Victory At Last!
The Education Rights
Campaign (ERC) welcomes the release of the withheld certificates of the duo of
Lanre Akinola, a member of Democratic Socialist Movement (DSM), and Rasheedat
Adesina by the authorities of the University of Ilorin after 16 years of
prolonged legal and political battle for justice. Their degree certificates
were withheld as far back as 1999 and 2001 as punishment for their involvement
in students’ unionism and struggle to end military rule at University of Ilorin (UNILORIN).
Rasheedat Adeshina is
a former Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) of the UNILORIN Students’ Union while
Lanre Akinola is a former member of the Students Representative Council (SRC)
of the UNILORIN Students’ Union. Their predicaments with the University
administration under the leadership of the then Vice-chancellor, Professor
Shuaib Oba AbdulRaheem, started in June 1998 following a students’ protest
against poor welfare conditions on campus on June 5 and their participation in
anti-Abacha rally staged on campus on June 4. The rally was organized by Joint
Action Committee of Nigeria (JACON) under the leadership of Late Chief Gani
Fawehinmi.
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| Lanre Akinola |
The
released certificates indicated falsely that Lanre Akinola and Rasheedat
Adesina graduatein 2015 instead of 1999 and 2001 respectively, nevertheless,
it is a victory for students’ activism, the poor and oppressed people of the
society. It is also a confirmation that there is a limit to institutional
enmity and lawlessness.
This
victory came after the judgment of the Supreme Court in 2014 upheld the judgment
of Appeal Court which had earlier ordered the release of the certificates and
awarded damages against the University.
Though, the certificates were released and damages paid after 16 years
of both political and legal battles, justice was not denied. The sad
commentary, however, is that the oppressors in most cases do not use
their personal money to pursue these vindictive cases against their victims but
rather taxpayer’s money.
 |
| Rasheedat Adeshna |
In this particular
case, for 16 years, the UNILORIN authorities wasted millions of naira that
could have been better utilized to pursue what was clearly a vindictive agenda
to punish the duo for daring to oppose the anti-poor policies of the University
and the Abacha government. When the Supreme Court finally ruled in 2014, the
University had to cough out large amount of money in damages and compensation.
It is our contention in the ERC that such willful wastage of tax payers’ money
should not go unpunished. We therefore demand that all principal officers of
the University of Ilorin including the leadership of the Governing Council,
whether past or present, who had anything to do with this criminal wastage of
public resources be disciplined accordingly. This is essential to set a
precedent for other university administrators to follow.
However, the
release of the withheld certificates has put an end to the erroneous belief of
the administrators of academic institutions that they cannot be compelled to
release academic results and degrees. It gives hope to all victims of
repressive, dictatorial and vindictive administrations in every sector of the
society that it is possible to defeat the oppressors. It also underscore the
fact that the battle for justice may be long, victory is
certain if we remain resolute and committed.
The ERC commends comrades Segun Sango and Alfred Adegoke, members of Democratic
Socialist Movement (DSM), who represented the duo in the first case at the
Federal High Court, Ilorin, where the planned expulsion of the duo from the
University was stopped before it could be carried out. The court declared illegal and unconstitutional the planned expulsion and further ordered
that their studentship should not be tampered with in any negative way. The
University administration reluctantly complied with the court order and allowed
them to complete their studies but withheld their certificates.
We equally commend Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, Managing Partner of
Citipoint Chambers, who represented duo in the second case from the Federal
High Court, Ilorin to Supreme Court on pro bono basis seeking the release of
the withheld certificates. He travelled on several occasions from Lagos to
Ilorin and Abuja on our death trap roads and unsafe air. We also commend other
partners of Citipoint Chambers; Mr. Niyi Adewumi and Mr. Tesleem Adewuyi and
all staff of Citipoint Chambers for their contributions and support.
The case of Lanre
Akinola and Rasheedat Adeshina underscore the need for internal democracy in the
University system. In this regard, the ERC calls for the democratization of all
decision making bodies in the University with elected representatives of staffs
(teaching and non-teaching) and students in all committees up to the Council.
If there had been such measures the misappropriation of resources that
accounted for poor welfare conditions that triggered the protest upon which Lanre
Akinola and Rasheedat Adesina were victimized would have been prevented.
Besides, it would not have been likely that a committee with elected
representatives of academic staff and students would have sanctioned
non-release of their certificates after completing the studies. The bigger
culprit however is the iniquitous capitalist system, which inherently creates
material, conditions for exploitation and oppression. This is why we must
intensify our struggles to confront the evils of capitalism such as anti-poor
policies, and ultimately for a socialist change.
Hassan Taiwo Soweto Michael Ogundele
National Coordinator
(07033697259) National Secretary
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