Drama as union suspends, reinstates Speaker in Aaua

A drama played out at the 10th plenary of the legislative arm of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) Students’ Union Government (SUG). Its Speaker,
Olakunle Balogun, was suspended for alleged misconduct. Ten days after, the Speaker was reinstated, report YOMI AYELESO (400-Level Business Administration) and SOLOMON ODENIYI (400-Level Mass Communication). 

The 10th plenary session of the legislative arm of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) Students’ Union Government (SUG) started as a serious business, but ended with drama. Penultimate Monday, members of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) converged for a meeting. But the conduct of the Speaker, Olakunle Balogun, rattled his colleagues, who moved a motion for his indefinite suspension.

The SRC members said Olakunle walked out on them to attend another meeting when important issues were to be discussed. It was learnt that the Speaker called for an adjournment, but the motion was not properly moved. As the Speaker walked out, members moved a motion to suspend him.

In a statement, the Clerk, Christopher Arowolo, said, the Speaker failed to discharge his official duties. This, he said, was contrary to Section 42 (11) and Article VI of the union constitution, which states: “Speaker shall perform all duties incidental to his office.”

Olakunle was said to have walked out during the sitting when issues concerning the welfare of students were being discussed. Members also accused the Speaker of using the name of the union to solicit financial help without the knowledge of the SRC.

Christopher said: “The Speaker has also failed to convene the number of statutory sittings per semester. All these amount to gross misconduct. The Speaker has, therefore, been directed to hand over all union documents and property at his disposal to his deputy.”

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that 13 members supported the suspension of the Speaker, while eight moved against it. Three senators were undecided.

The Deputy Speaker, Emmanuel Akinrele, confirmed that the embattled Speaker “stormed out” of the plenary. He said: “The Speaker, from the outset, has been diligent. Members are not happy with the way he walked out of the sitting, while pressing issues were being discussed. They have punished him by suspending him and the suspension is indefinite. It may last till tomorrow, next week or next month.”

According to the member representing the Male Hall of Residence, Toyeeb Ayobami, the Speaker was frustrated by the pressure mounted on him by members, but said Olakunle should have been patient.

He said: “There has been lingering disagreement s between the Speaker and members, because when important issues are being discussed, it is either the Speaker doesn’t give enough time for members to speak or he adjourns sittings. The last sitting was scheduled to take place before Monday, but the Speaker refused to call for the sitting. This made members to write an open letter to him. The constitution stipulates punishment for anyone who goes contrary to its provision, and that is what we have done.”

Olawale Fayemiro, representing Faculty of Education, said the decision to suspend the Speaker was taken by the majority.

He said: “The suspension of the Speaker is an eye opener for all students to demand accountability from their leaders. It shows that one man cannot hold the whole house to ransom. SRC is an arm of the union known for its decency, vibrancy and uprightness. The suspension is the voice of majority of SRC members.”

Effort by the embattled Speaker to challenge his suspension at the Students’ Judicial Council (SJC) was unsuccessful as the court struck out his case for lack of merit.

The development took dramatic turn 10 days after, as Olakunle was reinstated. The Speaker was said to have written an apology letter to his colleagues, promising not to walk out on them again.

The Vice Chairman, House Committee on Publicity, Solomon Odeniyi, confirmed the reinstatement of the Speaker.

He said the suspension divided members and affected activities of the parliament. Solomon also confirmed that the Speaker wrote an apology letter to members, but declined to reveal the content of the letter.

He said: “The House has forgiven the Speaker. As humans, we all make blunders. When we feel remorseful about our mistakes and apologise, we should be forgiven. This is what we have done. The Speaker realised his mistakes after taking us to court. We realised and saw that the suspension had divided the House. We felt this is not good. So, we accepted the Speaker’s apology and he has been reinstated.”

Olakunle neither denied nor confirmed the allegations against him. He said he would not want to say anything to disrupt the peace process.

He said: “You will recall that I challenged my suspension in the union court, but my counsel decided to settle out of court through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) for unity of the House. I have apologised to my colleagues. We are back as one indivisible family and we are poised to carry out our duties to students.”