THE LOST GLORY OF STUDENT UNIONISM IN BUK

The experience of the universities has shown that when the climate is ripe, and the susceptibility to radicalization is married to a heightened sense of social injustice, educational institutions can indeed become factories for the production of idealistic Social Reformers and even highly committed Revolutionaries. For about five solid years in BUK am into Struggle, Agitating the Yearning and Expressions of the entire Bukites.

 

Last year academic session (2010/2011), I run the office of Public Relation Officer but God on to his mercy did not give me, (Pls. read ‘Campus politics is not yet over’ in this Diary). I might one of my Sufi brother he told me and I quote ‘in this mundane affairs whatever I love and don’t get it, am not a looser and I past the level of that thing, because as a Muslim who believe in Islamic monotheisms and have health, just have to thank God” this assentation motivate me to re-contest for President next coming year. In the short run after we resume to another fresh session, I was told that, the current SUG Speaker than, will be running the office of the President, then I now go back to my drawing board and calculate the scenario, for him as Speaker and Deputy Amir of the Muslim Ummah at the same time, definitely he would have a massive support and vote.

Therefore I re-planned my aspiration to run for Sec-Gen. as time goes on, I participated fully in the government, when the called for any Protest, will be in the front role and whenever there is any NANS convention in any state, will followed.  I meet with the Speaker informed him about my aspiration and he told me that, it is a welcomed Development and that should keep on doing my mobilization underground before the would lift the ban for campaign. Have been doing so, meeting President of various Associations and Clubs seeking for their support and advices.

Few days to Dissolution of Exco’s and formation of BUKIECO. I learned that almost five Students from Jos would aspire for Sec-Gen. I meet with the SUG Speaker, he told me that, he would like to give me an advice and that he is the only one that can told me that advice in this school and I quote ‘sadiq sec-gen is highly demanded and competitive, I do not want you to loose is better for you to run for departmental senator so that, you be carry alone in the government’ which I think over it and discussed with my friends. Finally told him, that people see well in me and that is why they said I should aspire for Sec-Gen, therefore I will stand my position no going back. He openly told me that, if that is the case, we cannot be in the same team because I have my own sec-gen.

The President of  JOSCOF called a meeting with all the aspirant of each office and including those that are running same office in other to sort things out, as part of the tradition even in Jos real politics, the council of  ‘Ulamah” sit down and select one, that would be voted for, so we started the negotiations with other three aspirant seeking for Sec-Gen. two withdraw. I and one guy stands, then the share paper on which he got 14 votes and I get 6 votes. Therefore, the mandated me to step down for him, I said to them ‘let the bukites decide’ because to me the election is not free and fair, the other guy when together with his friends and even the President is backing him.

Shed tears and cry! Called my Dad on phone informed him about the event, he council and console me, because I know that very guy that we would be running same position. He is my senior in secondary school, a friend than and I know his habit, indeed because of such unscrupulous attitude which he has, make us not friends again for almost 10 years ago. Last SUG election, he is among the student that stands against me on which a class mate of mine became victorious and this year he came out to seek for the same office that have been dreaming and hoping for almost a year.

I called a mini meeting with my friends on how to actualized my goals, friends suggest that since am not in Speaker Structure, than why not, I should join the Deteacher Structure to ease things, I reason with then, because there is one President of one Club IN BUK OLDSITE  have been visiting him for almost a year but when election come’s he told me that, he only have one interest and that sec-gen to him is blank until what  Deteacher brought to them, therefore  Deteacher adopt me as his Sec-Gen.

On election day, BUKIECO refused to bring Election Materials till 2pm, then our team when to the Security Office and agitate over, that the Ballot Paper should be brought out, counted and burn into ashes because half of the ballot paper is been brought by Okada man without any Security Escort. The three presidential aspirants have a meeting with the Dean and CTC, therefore the agreed that election should take place the next day, when Deteacher informed his Campaign Director that election is tomorrow, he said, ‘ who is going to work for you tomorrow’.

The three president aspirants have a meeting overnight, excluding the Speaker and finally conclude to withdraw from the election; I alone with few friends mobilize our self as Agents for the race! To be obvious the Overpower me, the other Sec-Gen has all Support from all angles and God give him Sec-Gen. what baffles me is three idiot from my own department that openly campaign against me! In politics, learn to have enemies, if do not have any. Diary would remember Babee 10k for my Poster, cmr.shamma 3k for banner and salis 2k for the form. I spent off to 30k, stress and stigma that keep on following in my vein. Thanks to all friends especially Marriam, Zainab, Uncle Ido,Wakili, Abbas, Honorable, Bara’u, Aliyu, Abdullahi  and Almakura,  to name but few.

Student unionism as a social movement which should seek deliberate and radical changes in society. The Nigerian student movement in any university needs a social and political climate which allows opposition and criticism and which is not repressive. Such a climate should not be hostile to it. But allow it, the freedom to organize and to propagate its ideals among its followers. And ultimately to bargain in the political arena. Under such a free atmosphere students will be able to join other social groups in the formation of public opinion by providing ground for discussion of the social and political problems that plague the country in the search towards nationhood. In the process. There will be constructive criticism of the government's activities. For me…….Campus Politics is now over! But Real Politics continue by will of God and victory is our prayer, hope and dream.