On the topic of Non-Imolites not contesting to win Presidential SUG election at FUTO, Mr. Wilfred writes as thus.
In the words of Enyinnia Alex, "...all these are political crincum-crancum and political higi-haga and I am meniancally bewildered and ordoriferously overgastered and flabberwelmed by the menigistiner statism that gripted FUTO SUG."
The last time I checked my map, I reconfirmed that the ever glorified tertiary institution of technology, FUTO, is presently located at Ihiagwa, a town in Imo State, which invariably confines FUTO within the delineated boundaries of a country comprising of over 250 factored and recognized ethnic groups. That country is Nigeria, presently under the leadership of a man from a "politically nowhere state" -Bayelsa.
And believing that my map is still honest, I can write and pour out my mind.
As a matter of fact, and as a person who once had a genuine intention to serve the students at the level of SUG President (though never made it known and never even bothered contesting for the same reason that I am not from IMO), and again having spent a five whole years in this school, permit me to express some points in the general sense of it on how this ugly trend affect students and promote mediocrity!
The real enemy fueling this trend is (often corrupt) elite -student affairs management within our dear FUTO. For long, we know that there is an inexcusable divide (with not much of a grey area in-) between the governing and the governed at FUTO. A case where students chosen to lead become more accountable to the management of the students affairs than students they are serving. Sad enough, in history of FUTO (the much I know of though), I'm yet to see a non-Imolite get to helm of affairs in that student management office located at SOSC main building. It is therefore not surprising that to gain favor, and win SUG election at FUTO, you must in one way of the other, belong to this faction of FUTO. How could an Anambrarian win election when "Nwa-afo Imo" is also contesting?
I don't blame the students who go about voting Imolites into Presidency, they must have thought of giving in to Mediocrity instead of "throwing away their votes", knowing fully well that a Presidential vote given to a Non-Imolite is a waste at FUTO. And what happens after voting the wrong man, its always the same old story, smells like bullshit!
Just like the dying ALUTA spirit, the infrastructure for students at FUTO is limping along, but should be in a much better state for a school with so much potential. The students services are all but non-existent. This isn’t the fault of people from other neighboring states or those from elsewhere – it’s the fault of the people who feel that they can rob the the students and get away with it.
If there could be remedy to these ugly "cancaworm", the first step for FUTO to really succeed in the 21st century is to put an end to tribalism and unite. No institution or country can truly progress if the students/people are suspicious of each other based on tired stereotypes, historical resentment or where they individually came from, after all is One Nigeria!
There is NO point being tribalistic in this day and age. Maybe there were historical reasons for xenophobia, but nowadays none of the problems at FUTO or in Nigeria exist because of one particular ethnic group.
If Goodluck Jonathan can preside over the Nigerian Nation from a "politically timid" Otuoke community, and if Barack Obama of African blood is currently sitting on top of the U.S government, why can't a boy from Yoruba or Hausa (with desirable qualities) preside over FUTOites?
I do not want to go down to the history lane because of some personal restrictions, I know many Ex-FUTOites who would have done by far better in the union but were never allowed to, simply because they hail from other states than Imo. They conscientized for votes, spent money like other candidates, they even went as far as "bowing for the same people under SOSC building", and at the end get disappointed for non-existent reasons.
No wonder the state of our union has gone sour, become non-productive and almost in-existent to the eyes and senses of the common FUTO student!
I will leave you to conclude this write up, and to do so I have few questions for you to ponder on...
1. Do students at all, have a choice on who rules over "students union"?
2. If YES, why not change the trend by casting your vote wisely and protecting it afterwards? And if NO, then I suggest you write Senate to abolish Unionism in school.
3. What are the jobs of those boys on ties and corporate dresses, (SRCs)? I was thinking they should have a better role to play in this sense than just move around shaking hands and bowing heads!
5. There are so many other questions and points that would have given this article a PLUS, but I reserve my comments till I'm finally regarded as an Ex-FUTOite - but then I hope I will have time to sit down and compile this kind of article for a failed students union by then!
Sad indeed!
