What Is Going On In LASUSU?
Well, a lot apparently.
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From the release of election results to this point, the 34th administration has faced a lot of controversial issues. From the number of votes being higher than the number of student voters, to great upset of the LASUSU presidential election or the misappropriation of... Aaaahh! Let's not go there yet. Too early, too early.
LASUITES were about to round up their daily activities on the night of Friday, 23rd of February, 2024 when a press release from the Lagos State Students’ Union (LASUSU) 34th Students’ Parliamentary Council titled ‘IMMEDIATE SUSPENSION OF THE 34TH LASUSU PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER’ put them in a shocked state.
Comrade Ibiade Benjamin, the 34th LASUSU P.R.O. is probably the most popular member of the Students’ Executive Council (SEC) after having contested to be the P.R.O of the 33rd administration but losing to his opponent Lannex, and recontesting again for the 34th administration, which he won. Therefore, it was not surprising that the news spread quickly among students.
According to the press release e-signed by Hon. Giwa Rukayah Motunrayo, the Chairperson, In-House Committee on Information and Strategy, Ibiade was suspended after an investigation was conducted into allegations of “perpetrated financial misappropriation, lack of accountability, and manifested misconduct imminent in his show of disrespect to the Hallowed Chamber and flagrant disregard to the provision of the constitution” against him.
Comrade Ibiade had earlier issued a statement that banners were defacing the school and all banners in the school would be taken down with immediate effect. Which they did. However, persons who wished to put up their banners at the students’ arcade could meet with him and they would pay a sum of N1000 which would in turn be used to pay for the domain of the newly launched LASUSU Website.
However, reports have it that Ibiade had gone ahead to request three times the actual amount agreed upon and we do not know where the money went to.
FROM CHEWING GUM TO PEPPER SOUP
A few weeks back, a chewing gum company, Chupa Chups, came into LASU and sent out their marketers dressed in pink and powder blue, to sell chewing gum to students across the Ojo campus. Some students bought, but it seemed like the sales were not what they expected, so they changed their strategy and began to go into the classrooms and lecture halls.
The P.R.O of the student union and the Welfare Director, Comrade Apata proceeded to confront a particular staff member for allowing them to sell freely in the school without informing the Students' Union. The staff member reportedly took offense at Ibiade's confrontation, and from that moment, Ibiade fell into everyone's bad books.
It is not hard to find a connection between the incidents and the presence of the DSA and other members of the university staff at a Student Parliamentary Sitting which just happened to be the same one in which Comrade Ibiade was suspended. One would think they just might have an agenda to play out.
What was the purpose?
Why would members of staff have to be involved in the students Parliamentary sitting?
Why were the other guilty members of the SEC (especially Tobun who is said to be complicit to these offenses as he allegedly gave the go-ahead) graced with pardon, while Ibiade has been made to bear the brunt? Why?
We hope the LASUSU SPC, SEC, Comrade Ibiade, Comrade Apata, and every other person involved in this issue, will let us know WHAT IS GOING ON IN LASUSU.
📝: Ayo Oladiran, Deputy Editor, LASU Life 🛩
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You all will be fine