Clarion Call from a Screwed Generation to a Hopeless Generation

Clarion Call from a Screwed Generation to a Hopeless Generation

By Oluwaseyi Oduyela

Truth be told that I was never an active student activist during my undergraduate years at the prestigious University of Ibadan. While I was not a student activist, but, I never missed any rally; in fact, I have missed lectures for rallies. As an undergraduate of Religious Studies between 1986 and 1990, some of my lecturers helped to develop my critical mind. Funny enough, many of them did not teach me in class.

Dr Olusola Olukunle taught me Philosophy of Religion and like Rene Descartes says, “Cogito Ergo Sum” “I think; therefore I am.” Olukunle taught us that challenging your faith does mean you’re negating it but affirming it. Osam Osam Edim was a First Classer, very brilliant professor. He taught me Philosophy in my 100 Level (Freshman year). He later left the University of Ibadan for South Korea, but he left a great legacy. Other professors from the Political Science department also made a lasting impact.

Then, in our days, student activists were celebrities. These men, Adewale Bashar, Gbenga Komolafe, Bode Ojomu, Lekan Akinosho, Dayo Atunrase, late Biodun Ogunade (Revo), among others,  are true believers in the cause. They genuinely believed in the struggle; they were and still fearless.  They were not afraid of suspension or expulsion from school. There was also Babs Oduyoye, another great student leader. In our time, University authorities don’t expel leaders, and they don’t rusticate student leaders. Professor Ayo Banjo, a great Administrator, allowed us to protest, gave us audience so also was the University Senate. I remember when we the University authority asked us to pay N30.00 (Thirty Naira) for medical, and we protested. Students at the University College Hospital (Medical Students) had paid the fee. And we demanded that the university authority must refund the payments, issued a deadline; the Senate met and “suspended” the order, the UCH students got their refund.

That time, students were the conscience of the country; we strived where the NLC failed. We fought and won more battles against the Military Junta than Labor organizations. We had support from our professors (lecturers) who helped to mould our minds. They challenged us to think critically and question irrational decisions. Many of these guys are still alive today, and even on the same issues, we fought for over 30  years ago.

I remember that in 1989, under Bode Ojomu’s presidency, with Gbenga Komolafe as the Speaker of the Student Representative Council (SRC) and Lekan as the PRO. We were going to Lagos to address a World Press Conference. That morning, around 8 am, at the Ibadan Tollgate, armed MOPOL men stopped us. Prof Bodurin, UI Acting VC then had tipped them off. Lekan Akinoso (Scoro 8), even with the police guns, protested and was pepper-sprayed. We were all hauled into a 911 Bus with escort siren front and back to Iyaganku. We were about 42 students. We stood our grounds, refused to get down from our bus and later released and driven back to UI. A few days later, Babangida increased fuel price to 42 kobos per litre, and we protested. Babangida’s government shot UI and five other universities for six months.

Students were the ones challenging the government’s policies-economy, political, name it. I still remember how Bashar and Gbenga Komolafe explained Babangida’s Debt-Equity Swap. We read all books on political activism; we know more about economic policies than our government. The only institution feared by the military government was the student institution.

Student activists then protested, spoke against authorities, not for attention, but a change in the system. Gbenga Komolafe had been a student activist since his teenage age. He was the President of Student Union at Oyo State College of Arts and Science (OSCAS) while Bode Ojomu who was the Speaker then. Gbenga paid for it, got arrested and jailed by Babangida. Gbenga Olawepo suffered same fate so was Abdul Mahmud who was NANS president.

As a lecturer at Tai Solarin College of Education, I had the opportunity to work with Abdul Mahmud, late Dominic Ogampa and Samuel Adelakun, who is now an Anglican Reverend. Dominic was one of the most pleasing activists I have ever met, though he stammers, but you can still understand him and hear him well. Abdul Mahmud and Dominic Ogamkpa were working at the Civil Liberties Organization office in Ijebu Ode when I met them. We worked together to help TASCE students who were targeted by TASCE authorities for rustication and suspension. Mahmud and Dominic provided legal defence for these students, and we won all our cases.

Nigerian Student leadership began to have a problem when it allowed a crack in its wall, which opened the door for interference from the Abacha government. Student leaders now started to work for the government against the interest of their fellow students. The government enticed some of these leaders with money and other benefits which destroyed the potency of the student’s body.

I have since been watching how the corrupt ruling class has manipulated our students. They have dragged these kids into politics, turning them to political tools and dumped later. The supported Goodluck Jonathan in 2009, 2011 but nothing came out for them, in 2015 they played significant roles in the election of the 74-year old Buhari as the President of Nigeria.

Successive governments that have used students, youth for political gains have not turned to the youth to provide inputs. They know how to turn to them for support but never involve them in decision making. The failure of publicly funded universities to hold lectures for a whole session without trade disputes led to the proliferation of private universities that used the same lecturers from public universities to teach. Most of these universities are not recognized outside of Nigeria, and most of these kids find it difficult to pursue further studies. For example, McMaster University in Canada denied someone with a degree from Babcock because Babcock is not recognized or accredited.

There are more University and polytechnic graduates in Nigeria now than when I left the University in 1990, and more jobs have been lost since then. These kids suffer to go to school and will struggle or still struggling to find employment. Their employers are exploiting those employed; sadly enough, some of these employers are people of my generation.

When Professor Wole Soyinka referred to his generation wasted. We were laughing at him and his generation. However, sadly and unfortunately, this same “wasted” generation is still in charge of the country. They are the president, Vice President, Party Asiwaju, Governors; former Governors turned Senators, they are also the recycled Ministers. How did they get there? How are they able to recycle themselves? With the help of the Millennials aided by Generation X, my generation.

Truth be told again that my generation was fortunate to enjoy the best of education in Nigeria. We had the best of public knowledge from elementary to High School and University. What I learned in Primary school, some of today’s kids did not learn in the University. We had Civics as a subject in my primary school days, where we learned a citizen’s civic rights and duties. I knew from primary three that it is my right to vote and responsibility to pay tax. I learned history, geography from primary school. I learned about Mansa Musa, Timbuktu from my elementary school History. Now what they have is Social Studies, everything to shape the mind of a child, removed and watered.

What has my generation done to help the dear country? Some of us have been fortunate to be in positions of authority, and they have failed woefully. They have been unable to deliver and joined the class of the “wasted” generation. Our generation now is a “Screwed” generation. Some of the members of our generation acted as intermediaries between the “Wasted” era and the now “Hopeless” generation. Some of us helped to dupe these kids. We have betrayed their trust.

I  call on real progressives,  who have been at the forefront of this battle for over 30 years. I call on  Abdul Mahmud, Gbenga Komolafe, Gbenga Olawepo, Lekan Akinoso, Bode Ojomu, Oladoyin Odebowale, Banji Abayomi, to come together to save Nigeria from the hands of these vultures parading themselves as progressives. It is a shame that the likes of Bukola Saraki, Dino Melaye, Ndume will be in the upper chamber of Nigeria’s National Assembly, while Mahmud, Gbenga Komolafe who genuinely believe in this country will be where they are now. It is a shame that Ibikunle Amosun will still be enjoying his office as Governor when lecturers and workers of Tai Solarin College of Education and Tai Solarin University of Education will go home with salaries. Payment of lecturers’ salaries is tied to productivity, which reflects on the quality of education the students get.

Why should you listen to these older adults? Why should you listen to your religious leaders? They have all failed you. They led you to believe in the present leadership of the country. They told you Buhari and others were your best option, and for two years now it is clear that they either misjudged or lied to you. Whichever way, they have failed. These “leaders” are more interested in their political gains and played you as pawns on their chessboard. The used you to support their candidates and filled their cabinets with their choices without your inputs.

Buhari was sick and spent 50 days in a foreign hospital at the expense of taxpayers. How many of you will or can leave your job for more than two weeks and won’t get fired by your employers? How much Nigerian go for an annual medical checkup? Many can’t afford to go to the hospital because Doctors will ask for a down payment before treatment. It is true Doctors are trained to save lives, but it is also true that they spend to but equipment and hire personnel to perform the noble service. How do they get paid? That’s why there should be a comprehensive healthcare system. Do they have it in Lagos or other states?

How do you bring investors into your country when you cannot boast of constant power supply for two weeks? The use of generators has been emitting carbon monoxide which can kill, but the government does not care.

With due respects to the older people in government, don’t we have younger people to chair the National Communication Commission, National University Commission and other agencies?

How many jobs have the governors created in Lagos, Osun, Rivers, Imo, Abia, Ogun, Oyo, etc.? None. How many of the graduates of LASU have received their results, got their transcripts? How many of the Tai Solarin University of Education has been absorbed in the employment market? States create higher institutions to train people to satisfy the employment market in their countries. They train future leaders of the state. Education in these states is not free. Students pay to get the knowledge with the hope for a better job, but they have been conned—the paid for the useless education. What I see on Social Media are these kids, with University degrees with self-employment – buying and trading. Suppose they knew they would end up travelling to Dubai and Turkey to buy and sell bags, shoes, and clothes. In that case, they could have invested their tuitions in the buying and trading business. Some of these girls will have to sleep with married men, men of my generation to raise money for the buying and selling.

In my several visits to Nigeria between 2015 and 2016, I have met young people with zeal but no hope for tomorrow. These are graduates of universities and polytechnics who are willing to work. When they get a job, they will work for months without pay.

There is an IT company in Abuja with vibrant young employees. Still, their employers denied them benefits due to “lack of money”, but this employer travels to Canada monthly to visit his wife and kids. These kids cannot afford to leave for fear of the unknown. There is another investment bank in Lagos that fired all his senior staff because they realized that they have been overpaying and hired new employees who are now being paid half of what the previous ones earned. They will use these kids to build their companies and discard them and hire unsuspecting ones and replace them.

This same “leaders” will soon approach you with an alternative to Buhari or your continued support for Buhari. Alternative leaders will appear, using your generation as representatives to talk you into supporting them. Be careful, pay attention. You have the power and use it wisely.

Millennials can start grassroots organizing. You do not need these people’s money to organize; you do not need their money to run for office. What you need, you have it; it’s the number. Your force can take over; you can redirect this country. I am calling on my compatriots from my generation-the good ones to join hands to save Nigeria from the hands of these political vultures. Let’s do it not for our sake, but our children and grandchildren.

Sweep their ugly ass feet off the reins of power with their agbepo broom, and snatch their umbrellas to expose their ugly ass faces of corruption.

……just Minding My Business……

Oluwaseyi Oduyela (04/09/2017)