By Ibrahim Ayandare
“Politics is a game of interests, and there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.” – Winston Churchill
Like any other university, the University of Ibadan (UI) has its internal politics, which involve power struggles and decision-making processes among various groups and individuals within the university community. UI has a Student Union, which serves as the voice of the students and advocates for their rights and welfare. The student union also organizes social and cultural events on campus. However, the union has had a tumultuous history, with occasional clashes with university authorities and allegations of corruption and mismanagement. It is another time for the next election among the Uites to elect new Boards for her Student Union. There are posts like President, Vice President, General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary, Public Relation Officer, and the likes.
Our concern in this journal is the post of the UI’SU Preside t contestants. There are five Contestants with some relationships. These contestants have an interest in the post and they are almost related in that in their realm they can be called family but I agreed with James Callaghan that in politics, there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, only permanent interests.
The five Contestants that are interested in the SU Presidents are;
Olaleye Michael Ajibola popularly known as OMA
Salami Tioluwani popularly called Tiolu
Samuel Samson Tobiloba popularly known as HOST and
Areola David popularly called Ado
Adeyeye Bukola Shalom popularly called ABS
These five contenders have their history or where they are related. Starting from the first two contestants mentioned above OMA and Tiolu.
Olalere Michael Ajibola popularly called OMA, a 300 Level student from the Faculty of Law, is the current PRO of the SU. Before he contested for the PRO of the SU which he won unopposed, he was the former PRO of the Faculty of Law and he is a Tedderite. Wherever you sou see #OMALAUD, that’s Oma, the current PRO.
Salami Tioluwani popularly called Tiolu is a 400-level student from the Faculty of Law. He is the present General Secretary of Faculty of Law and the President of Indy’s L n D. He crossed from the department of the Sociology in faculty of Social Science when he was at the 200 level. He is a poet and he is a Katangites. Wherever you see #TIOLUisCLEAR that’s Sami Tioluwani.
These two came from the same faculty and have an interest in becoming the SU President. Let’s wait and see.
The last three are HOST, ADO, and ABJ.
Samson Samuel Tobiloba popularly known as HOST is a 400-level student from the Faculty of Dentistry. He was the former president of the National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS). He was also the Chairman of the former SU election. He is a Zikite and is also in charge of the last Nnamdi Azikwe hall elections. He is the one in charge of the popular team U&I.
Areola David popularly called Ado, a 300-level student from the department of linguistics in the faculty of Art is currently the AGS of the UI SU. Before he became the SU AGS, he was the former AGS of the faculty of Art. He is also a Zikites and wherever you see #AreIncoming that’s Ado.
Adeyeye Bukola Shalom popularly called ABJ, she is a Queenite and studying Europeans Studies in the Faculty of Art. She raise the bar for Female playing a leadership role in the students Union.
Ado and Host are both Zikite seeking the post of SU President. In the last SU election ADO and OMA won their post unopposed. And Tiolu has not been in any post before both in hall and faculty but this time aspiring to be the SU President. ADO and ABS also are from the same Faculty and are now contenders for post of SU President.
Overall, the politics of the University of Ibadan, as with any academic institution, can be complex and dynamic, shaped by the interests and agendas of various stakeholders within the university community. Let’s wait and see who will excel as the next SU’23 President of the University of Ibadan.
“Mankind will never see an end of trouble until lovers of wisdom come to hold political power, or the holders of power become lovers of wisdom” ~ Plato
