OPINION: Reinstating IMSU SUG, The End Of The Beginning?

By Madubuihe Elijah 

We need to believe in our own strength to fight the obstacles we are faced with. There could be advantages in disadvantage but ready or not, it is the right of students to have a body that represents them. A body that gives them that voice of unification and purpose in all ramifications. 

Just like ASUU, NASU, COEASU, NLC, etc, the Students' Union is also important as students have a right to peaceful assembly and association as enshrined in the Constitution. Thus, it is only imperative that we start advocating for the reinstatement of the Union now as it's better late than never.

The management suspended the activities of the Union following a botched election conducted twice in one academic semester. The indefinite cancellation of the union election without a caretaker committee was aided by the political bad blood that existed between different factions then which started with a failed impeachment attempt on the 16th republic Union Director of Transport. 

Where lies our consciousness, vigilance and progressive mind without a Union? We are always very proud of great Imo stars doing very well in the outside world whether in politics or in the different career most have chosen, some if not most started as Union leaders where they hone their skill of diplomacy, service, welfarism, activism among other skills. Where then is the formidable platform for the training of future leaders?

Although, some students will say 'the Union was never suspended, the VC can't suspend or suppress our Union as we are the Union', this is not only laughable but incorrect. What is a Union without a structure recognised by the management and forces of the outside world?

With the recent emergence of Prof. Martins as the new dean students affairs among other newly appointed critical stakeholders in the university, one is optimistic that the beginning of the end of our docile union is in view. I know many students think that the only thing the Students' Union is good at is disrupting the school's academic calender and nothing else, in fact some said since the suspension of the Union, the academic calender has been very stable. This is actually not true as the aim of the Students' Union is not to disrupt academic calendar but to represent the students, give them a voice, voice out their needs, wants; seal deals with private/public bodies for the benefit of the students with welfarism being the watchword.

Students have indeed learnt from past mistakes which have seen the Union suspended time and again, diplomacy now the key word, cordial relationship is now the condition. 

Don't get it wrong, this piece was not inspired based on personal aggradizement but because our Union gives us that unique Identity, it binds us together, Unites under one umbrella. Thus, it's high time we advocate for the reinstatement of the Union. Let's reassure the management that the Union is not its enemy, if anything, the Union brings students closer to the management. 

We are all stakeholders in the University, the management wants the best for its students inorder to boost the University's chances on Education rankings, while the Union seeks better welfarism for the students. We are all on one page, aiming for one purpose which is in relentless pursuit of all round excellence for the students and staff of the University.

In conclusion, we commend and appreciate the University under the leadership of erduite Prof. Victoria Adaobi Obasi for the painstaking efforts in renovating various halls and faculties. I believe this is just the beginning of good things to come as 'Rome was not built in a day' and 'the journey of a thousand miles begins with a step', all will be attended to very soon, I hope. 

The management should also listen to the plea of students for the opening of the school hostels as students have continued to face untold hardship while living off campus. Hardship in terms of exorbitant rents, insecurity, susceptibility to flood which destroyed their properties and transportation crisis. 

I also appreciate the management for the quick and timely response to the issue of cultism on campus heeding the voice of students. However, it is right to state at this juncture that the University can't fight this alone, the management needs the support of mass of students with the Union at the forefront to combat this menace and reduce it back to zero level just as it has always been.