THE LASU STORY WITH KAYODE BADMUS

OVERZEALOUS POLITICAL AMBITIONS NOT THE WAYFORWARD
When PDP declared that they as a political party (whether with or without positive ideology) would rule Nigeria for the next 50years, the supposed Nigerian progressives (whosoever they are) took
them to the cleaners criticizing that declaration but seriously as indications suggest, Nigeria seems to be moving towards that direction.
It is quite pathetic that even though Nigeria is yet to swear-in a new President after the just concluded elections, political jobbers are already propagating towards future elections. I was shocked to get wind of an Eastern caucus who have been meeting regularly to ensure that the 2015 Presidency is zoned to the south-east (i.e produce the first Ibo President). To me, this is insincerity of purpose. What they are simply telling us is that they are less concerned about Nigeria and what happens to it or how it would be run for the next 4years. If only they understood the National Anthem they recite, perhaps their resolve would have acted differently. The issue of political zealousness has gone deep into the Nigerian polity and our own dear Lagos State University is not left out.
Barely a month after the new Executives-In-Council of the Lagos State University Student’s Union (LASUSU) were sworn in and several weeks before the commencement of the 10/11 academic session, I was rather shocked to gather that quite a lot of students have started showing interest in the yet to fully occupied post (because the elected Excos were yet to begin work fully due to the just concluded examinations then). It would rather shock you to note that from Faculty of Management Science alone over a dozen aspirants are aspiring for the post of President while some others have been showing interest in other Executive positions too.
Although this development is becoming a norm going by the introspection of the LASU polity, it is quite unfair to the students (electorates) who are yet to get value for the process they only went through recently. More annoying is the fact that some of these early aspirants are newly elected Executives or (dis)honourables in their respective Departments and Faculties and are yet to get anything done in these positions. It should be noted that only selfish reasons would make people start declaring this early because I believe a manifesto asides stating your intentions should also include your improvement of what is presently obtainable (I.e. building on the weakness of the present administration and in this case they are yet to begin work).
I must have been thinking aloud when I said I might give the LASUSU Presidency a shot in the next election and before I knew what was going on, it had spread like wide fire to the extent of causing emotional and political crisis in some political camps. You would be surprised that more than 5 aspirants already came to me to say they were ready to step down to other positions as long as I was ready to support them. Just like that, even without listening to my manifesto or agenda. Well I might have exaggerated the numbers but the truth is these people know themselves.
Though I am a Political Science student coupled with all my political inclination, I still find it rather odd that these people are already losing sleep over a position which is yet to be declared vacant. An aspirant even gave the lame excuse of “it is better to inform people earlier so that by the time others come, they would remember you told them first”. To this I ‘laugh out loud’. Oluwatosin Gbadamosi who contested in the last election only came out a few weeks to the initial date of October 14th but ended up as runner up and even overcoming those who have been signifying interest since 100level. You would also remember a candidate who contested in the election which brought in Leke Bakare and emerged last. This candidate went about immediately after the election to inform people to please have him in mind as he still intend coming back next year to contest for the same position. Well, we all know the outcome which is not an interesting piece, again he emerged last! What we fail to realise is that Lasuites are not market women or artisans that would be held on a tight rope due to the excuse of early information. What they want from you when the time comes is a proper and articulate documentation of your plans which is known as a manifesto and what you were able to achieve in all your years on campus most especially in the presiding year. Perhaps, some people would tell the electorates they spent the year campaigning early.
The sincere truth is this; in LASU, the doctrine of the earlier the better is less applicable. Everybody’s hand should be on deck to achieve a greater success for the present administration. Paraphrasing the thought of Late Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, “seek ye first the success of this present administration and every other things shall follow”. Shikena.
BE POSITIVE!