LASPOTECH standstill as Masscomm students take anti-corruption campaign to campus

By Michael Orodare, HNDII MassComm

The students at the Library Complex

The Ikorodu campus of Lagos State Polytechnic, LASPOTECH was brought to a standstill last Wednesday as Film Students of the department of Mass Communication held a rally to campaign against corruption on campus.

The rally was in commemoration of the annual costume day tagged 'Against Corruption Together: Stop Corruption on Campus ACT Now!'

Vehicular and pedestrian movements on the campus was brought to a halt as the students, who were dressed in different professional, cultural and religious attires, danced round the campus with different placards, flyers and stickers bearing several anti-campus corruption messages.

The students, led by their course lecturer, Steven Anu Adesemoye, commenced the rally from the department of Mass Communication and moved round different faculties, to the Rector's office and back to their department, dancing, singing with all kinds of demonstration, calling on fellow students, lecturers and all stakeholders in the education sector to join hands to kick out corruption on Nigerian campuses if they are truly desirious of ending the brain drain, dearth of intellectualism among others in the nation's education sector.

The rally attracted the attention of students, staffers, traders and other members of the Polytechnic community. At the School of Environmental Studies and School of Engineering, the rallying students were joined by fellow students who troop out of their classes to solidarise, dance and take pictures with their colleagues and also lend their voices to the anti-campus corruption campaign.

According to the organizing committee, the theme of this session's costume day was borne out of the need to put a stop to the endemic corrupt practices which has eaten deep into the nation's education sector and has therefore put the education sector on a snail movement.

The Course Lecturer, Mr Steve Anu Adesemoye noted that corruption in the nation's education sector is not limited to the tertiary institutions, but it starts from the primary level. He therefore

advocated for proper enlightenment for lecturers and students to rid Nigeria education sector of corrupt practices, from the primary level to the tertiary level.

Adesemoye said "We are not looking for saints, we only need those who are ready to change and drop the bad in their hands in order for us to have a better society."

One of the students, Olowe Temitope described the rally as a success. She however said "we strongly hope that those concerned or affected by our campaign message will take necessary action to address the menace of corruption on our campuses in order for us to have a better academic society"

The President of the Mass Communication Students' Association  (MACSA), Omoniyi Joseph on his part described the procession as a creative and resounding effort towards fighting against corruption in our higher institutions.

Ominiyi said "if everyone and every sector in this country can take the bull by the horn by acting against corruption in all sincerity, the whole nation will be better for it."

The Zaria Clash : A Call for Caution

Like many other Nigerians, the news of the unfortunate clash between the convoy of the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai and the Shiite Islamic movement which claimed lives of Shiite followers came to me as a rude shock and a clash that ought to have been avoided at this critical time in the history of our nation.

Putting into consideration our fragile security system which has been on continuous threat in the past few years by another Islamic movement, the Boko Haram dreaded group, it will not be out of place to call for truce between the parties involved in this recent clash in order to avert another uprising of insurgency from the Northern part of the nation which has been the bedrock of terrorists attacks.

It would be recalled that the Boko Haram insurgency which has now gotten out of hands started smaller than this. In the case of Boko Haram only the leader was unlawfully killed by security operatives and his followers have continued to unleash mayhem on the entire nation over this death.

The parties involved in the Saris clash have continued to trade blames since the incident happened. The Army accused the Shiite followers of attempt to assassinate the Chief of Army Staff, while the Islamic movement on their own part claimed the soldiers simply decided to attack “defenseless people”.

A statement by the Army spokesperson, Sani Usman, said Shite members barricaded the road Mr. Buratai’s motorcade was passing to pay homage on the Emir of Zazzau, and also attend a review parade by 73 Regular Recruit Intake at the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria.

“The sect numbering hundreds carrying dangerous weapons, barricaded the roads with bonfires, heavy stones and tyres,” he said.

Whose story should we believe?

If truly the sects were armed as the soldiers claimed, then all men of goodwill must rise up to condemn in its entirety this act by the Shiite followers. It is totally condemnable for members of a religious organization to be armed and also unleash attack on the COAS or any citizen.

Does that imply that I am supporting the soldiers for killing the citizens they are supposed to protect? Of course No! But there's a need for us to let citizens understand that the nation will not condole unlawful acts which poses a threat to the security of the nation.

A close observer claimed that any time Shi'ite  members have their program, "they proudly and arrogantly block the road and couse inconveniences to the passersby."

There is a need for government to put a regulation to religious organizations and their use of public facilities in order to guide against any inconvenience their activities might have on other members of the society and to also forestall future occurrence of unfortunate clash that might escalate into violence.

We cannot afford any form of insurgency again in this nation.