Flash Back On Student Unionism In The Sweet Old Days!!! By Comr. S.L.Yamaabana (Speaker, National Union Of Khana Students) Worldwide In those days in the military Juntas, Nigerian students valiantly held successive – mostly military – governments accountable through penetrating pieces in newspapers; open discussions and when necessary, street protests, that were carried out in very civilised manner. students unionism in Nigeria, unbelievably, was thriving and very effective. military were ruling with edicts, decrees and with largely strong-arm tactics (Gowon and Obasanjo), yet it was surprising, when Nigerian Students look at it with the benefit of hindsight, that the then military governments were relatively benign and sympathetic towards students, Students and their views were, in most cases given due attention. student unionism was highly respected and visible in the society. Students were thorn in the flesh of incompetent rulers, and They took their visions and ideals very seriously. Go and check the history, there were never any allegations of student unions or their members playing up to the government or compromised by the governments. The governments were even very wary of buying them off. How can you buy somebody like late Banji Adegboro and late Segun Okeowo off? Never! Let me reiterate that todays students have lost focus, yes, we have lost focus. And unless we go back to the era of responsible students’ unionism and contribute our quota to national progress and make a break with this contemporaneous era of incompetence, mediocrity, selfishness, greed, material acquisitiveness, corruption and moral decay by choosing to stay on the path of truth, righteousness and probity. Posterity will not forgive us. As the conscience of a nation, students must be actively involved in development, re-orientation and education of their local or wider society. We can form local pressure groups to monitor the programmes of our elected governments. This local pressure group can also influence the society through the carrying out of socially positive programmes such as discussions, street pageants, environmental sanitation, road safety, health education, food safety and security and education, such as on the harmful effects of drug use, prostitution, cultism, corruption in high places, profligacy, etc., we can also position Ourselves to keep our elected politician on their toes and demand accountability at all times. We must through debates and intellectual discourses make our dispositions known to the governments and the leaders. We must never allow unscrupulous politicians to use us as cannon fodders in their political battles. Nigerian students should become indicators to measure the performance of every government. These can be achieve if our unions re trustworthy, sincere and upright enough for everybody to believe the judgments we give. But when we hit the streets on the encouragements of power mongers and political troublemakers and begin to wreak havoc on the society, then we would have descended to the level of the common hooligan who is ready to do the evil demand of his paymaster for a mess of pottage. We must also shun social vices, such as cultism, prostitution, examination and cheating, “He that would govern others first should be the master of himself”.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 23:12:31 +0000
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