“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. – President John Quincy Adams. Welcome to the National Association of Political Science Students, University of Ibadan. I will be your tour guide and convey to you the state of the association through the office of the President.
What you have in your hands right now – as simple as it appear – therein contains the plans of Mr President during electioneering, that if supported and perfectly executed, should place our association on a pedestal so high we would become a
case study.
My name is Ikotun Oluwafemi and I present the plans I have to move the National Association of Political Science Students, University of Ibadan, forward serving in the position of the President”. The above was the opening statement of Mr Ikotun’s manifesto as he ran unopposed for the office of presidency in the last elections which held in 2021. However, as his tenure draws to a close, how well has he stuck to the plans he highlighted, presented and promised NAPSSites? Grab a seat as we demystify his words and actions.
ESTABLISHMENT OF POLITICAL CULTURE – BROTHERHOOD.
According to his manifesto, one of his cardinal plans would be a “heavy investment in the orientation of freshmen and re-energizing of senior levels to participate in politics.” How does the political scene in NAPSS look today? Two freshers are in an interesting competition to serve as the Assistant General Secretary other than that, all other positions are set to be without opposition and NAPSS is yet to have substantial candidates declare their interests to vie for positions both at the Executive and Legislative councils.
On the faculty scene, candidates are vying for the position of Assistant General Secretary, General Secretary, Sports Director and Public Relations Officer. However, it is imperative to note the candidates expressed interest in these offices at their discretion. The candidate vvying for the position of the Public Relations Officer stepped down in the early hours of Thursday, 25th of May due to reasons best known to him.
On the night of May 13 2023 (9:18 pm), a NAPSSite who goes by the name “HOWOLABEE” on NAPSS general group chat on WhatsApp started a conversation, accusing the incumbent executive cabinet of not supporting NAPSSites vying for offices at the faculty level, his grievances were specifically targeted at the cabinet, who failed to support Mr Lawal Ridwan popularly known as Inspiration, who is contesting the office of Assistant General Secretary in the Faculty. The conversation later became intensed as the cabinet and the department were accused of failing to support NAPSSites’ nursing political aspirations for various offices in the Faculty. Emotions were blurted and grievances were expressed without filters. The President locked the groups when the conversation became toxic and threatened to cause division in the department.
Also, in a Senate meeting held on April 28, 2023. The Senate President, Sen. Chinaemerem asked the president why he didn’t inform NAPSSites about the elections conducted by NAPSS SOUTHWEST. He concluded his enquiry by stating some students came to him to express their disappointment in the President failing to carry the department along. In his defense, Mr Ikotun Femi defended that he didn’t announce the NAPSS SOUTHWEST elections because he didn’t pay the dues for the year and the association failed to produce an accepted receipt for the last two payments made. He rounded up by saying If he knew NAPSSites were interested, he would have paid the dues. Question: does the President have the right to disenfranchise NAPSSites?
Furthermore, Mr Ikotun did not state how he planned to make the above point a reality and there is no physical evidence that he tried to establish any form of political culture or brotherhood in the department. He made no statements, plans, programs or discussions related to the subject matter. He called a Congress on 17th May 2023, after bowing to the pressures from the Senate President. The Senate President needed the congress to adopt the association’s amended Constitution while the executive president used the congress in ratifying the increase in dinner fees. Later in the congress, the opinions of the congressmen were aired as they express their displeasures.
SOCIAL & ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT
While this seems to be an incursion Into the offices of the Vice President and the Social Director, the President has to sign off on their plans. As Section 9 Article 1 of the NAPSS constitution grants the President veto power.
On the social scene, the department had a well-organized freshers’ welcome/ orientation with freshers giving the event an average rating of 7/10 and considering it “impactful”. The Social director received a lot of accolades for planning an interesting and exhilarating picnic themed Extra-cool.
Academically, the publicity to encourage turnouts and the availability of a lot of tutors promised by Mr Ikotun were seemingly left unfulfilled. Tutorial activities are not pronounced in the department, 100 Level had four tutorial sessions organized by the Vice President, Miss Faith Etuk. However, the attendance rate for the tutorials could have been more impressive. ( would it be safe to blame the low turnout on ineffective publicity?)
In addition, the 200lv had new courses introduced but were unable to get tutors to teach the new courses both the in the first and second semesters.
Candidly, little has been done to help the academic welfare of NAPSSites. And this directs a lot of questions to the President; where are the tutors promised? Also, what happened to the ‘improved publicity’, was it ineffective?
