"Liberation Day" - How Union Rights Were Reinstated at FCE(T) Akoka 30 Years Ago
But the journey to that day started five months earlier with the resistance of 17 students at the college on teaching practice. These students, who included Tayo Aderinola, were denied their Teaching Practice allowance, even though this was budgeted for. And they asked questions.
Auta's response was to suspend them. But they would not simply give up. They formed a group called G17 with the help of Gbenga Fakoya, a former student and member of our political movement, the May 31st Movement (M31M). Auta, just like Prof Isa Mohammed, who was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja at the time saw himself as all-powerful, and for the same reason. They both had close ties with the maximal dictator, General Sani Abacha.
The G17 realised this but nonetheless went all out to reverse their victimisation. The first tactic was the court. They got the support of Gani Fawehinmi's chambers. Festus Keyamo, a youth corps serving at the chambers at the time, was in charge of the case. Realising the primacy of political struggle including agitation to win, Al-Facoo brought Tayo to meet me at U304 Makama Bida Hall Unilag, my room and unofficial secretariat of the League, sometime in November 1993.
After extensive discussions, we headed to Jaja Hall and had the first of several planning meetings with Sowore, who was Unilag Students Union (ULSU) President, and Chair of the NANS Lagos State Joint Campus Committee (JCC). Sho sent several letters to the FCE(T) management demanding justice for the G17 and reinstatement of the union to no avail. Eventually, we settled on an action that was rather drastic, but considered necessary. We planned to invite him to Unilag, just like we tried to do with Pascal Bafyau, the NLC President, eight months ago. This was after the NLC gracefully accepted the annulment of the "June 12" election.
We chose 18 February 1994 because it was FCE(T) Akoka Convocation Day and the Minister of Education, Prof Iyorchia Ayu was expected to grace the occasion. We drove to the College's campus before 8:00am in the ULSU Peugeot 504 station wagon and headed straight to the office of the provost. Nor surprisingly, Auta initially did not want to go with us initially. Sho then informed him that coming back during the Convocation would be with a mass of Unilag students. He then grudgingly entered the vehicle and we took him to the ULSU Secretariat at Akintunde Ojo Hall, where leaders of the G17 were waiting.
Auta did not find it easy that day. But let's just say that he agreed to reinstate the G17, lift the ban on the students' union, and promptly provide a Toyota coaster bus for the union. It was also made clear to him that, failure to fully honour the agreement would lead to mobilising students from tertiary schools across the length and breadth down to the FCE(T) to protest until he does the needful. It never got to that. He had been humbled and cooperated under the burden of shame.
The students were ecstatic. It was as if something unbelievable had happened in the twinkle of an eye. They renamed three halls of residence to Sowore Hall, Liberation Hall and February 18 Hall. An electoral body was constituted which organised elections within a few weeks. Most of the G17 members joined the movement. Unfortunately, our candidate for president, Biodun lost by a thin margin to the more moderate Rufai. However, the League continued to have a strong presence on campus, with comrades like Tayo Aderinola, Bolaji Awosanya, and Vincent Oni leading the way.
The "February 18 Liberation" inspired similar action at the Lagos State College of Education (LACOED, now AOCOED). A few months later, comrades from LASU joined students at the College to fight for and win the reinstatement of the students' union there as well.
A lot has happened over the last three decades. Different battles have been fought and won or lost. But I am very glad that not only is there a strong union there now, but there is a Provost whom we are proud of. Dr Ademola Azeez was himself a students' union activist and veteran of the June 12 struggle as a pro-democracy activist. Before becoming Provost, he was chair of the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) in the College and had been victimised for his forthright politics by the preceding Provost. As Provost, he has not only supported the students union at FCE(T) but also advocated for independent students' unionism as a democratic right.
I was particularly thrilled when he spoke at a programme held in honour of Professor Toyin Falola at the University of Ibadan a few years back. There, he called out the University of Lagos for the continued repression of the students union and the denial of Femi Adeyeye his studentship. Femi has subsequently been reinstated and he has graduated. But the student union remains banned.
Things have come full circle. Probably it is the Unilag Vice Chancellor who should now be invited for a drive down the road in Akoka.
Comments