UNIBEN Students React To Management's Postponement Of SUG Elections"

The University of Benin student community was thrown into turmoil in the twilight hours of Thursday, 7th April, 2016, as the school management announced a postponement of the proposed Student Union Government elections. The elections which had previously been shifted from 29th of February to 12th of April due to examination reasons, was moved a day further to 13th of April, before being postponed indefinitely by school management barely five days to the elections.
This development did not go down well with some of the students who felt the school took little or no cognizance of the circumstances surrounding the candidates, supporters and the student electorate in general when making decisions affecting them.

Here are the comments of some who spoke with ULP:


Comrade Opara Ahanna James, SA to the National President of the National Association of University Students (NAUS) on Public affairs
300level Sociology and Anthropology .

"I would say that the postponement of the SUG election came as a big shock to all student on campus, even those that are politically conscious and those that are not. But the question we kept asking ourselves is, what are the reasons for the postponement? But still, there was no feasible reason, although the school management said it's based on security reasons, But for me, I feel there is more to it, of which the obvious fact tells that the school management is protecting their own interests. That's why my opinion still remains, that we as intellectuals, we must refuse to be intimidated and deceived by the school management. It's quiet unfortunate that the Aluta consciousness of every student could not be motivated.
But in every crisis or disagreement, there must be an agreement, reasons being that, everyone is scared of the wrath from the school management. So the other thing to do now, is to obey the constituted authority and avoid violence



David Ogbemudia:

400level, Attorney General Candidate
It's disheartening but we will strive on. I do not see the reason the management gave as cogent enough.  However we as students do not have a voice anymore so we cannot cry. But as much as we agitate for our rights as students, we must be calm and not resort to violence. I believe we can get justice by wits and not fists.



Lauretta Obakpolor, 400level Pharmacy, Presidential Candidate.

The truth of the matter is that security issue is not the principal reason for the postponement. I think there are other reasons the school management do not want us to know. The school management should be wise to give wise reasons about issues like this. They should understand that no matter how low the pitch of one's voice, once the voice screams it will be the loudest. Students have a voice.


Nosakhare Uzzi, 200level Science and Laboratory Technology; Director of Sports Candidate.

To be sincere I am deeply embittered by this autocratic act by the school authorities without due consideration of how the students would feel. See, this is the third time something like this is happening. Most of the aspirants performed poorly in the last exam just because the school management would not just care if they pass or fail. No good management would put an election very close to the examination period but UNIBEN did and students were patient only for them to postpone it and say it was due to the exam, that is wicked. they allowed the student to waste time and resources for what, nothing? I think the school has looked down on us for too long and I seriously think  we the students should come out and show them that we are not pleased with their actions. For crying out loud it is a student election and not lecturers' election so the students should be allowed to pilot the election with little interference from the school. Thank you.


Eke Martins, 400level Law; Secretary General Candidate.

The obvious is that the management has some cards up their sleeves which they intend to play. And I must admit the pain and shock whether psychologically or otherwise. However, it behooves on us all to mind the way we react to it. Lest we solve a wrong with a wrong. Notwithstanding, we should and will not sleep on our salient right to franchise, but in so doing let's thread with caution.





BREAKING: The SUG Elections has been now been slated for 22nd of April 2016.