up turning the wars against himself.
