OpEd: Alarming Silence over Constitutional Review

Enoch Oyedibu

IF SOME MEMBERS of the army sacked power from the civilian government, most times it is always because of the ills on the side of the civilians. And of course, the objective of that military government is to correct those ills and speedily hand over the power back to the rightful owners—civilians. If this is the case then, can someone help me to tell the Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Provisional Executive Council to make necessary arrangements to return the power to the rightful owners?

25 days back since their inauguration, it seems they have come to stay as they hitherto, are cunningly avoiding the media to converse on this. And their conduct undoubtedly, mirrored that of Sanni Abacha whose excuse to become the head of state in 1993 was to make necessary arrangements to hand over power to the democratically-elected civilian government. But, the reverse was the case as his little time promised elongated to a period of seven years with hard labours for Nigerians, annulment of their peaceful presidential election and as well, gory end of the lives of those involved (Kudirat Abiola, M.K.O Abiola and more).

However, if this is not the case then let's take a look at some variables.

A few days ago, there was an Aluta gyration led by Comrade Tegbe, the NANS Zone D Coordinator in the school. The result of the gyration and the somewhat peaceful protest ended up with a sounding resolution after a meeting with the management of the institution.

According to a release from NANS, management had agreed on changing the name of the Provisional Executive Council to Constitutional Review Committee/Council and that this council should review the constitution—the top of which is the basic issue facing students-politician and also the cringing spot of their bone of contention.

Another resolution was that swiftly they will review the constitution with the help of two NANS representatives to ensure balance and after, then another election will be conducted for the Union's elected leaders to be reinstated back to the office.

Additionally, in an anonymous conversation with one of the said P.E.C official, it was understood that the resolution of NANS was basically what the council were there to do at first so, it is not a big deal when they heard their resolution.

Although, rumours have it that management had deceived NANS that their resolution will never see the light.

I don't believe that because management is one upright body consisting of some grey-haired elite who I am convinced to the brim cannot say what they cannot do.

But, so far, the Chairperson of the Provisional Executive Council has hitherto, maintained suspicious taciturnity regarding the resolution of NANS when asked by the members of the press.

She gave some turn off replies that can at instance communicate to a logical person that there's absolutely a gamut of skeletons in their cupboards.

This made me flashback to 1993 when Nigeria again faced cataclysmic and junta events that shaped its history and ushered in its disequilibrium, up to this time.

That year met yet, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida on the seat of the Nigerian government. He was the first military leader who would declare himself as the Military President. He had sacked power through a palace coup in 1984/85 from the incumbent president of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari. 

Babangida in 1993 played Nigerians as the chinese would do to Baduk and Americans to chess. He made several bids to return power to the civilian, yet he didn't want to leave the office. After much pressure, he decided to allow civilians to conduct their election but gave them a warning. During their election, there must not be a political fight, if there should be one, then, the election will be cancelled and he will continue ruling. It was this fear that sponsored Nigerians to conduct the first and the last FREE AND FAIR presidential election between M.K.O Abiola and Bashir Tofa.

Upon the success of this election, Babangida was not happy, but, politically-inexperienced M.K.O Abiola does not know. He made a grave mistake before his enemy by announcing himself as the president perhaps because of the glaring winning election results coupled with his ecstatic joy. He had forgotten that the incumbent president/head of state must announce him first. But Babangida would not take it as a mistake. He took it up and the rest, they say was history.

Concerning that, I am lured into thinking what if the Provisional Executive Council are now enjoying the grandeur in being the leading student official in the whole Institution, and like Abacha are not ready again to leave the office? What if all plans to set up a committee to review the constitution are just a joke? What if this committee will never be set up until the session elapse? Will the fate of OSPOLITES be like that of Nigerians in 1993?

These and many more are questions that needed to be asked, the OSPOLY Students Union Government opportunists called Provisional Executive Council should come out and talk to the media what is the progress in setting up the review council? Have they set it up at all?