joshuaIjumu Students’ Union was established some decades ago by the then group of students from Ijumu Kingdom in various higher institutions of learning across Nigeria and beyond with the aim of bringing Ijumu students together under one big umbrella with the core motive of sharing information, impacting knowledge, and most importantly, promoting peace, culture and unity among Ijumu students. Our founding fathers like Chief Macaulay Ajiboye, Dr. Duro Oniemola and others did everything legally and humanly possible to set an acceptable traditions and norms for the union which include annual national conference of the union, non-participation of Ijumu Students Union leaders in societal politics, promotion of unity, culture and peace among Ijumu students, non-participation of the leaders of the union in cult-related activities both at home and in their various institutions of learning, propagation of Ijumu rich culture via Miss Ijumu, sharing of vital information, and impacting general knowledge yearly. The founding fathers succeeded in achieving their aims and objectives to some extent. Subsequently, the leaders of the union in the time past adhered strictly to those things in order to assist the prestigious union in achieving her pre-set objectives.
IJUMU STUDENTS’ UNION IN THE TIME PAST
In the time past, Ijumu Students’ Union was known as a pressure group and not a political group. The union was so vibrant and relevant that no political office holder in Ijumu Kingdom and beyond would dare to go against the wish of the union and her members. The union was the official mouthpiece of the students in Ijumu Kingdom in the past. Then, Ijumu Students’ Union was the first opponent to any government in power who does not believe in good governance, rule of law, dividend of democracy, separation of power, human capital development etc. The roles of Ijumu Students’ Union in the installation of a particular Olujumu of Ijumu Kingdom cannot be forgotten in a hurry. I could still remember vividly how Ijumu Students’ Union under the leadership of Yusuf Adeyanju Yisau in the year 2011 held a two-day protest at Gbede Junction close to General David Medaiyese Jemibewon’s House in Iyah Gbede, Ijumu Local Government Area, Kogi State against the relocation of the then proposed Federal University by Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan led-Federal Government from its original location in Kabba to Lokoja by the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris for political reason(s). The two-day protest took place as against the wish of the government of the day at the state level and as a result of that Ijumu Kingdom lost two youths from Ayetoro Gbede in the said struggle. May the souls of the departed youths continue to rest in peace. Amen. In the time past, individual(s) don’t need the support of any political office holders, godfathers and endorsement of the so-called stakeholders of the union before emerging as the National President of Ijumu Students’ Union and/or members of the National Executive Council of the union. Aspirants need only the support and endorsement of his/her fellow students and not politicians and the stakeholders. In the year 2010 when I contested for the office of National President of this noble union, I didn’t seek for any support from any political office holders and no reasonable support from the stakeholders then. I got huge support from the students and few people as against the wish of the stakeholders who believed that I was too young to lead the union and with the support of my fellow students I emerged as the national president of the union.
IJUMU STUDENTS’ UNION AS AT TODAY
As at today, it is obvious that Ijumu Students’ Union operates contrary to the aforementioned traditions and norms of the union. This development accounts for the yearly setback being witnessed by the union. Ijumu Students’ Union now operates like a political group and not a pressure group as earlier known. The union is no more vibrant and relevant in the society like before, hence the reason why political office holders and the stakeholders continue to dictate who leads the union and who will not. Over the past few years, the Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Council, Hon. Taofik A. Isah has hijacked the union’s activities. He succeeded by imposing his favourite candidate on the union in the year 2016 during Ijumu Students’ Union National Conference held in his hometown, Odokoro Gbede as against the wish of the members of the union. It is saddening to say that the union is no longer the official mouthpiece of the students in Ijumu Kingdom, rather, an official mouthpiece of any government in power.
As at today, Ijumu Students’ Union openly campaign for political party as against the traditions and norms of the union. Balogun Mojirola Rachael led-administration is a good example of this bad development. The union can no longer speak the truth to government of the day which doesn’t believe in good governance, rule of law, dividend of democracy, separation of power, human capital development all in the name of loyalty.
THE NEED TO SUSTAIN THE ABOVE-MENTIONED TRADITIONS AND NORMS
Ijumu Students’ Union still remains the only recognized students’ union body through which Ijumu students could share ideas, information and impact knowledge, hence the need to sustain the aforementioned traditions and norms cannot be overemphasized. The sustenance of the norms and traditions would enable Ijumu students to achieve the following things, either as a group of people or as an individual: civilization, sound leadership skills, connection, managerial skills, socialization, knowledge, influence etc. To achieve this, Ijumu Students must resolve to go back to the earlier mentioned traditions and norms and observe them accordingly. The National Executive Council and members of the union must be ready to take back the union from the politicians. In addition, the prospective members of the national executive council of the union should stop the patronage of the so-called stakeholders and politicians henceforth and most importantly, the union must develop a way of generating funds to run its affairs.
By:
YUSUF ADEYANJU YISAU, MPR, ANIPR, MIMMA,
NATIONAL PRESIDENT, IJUMU STUDENTS UNION (2011)
