Breaking: ACJOAU Withdraws From Electoral Debate

The Association of Campus Journalists OAU Chapter has announced her withdrawal from the Great Ife Students' Union Elections Debate. 

In a Press Statement made available to OAUPeeps News Agency, the association decides to withdraw from the election debate because of the circumstances surrounding arrangements and therefore decides to set the tone for election monitoring. 

The association decided not to participate in the election debate as a result of a last-minute in-house ruling and the leadership does not feel assured of the arrangements made available by the Electoral Commission. 

The Association however promised to support the future activities of the commission and assures Great Ife Students' to do everything possible to ensure effective election monitoring.

The statement read thus:

The leadership of the Association regrets to inform the general public of her withdrawal from the Great Ife Students' Union Elections Debate which, according to the formal invitation that we got, should hold today Monday, 29th of May, 2023, by 3pm. 

As we all know that by convention, the Association of Campus Journalists, OAU usually handles the Students' Union electoral debate and has, over the years, done it well. However, we will like to inform the general public of our withdrawal to participate during this time. This resolution is coming after a last-minute consideration of the terms, conditions, and modalities of the debate set down by the Electoral Commission. 

As a result of the Association's last-minute in-house ruling, the leadership does not feel assured of the arrangements made available by the Electoral Commission and cannot continue as initially arranged.

Having communicated our intent to withdraw to the Electoral Commission and having promised our support in their future activities, we want to assure the Commission and Great Ife students' community of doing everything possible to ensure effective election monitoring. 

Observers are recognized, safe, and protected in the course of doing their job. 

As part of our safety procedure, we want to state that our election Reporters and Monitors will be with ACJ tags signed by the leadership of the Association. This is to ensure due recognition as they go about doing their job. As the Association continues to build on its existing good reputation, we appeal to everyone to follow voting guidelines and conduct themselves in the best democratic way possible. 

We are doing everything humanly possible to ensure that prompt and real-time election updates are not missed and adequately published in a coordinated form. And we assure everyone involved in this election of fair, accurate, and fact-backed reporting. 

Thank you for your usual cooperation, and we hope the forthcoming CEC and SRC elections go well. 

Great Ife Electoral Commission Lift Ban On Election Campaign, Releases Guidelines

By Ayomide Emmanuel

Following the constitution of the Electoral Commission by the Great Ife Students' Representative Council on Tuesday, 16th May 2023, the Electoral Commission which consist of 13-men Committee which cut across the 13 faculties of the University to oversee the conduct of the forthcoming, Students' Union Election. 

In a Release made available to OAUPeeps News Agency, the Electoral Commission has decided to lift ban on election campaigns. 

According to the release, by virtue of the powers conferred on the Electoral Commission as contained in the Great Ife sacrosanct constitution in Article IV, Section 60 (4), “the electoral commission shall organise and effectively supervise all union elections and bye elections with utmost good faith”. After careful consideration and evaluation, it is on this note the electoral commission has decided to lift the election ban, thereby allowing the commencement of campaigns, which shall take place with immediate effect, Thursday, May 18, 2023.

 The electoral commission arrived at this decision to commence the election activities due to reasonable circumstances surrounding the electioneering processes. Greatest Ife! Articulate Ife! The university academic calendar stipulates that examinations are to commence 5th of June, 2023 which translates to that the commission only have 2weeks to complete the whole electioneering process.

 The commission however plead to the entirety of Great Ife students to join hands with the Electoral Commission in commencing the election, who want the Great Ife students and stakeholders to cooperate with the commission for the essential for the smooth conduct of the elections and the consolidation of our union. In respect to this announcement, the commission urge the entire students to actively participate in the electoral process. To promote participatory democracy and good governance for Great Ife students Union prosperity, the Commission uses the medium to encourage the totality of Great Ife student union members to embark on their ambition to starting of campaigns. While the election process serves as an avenue for healthy competition, would like to emphasize the importance of conducting campaigns in a respectful and peaceful manner. 

Consequently, the Commission implore all aspirants (CEC, SRC & HEC) and their supporters to read and get familiar with the campaign guidelines which are clearly stated below:

 1. Eligibility Criteria 

A. Contestants MUST be registered students of the university for the 2021/2022 academic session.

 B. Contestants running for the positions within CEC and SRC must have successfully completed AT LEAST one academic session in the 1 university. 

2. Campaign Guidelines 

A. All campaign activities should focus on the issues and be centered around the candidate's proposed solutions. A political campaign or slogan shall not be tainted with abusive language directly or indirectly likely to injure physical, psychological, religious, ethnic, or sectional feelings against another candidate will result in automatic disqualification. 

B. The use of the halls' public address system for campaign purposes is strictly prohibited. c. Colored posters are not allowed to be used by contestants. d. Contestants are prohibited from writing or posting bills on walls, water tanks, and roads. 

3. Conduct and Harassment:

 Contestants and their supporters must refrain from any form of harassment during the election process. Harassment includes any actions or behavior intended to intimidate, coerce, or harm others. 

4. Disqualification Risk: Any contestant who violates these guidelines stands the risk of being DISQUALIFIED. 

5. Incumbent Members' Responsibilities:

 Incumbent members of the CEC who are contesting positions within the CEC must hand over all union properties in their possession, including keys to their offices. This measure ensures the protection of sensitive election materials and promotes a level playing field for all contestants. 

The electoral commission will closely monitor the campaign activities to ensure compliance with the rules and regulations. We are committed to upholding transparency, fairness, and impartiality throughout the entire electoral process. These guidelines aim to ensure a fair, transparent, and respectful election process, fostering an environment that encourages constructive campaigns and discourages misconduct. 

OAU Awo Boiz Debunk Affiliation With Late Ahize Death

By Olukanmi Abidemi Abeeb ÀBÍMÓ 

The Obafemi Awolowo University popular entertainment group known as  Awo Boiz have made a release to debunk the affiliation to the death of late Ahize, who was allegedly beaten to death for stealing.   

In a statement made available to OAUPeeps News Agency,  the group express their sincere sympathy for horrific event and death of Ahize, a student of Faculty of Technology Obafemi Awolowo university and also send their condonlence to his family, friends and the entire University.

The Statement Read Thus;

As we express our sincere sympathy for horrific event and death of Ahize, a student of Faculty of Technology Obafemi Awolowo university we send our condonlence to his family, friends and the entire University.

On behalf of OAU Awo Boiz group, we are writing to the entire students of Obafemi Awolowo university to desist from linking the whole sadden incident to Awo Boiz group because Awo Hall Executives are different from OAU Awo Boiz group. 

Our group is just like every other entertainment groups on campus which have been serving as the father of all entertainment groups on campus for our hilarious comic acts and well-cultured display. In fact, none of us was in the Hall when this unfortunate incident occurred but our group name is in respect to the legacy of Late Obafemi Awolowo.

On this note, our entire fans and OAU community  should know that we are law abiding set of student who understand the principles of the university, not a preachers of jungle-justice and no harm or arrest has been done on any member of our group, we are all fine. Our special regards to those that checked and checking on us.

Let Peace Prevail On Campus: Dean DSA Plead With Students As They Present Their Demands

 

By Ayomide Emmanuel

The Dean Of the Division of Students Affairs of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof Aransi has pleaded with agitated students who are reacting to the death of one them after been allegedly beaten to death for stealing.

Speaking to the students, Prof Aransi pleaded with students to let peace reign and allow free flow of vehicles on Campus. Assuring the students, the Dean said the management will tackle it with utmost concern as no one will pray to lost his/her child in that kind of manner. 

Stating their demands, the students said they will want the investigation to spread to the Central Executive Council as they received information that the deceased spent nothing less than 12 hours at the Students' Union Building and eventually died there and also, the Students' Union building be under lock till the investigation is over

Furthermore, there should be no representative of the Students Union on Campus again till further notice as none of them came out to give concrete information on what happened. 

They further demand that a student from the Faculty Of Technology be included in the Committee that was set up by the management because they want to make there follow up and confirm everything been done to ensure justice. 

Finally, they demanded that the conventional application of Scientific Maximum Shishi(SMS) and parading of offender be eridacated finally from OAU Campus. 

Reacting to the demands, the Dean Of Students Affairs agreed and said everything will be worked on and no culprit will go unpunished as the School management will not leave any stone untouched

No SU: Students Protest Against The Death Of Student Beaten To Death

 

By Ayomide Emmanuel

The Obafemi Awolowo University Community has been thrown into chaos at the late hours of Tuesday 11th, 2023 following the death of one Okolie Ahize of the Department of Civil Engineering who was reportedly beaten to death.

In what seems to be a situation of shifting blame, the Central Executive Of The Union in a Press Release from the office Of the President state that the Union condemned the death of a Part 5 students who was assaulted in a mob action at Awo Hall. Speaking further, the President said Arrests and investigation of individuals suspected to be connected with the assault of the deceased are being made for consequent legal action as the Union dos not support mob actions and justice must be served

Similarly, the Awolowo Hall of Residence also released a Press Release to address the issue. While it was acknowledged by the Awolowo Hall Executives that the apprehended guy was mobbed at Awolowo Hall but he was walked into the Students' Union Building aided and was apparently fine. 

As it stands now, neither the Central Executive Council and Awolowo Hall Of Residence Executive are ready to take the blame for the death of Arinze. 

Consequently, in reaction to the incident, the administration of  Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has condemned, in strong terms, the incidence that led to the death of a part 5 student of the institution.

A release by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that reliminary investigation revealed that the student died of a mob action on the allegation that he stole a phone.

Saddened by this ugly development which he described as unfortunate, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon BAMIRE, has set up a committee to unravel the circumstances that led to this incident.

The action of the mob, being a violation of the law of the country and of the University regulations,  has been reported  to the police who have commenced investigations.

The University administration hereby commiserates with the parents of the deceased, staff and students, and prays that God will grant us the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.

Students are strongly admonished to desist from taking laws into their hands and to report any criminal activities to the University authorities for immediate actions.

Consequently, Students have taken to the street to protest against the death of their colleague with different placards. At the time of reporting this news, the Students' Union Building has been locked by students and blockage of roads to prevent restrictions of cars and Motorcycle. As at Press time, none of the members of the Central Executive Council of the Union is around to address the agitated students

Ogunsakin Opeyemi Appointed UJCM, OAU New C.O.P Coordinator

 

Not only was it a glorious service on Sunday, 3rd April, 2023 at the 5,000 seater OAU Amphi Theatre, it was also a mixed moment of thrill, worship and emotions as the congregation anticipated the inauguration of the new executives and members of the Action Committee of the University Joint Christian Mission, OAU.

Ogunsakin Opeyemi Oluwabukunmi, a Part 4 student of the Department of Pharmacy and the current Pastor, All Christian Campus Fellowship, OAU was appointed as the New Coordinator, Committee of Pastors (C.O.P), UJCM, OAU alongside other new executives.

The inauguration service was graced by some university alumnus and past executives of the UJCM, OAU with over 5,000 students in attendance.

Pastor Ogunsakin Opeyemi Oluwabukunmi succeeded Pastor Abraham Kehinde Joshua (the erstwhile Pastor, New Life Campus Fellowship, OAU).

We wish all UJCM, OAU new executives a successful tenure and we pray God grants them the wisdom to lead the mission according to His purpose.