HOW I WAS HARASSED, ASSAULTED, AND ARRESTED ON THE ORDER OF THE DEAN OF STUDENTS' AFFAIRS BECAUSE OF MY STANCE AGAINST CULTISM IN OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY

HOW I WAS HARASSED, ASSAULTED, AND ARRESTED ON THE ORDER OF THE DEAN OF STUDENTS' AFFAIRS BECAUSE OF MY STANCE AGAINST CULTISM IN OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY

On the 20th of August 2018, I was at the office of the Dean of Students' Affairs to submit an official letter. On getting to his office, I met some persons who work at the Division of Students' Affairs and I was asked to sit down and wait for the Dean. After waiting for a while, I was asked to go inside his office and he immediately lashed at me upon sighting me by saying "are you Afoo Revo?,  You are the one writing articles online right? Are you ready to bear the burden?"

For those who have been following the trend recently, you will agree that I wrote an article titled 'Expose them now, before they explode the University' where I explained how dangerous the silence of the University, over the arrest and release of some suspected cult boys, can be.

The Dean (Prof. Isiaka Aransi) immediately sent for the Vice Dean (Dr Oluwatosin) who also joined the game. I was asked to sit down as I had been on my feet since I came into his office. He told me that I have been writing different articles online and if I should write any statement again whatsoever, I will be rusticated from the campus.

Before I could say Jack Robinson, the Vice Dean blurted out loudly and branded me a cultist. While I was recovering from the shock, the Dean also categorically called me a cultist.
I asked them to substantiate their allegations, but alas, the only response they could give was that _"it takes a cultist to know another cultist"_. From my little knowledge of Philosophy, I could conclude that the chain of 'Cultism' was becoming longer already, because they may as well be cultists since they could identify me as one too.  This, I inferred from their Voodoo Logic anyway.

I further explained that, if the Dean of Students' Affairs who is tasked with the responsibility of relating with students on what is happening on campus, has refused to issue out a release on the information about the arrest and release of some suspected cultists few weeks ago, then the campus is no longer safe for both students and staff.

I explained my stance to them, and why I have always been critical of their methods; and that students have to know these persons that were arrested and must know why they were released, and in fact, ensure that these suspected cultists should be prosecuted if truly they are culpable of the offences they were arrested for. I further opined that, the best way to protect students is to ensure that the identities of these suspected neo-fascist elements are exposed as it will aid students' vigilance and consciousness.

Adequately, I assumed that these points of mine have indeed shown my stance comprehensively enough for a primary school child not to talk of learned individuals of higher institution of learning. The Dean of Students' Affairs, after realising the validity of my positions and logic behind it, drifted away from the facts in the issue and immediately ordered me to get out of his office. I was amazed at this obvious contradiction to his popular claim of an open-office policy where students can come around to share any logical view that will aid in the development of the University Community.

It was on his order to get out of his office that I then concluded that the University does not seem to want anybody to hold logical dissent on the running of the University as they do not only want to turn the University Community to a 'Banana Island', but also a Zombie republic.

As a peace-loving student, I stepped out of his office, but I was startled when I met a security man (who is notorious for harassing students) immediately I stepped out, who pounced on me, grabbing me by the jugular.

With my little security orientation, I managed to raise my voice as much as possible (though very difficult due to his tight grip) to draw the attention of people around the main DSA extension. While few students around wanted to sympathized with me, they could not do much as the eyes of the notorious Security man was sparkling like a lion who just found a lamb for dinner.

At that moment, the Dean of Students' Affairs ordered for my arrest and about two men (with their round belly like a pot) joined him to  abduct me for detention.

I was taken to the Security Unit where I was asked to write a statement which I was doing before the arrival of Great Ife Students who came to demand my release.

Students, Parents, Guardians, Staff, Press, Alumni and the general public must understand that there is a deliberate plan to sweep under carpet, cogent issues of security and welfare of students. The issue of the arrest and release of some suspected cult boys weeks ago (note that the boys are known for their notorious and nefarious activities on campus before now) is an instance. We must begin to demand the position of the University and the steps taken by the Management on securing the lives and properties of students from these wounded lions. The Division of Students' Affairs is only swift at hunting progressive and intellectual students when they hold dissent views. The blocking of eportals and imprisonment of student activists are fresh instances.

Also, the mass of Great Ife students must begin to see the necessity for an immediate halt in the high-handedness of Obafemi Awolowo University Administration who have seen victimization and blackmail of students as their main priority, when securing the lives and property of students is supposed to be the number one priority.

I will forever remain undaunted!

NOTHING SHALL DISCOURAGE US!

Alawode Afolabi Samuel (Afoo Revo) is a member of Pacesetters Movement and a penultimate year student of the Department of English who desperately wants a cult-free and sane a University System.

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