In an essay I published three years ago titled “Goliaths we see today, we shall see them no more,” I asserted that the leading university had fallen to the hands of evil ones, and the righteous people had suffered as a result of their nefarious deeds. I warned Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka about the non-arbitrary use of power and reminded him that it is ephemeral.
In an open letter headlined “the floor is slippery” from a year ago, I also forewarned Dr. John Adekolawole that the ongoing increase in tuition prices would not lead to a happy ending. Both school heads—Prof. Idowu Olayinka, a former vice chancellor of the University of Ibadan, and Dr. John Adekolawole, a former rector of the Federal Polytechnic Ede—read my articles but chose to discard the infant, the water, and the bowl. They insulted the message from the sacred sanctuary and disregarded the warnings. They did not modify their behavior and kept on ruling without restraint, warning, or advice. We all know how they turned out.
There was a resounding scream of freedom and redemption from the staff and student populations on campus when Prof. Olayinka departed his position. Many employees, primarily from the non-teaching group, entered the school with brooms and swept away his presence from his office to the front gate while chanting “NEVER AGAIN.” It was nearly same story with Dr. John Adekolawole. His departure filled the staff circle with delight.
If they had a cause to visit one of their respective schools, these two would behave appropriately and may even keep them waiting while they waited for newcomers. The renters leave offices at some point, just like they do with rental properties. Offices exist even though people who work there die. I’m writing to you today, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah, sixth vice chancellor of the University of Abuja. Like your predecessors, you won’t occupy this role indefinitely. Your time and energy will expire just like the leaves withering away. It’s not necessary to improve UNIABUJA, but you shouldn’t make it worse either.
There is currently a toxic and antagonistic atmosphere at the University of Abuja. The vulnerable who view UNIABUJA as a reliable option to learn and still be relevant in their pursuit of knowledge are the targets of the vicious, harsh, and inhumane administration led by Vice-Chancellor Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah.
Before Na’Allah came into power, destroyed people’ optimism, and took away their peace, the citadel was a beacon of hope for the children of Nigerians who were destitute and striving.
Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah was called a bully and disrespectful by several campaigners. Why? He was accused of intimidating pupils who dared to question his authority by utilizing uniformed troops. He is accused of ordering the confiscation of phones and the mistreatment of some students. All of these crimes were committed in a nearby citadel.
I assumed it had to be an internet hoax when I read about the university community’s reaction to the increase in tuition prices. I remarked to a friend that it was inappropriate for a respectable university administration to use such obscenely coarse language to threaten and intimidate its pupils. I concluded that the author was probably inebriated or had lost all civility. I was unsure after reading the statement if students were no longer allowed to voice their concerns or ask questions about a rule or change at the school.
However, the press release not only bore the signature of a dictator or someone who enjoys intimidating or stifling the voices of those who disagree with them, but it also showed the personalities of those who are serving in Prof. AbdulRasheed Na’Allah’s administration. With due respect to Abimbola Adelakun, the statement was written in the intellectually pretentious style that the military Supreme council is known for.
After reading the statement, I came to the conclusion that there was power hubris, willful wickedness, and celebration of evil by souls in cages because they provided no sincere justification for raising the tuition cost from N22,000 to N220,000 within four years. Not just UNIABUJA students, but the entire citizenry demand an answer.
However, Professor AbdulRasheed Na’Allah owes us no answer because his crusade against the weak and defenseless who want knowledge did not just begin. The more wickedness you consume, the larger your gut will become.
There is nothing that Na’Allah did to KWASU students that he is not doing worse to the students at UNIABUJA. He turned KWASU into a living nightmare for underprivileged students while hiding behind the disgraceful pretense that the citadel is a state-run institution. Does state government also own UNIABUJA?
Fortunately, he was able to buy both colleges’ student unions as private properties.
Dictators don’t just do things; they carefully plan them out and only begin once all obstacles have been removed. As soon as Na’Allah arrived in UNIABUJA, he embraced and deceived the union, claimed it as his own, and populated it with his errand boys. He reduced the union’s ability to demonstrate within the school and directed its leaders to buy imported turkeys under the constant supervision of welfare surplus.
After turning the union into a weak, toothless bulldog that has lost the ability to even bark, he began to direct his arrows of illiteracy and early schooling towards the poor. The officials were fed so nicely by him that they were unable to sing or even bark.
Due to the efforts of activists and certain alumni who genuinely want to save the school from this dictator in a gown, there is a good chance that tuition fees will slightly decrease. My concern is: Can those on the outside free those on the inside who aren’t ready to be set free?
The process must be started from the union building by stakeholders who are prepared to press for reduction. Only a sleeping dog that genuinely desires to be awakened can be roused.
To assist with outsiders’ efforts, the sleeping union of UNIABUJA needs to be awakened and active.
Under close scrutiny, they must demonstrate to the world that they are not obese or toothless bulldogs. It shouldn’t be with a topic that affects everyone if the students’ union wants to thank Na’Allah for all the egunjes. The efforts of other stakeholders would fall short of expectations if insiders are not prepared for liberation.
I tell UNIABUJA students that “Pharaohs/Goliaths they see today, they shall see them no more,” just as I told Ojo Aderemi, the former president of the UI Students’ Union, and other students of a prestigious university three years ago. The world is watching.