By Eniola Olaniyi
The phrase “Where’s Waldo?” is a popular children’s book about a character who is always hiding in plain sight. In this case, the immediate past president of NAPSS UI, Ikotun Oluwafemi is like Waldo, because he is also hiding from view.
It has been months since the last administration ended, and Ikotun Femi, the ex-president, has yet to deliver the promised packages to them. Over 200 students paid N2,500 each which was supposed to cover the cost of the packages, as well as other expenses.
The students are now demanding answers from Ikotun Femi. They want to know where their packages are and why he has not delivered them. They are also concerned that he may have taken their money and run.
The case of the missing packages is a reminder of the importance of transparency and accountability in student government. Students should be able to trust that their leaders will use their money wisely and deliver on their promises.
In this case, Ikotun Femi has failed to do both. He has not been transparent about where the money for the packages went, and he has not delivered the packages as promised. This has left the students feeling betrayed and angry.
POSSPRESS took to the streets of the department of political science to gather student perspectives on the issue. NAPSSites were not afraid to speak their minds and demand answers.
I am shocked and disappointed that he has not delivered the packages as promised. He owes the students an explanation. A 400-level student said.
When asked about the entire situation, another student said, I messaged the Vice president during the holiday about it and she said we will get it when we resume and that the finalists have already gotten theirs. But based on the Senate meeting held last week Friday, the president said he has consulted the ex-president and he said they couldn’t get all of the package done and that they are still working on it. So the Senate president on hearing this assured the whole house that they will see to it and make sure the necessary steps are taken if the results are not positive.
How was the handing over conducted with such an unresolved issue? Another student couldn’t help but point out.
One particular response clearly showed how this student was feeling about the situation. I did not pay close attention to his tenure/ administration but I have seen reviews on the events organized by the tenure and how they were handled. What broke the camel’s back for him was the issue of this delay in the package. I believe that only a lack of accountability (to NAPSSites) could produce this wantonness.
Many others believed that this situation should have been addressed before now. To be honest I feel like the package stuff is something that they should have attended to since last semester. It’s not something that should be an issue at the beginning of a new semester. It’s just wrong. Even if they are delayed, it’s a different case but they gave us last week or 2 weeks ago as the day to get the package delivered. Now it’s a new week and it is still being postponed to the end of this week too.
One particular political science student could only shake their head at the issue because they anticipated it. I feel like Ikotun’s case should serve as a lesson to the Senate House and NAPSSites entirely.
When I heard that Ikotun took it upon himself to make the books, I knew there was not going to be transparency in the dealings. Even the other excos were not carried along with the production of the packages. If an outsider was given the contract and it was followed up by other excos, the case would have been different. And what exactly did the senate president do at the last senate meeting of the session when the house found out that the packages were not ready as of the last week of the session? Nothing!!!
Or is it a normal thing for a president not to deliver students’ packages even until the session is over?
Well, the week is almost over; Let’s wait and see if he’s going to deliver as promised and if he doesn’t, I hope the house takes up the proper measures and does the needful even if it means being penalized.
A 300-level NAPSSite couldn’t hide his suspicions about the situation. I felt the executive wanted to rip us off because if not that, it should have been given before the end of the session as the norms
So why is it now that the guy(Ikotun) is just trying to get it, which is not even sure yet. I don’t know what they used money for.
Another NAPSSite expressed his displeasure by saying, It is a very sad thing that such a thing could happen in the previous administration. Mr. Ikotun (the previous president) owns or operates a printing firm, so I don’t understand why this is happening.. Not only is he delaying the packages, he is also delaying the Napsss hard copy constitution (50 copies)
It is very disheartening that such an issue could occur from the last administration.
I seriously don’t know what to say but I definitely know that if the contract of that souvenir was given to someone else and not handled by the past president then the story might be different.
And the fact that people have to complain and complain before Mr. Ikotun explains why there is a delay without an apology simply shows that he doesn’t care about what Nappsites think.
An angry student expressed his disappointment in the way the problem was handled. I also partially blame the past senate president because I feel he should have been sanctioned or penalized for not delivering NAPSSites packages before the end of his tenure, instead he was given a certificate. He clearly does not deserve any certificate of excellence or award.
A member of the Ikotun’s executive council expressed their feelings by saying; Well, I feel the president ought to explain the situation to NAPSSites if not people from his team. If this is not done it’s going to escalate into a serious matter which he won’t like.
This is what becomes a situation where one person wants to do it all. Not delegating duties. Imagine trying to do everything,shirts, packages all by himself. Well as he said hopefully by Monday.
In addition to the students’ demands, we also interviewed members of the past administration.
Miss Etuk Faith, the former Vice President of NAPSS UI had the following to say in an interview conducted by a POSSPRESS correspondent:
Interview with 2021/22 Vice President – Faith Etuk
Interviewer:
I’d like to ask you some questions, and I’d love your honest opinion. Can you do that?
Faith Etuk:
From POSSPRESS?
POSSPRESS Interviewer:
Yes.
Just basic questions about the issue on ground.
Faith Etuk:
Alright.
Go on.
POSSPRESS Interviewer:
Last session, the immediate past president (Mr Femi Ikotun) received the contract for producing the NAPSS packages which include tee shirts and books.
Is that true or false?
Faith Etuk:
True.
POSSPRESS Interviewer:
Was there any opposition from the executive members concerning the decision?
If yes, please kindly explain.
Faith Etuk:
I don’t know of any opposition.
POSSPRESS Interviewer:
So, do you think the decision made was ethical?
Faith Etuk:
Ethical in what sense?
POSSPRESS Interviewer:
I mean do you find anything wrong or right, with the president of the department awarding himself a contract that pertains to the NAPSS body?
Even with him having a history of producing limited packages as at the 2019/20 administration while serving as the General secretary.
Faith Etuk:
I don’t know anything about him producing limited packages in the past administrations he has served.
(To the first question) I actually don’t see anything wrong if, at the end of the day, the work still comes out right.
POSSPRESS Interviewer:
More than 200 students’ dues were paid. Yet the packages received did not cater to the population who paid for the dues. What do you have to say about that?
Faith Etuk:
Before the last session ended, I talked to the president about it and he said he would make sure they become available before the session ended. When I still asked a second time he said there were some issues in the production that he didn’t point out. But he assured me that they would still get their package when students resume for a new session. I’ve tried reaching out to him till now, all to no avail.
POSSPRESS Interviewer:
What do you think should be done if the president continues to evade his responsibility to the NAPSS body?
Faith Etuk:
I really hope it doesn’t happen. The current president has given him an ultimatum. And I hope he delivers by this weekend.
POSSPRESS Interviewer:
Thank you so much for your responses.
That’ll be all for now.
The general secretary for the 2021/2022 session seemed to be unable to do anything about the situation. About the package, you will have to speak to the incumbent president about that. He took up the contract of producing the books and he should be responsible for the disbursement.
The treasurer for the 2021/2022 session, Miss Naomi Olaopa claimed that they had allocated the fund to the executive and only the president could account for it.
These administrative members have maintained that they were only kept in the loop on a need-to-know basis and that the president was the only one who knew everything.
The financial secretary, Miss Joy Ogunniyi vehemently refused to comment on the matter.
This raises questions about the level of accountability and transparency in the past administration. If even members of the executive board were not aware of what was happening, it suggests that there was a culture of secrecy and obfuscation. It also raises questions about whether these officials were simply not being carried along, or whether they simply weren’t checking the president as they should have.
One can only wonder how the president could get away with making such big decisions himself. If members of the past administration were genuinely not aware, then it is a sign of gross incompetence.
To have a better understanding of the issue and what might have caused the delay, POSSPRESS also spoke with the immediate past Senate president, Egwu Samuel Chinaemerem.
Mr. Egwu explained to the POSSPRESS correspondent that the budget for the basic package (souvenirs) was approved before the second semester examinations last session and the ex-President assured the house that production and distribution would be completed before the session runs out and if any NAPSSite did not get the souvenir, it will be because they did not come for collection and such souvenirs will be passed down to the next President of the association.
However, last session (2021/2022) ended, the new session is running into the fourth week and the only thing NAPSSites have gotten is failed promises of delivery after another from an ex-President they have no faith in.
We also reached out to the current Senate president, Senator Alimi Yusuf, who revealed that he had a conversation with Ikotun Femi. In his conversation with Ikotun, Ikotun blamed the delay on an “unknown individual” he awarded part of the contract for the book production to. Ikotun said he currently has fifty copies of the book with him while the funds he needs to complete the project is with the unknown individual who he claimed has run to Lagos.
However, Ikotun told the Senate president that he had paid part of the money and he would pay the balance on Wednesday ( 13/09/2023). He also promised the Senate president that the packages will be delivered this week.
All efforts by POSSPRESS to speak directly with the ex- president have not been successful. He simply refused to reply to our messages.
After months of silence, Mr. Ikotun finally broke his silence on Thursday morning, September 13th, at 8:09 AM, by posting a message in the department’s general group chat.
The students of the department of political science are still demanding answers from Ikotun Femi about the missing packages. However, they are also reluctant to pay for the new administration. They are concerned that the new administration will not be any different from the old administration, and that their money will be wasted.
The students are right to be skeptical of the new administration. They have been burned before, and they are not going to be quick to trust again. The new administration will need to earn the students’ trust, and that will not be easy.
The new administration will also need to address the issue of the missing packages. They need to find out what happened to the money and why the students did not receive their packages. They also need to take steps to ensure that this does not happen again.
Unlike Waldo, who is simply a fictional character, Ikotun Oluwafemi is a real person who has real responsibilities. He is responsible for the money that was paid for the missing packages, and he is responsible for answering the students’ questions.
By hiding from view, Ikotun Oluwafemi is not only failing to fulfill his responsibilities, but he is also sending a message to the students that he does not care about them. This is a message that the students will not forget.
The students of NAPSS UI are not going to be silenced. They will continue to demand answers from Ikotun Oluwafemi, and they will continue to fight for their rights.
