UNILORIN: “Students should apologise to me” – lecturer demands after “slapping” SUG president
This interview was conducted and first published by UNILORIN-based blog Lade’s Signatory.
The Sub Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, Dr. Tajudeen Kolawole Ajiboye in an interview with Lade’s Signatory on March 15, 2017 said he never slapped student union (SUG) president Sobowale Lukman Olawale.
Lade’s Signatory reached out to the sub dean to get his own side of the story.
Read excerpts from the interview below…
What do you have to say about the issue on ground now, as regards you slapping the SUG president?
That day, my students were supposed to write an exam CAC 204, (We just got confirmation that the course code is actually CHE 241 and not CAC 204. The mistake was due to an error in the pronunciation of the words. Apologies for any havoc the error has caused) and I was in my office when I saw my students roaming around and had not written the exam they’re supposed to write for 2pm around 4pm.
As someone who has the interest of the students at heart, I left my office to go to the CBT centre to make enquiries about what was going on and the reason why the students had not started writing their exams.
On getting there with the dean of the Faculty of Engineering and some other lecturers in the faculty, we were discussing with the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics), Professor Ijaiya.
Then Eminent (nickname for the SUG president) was there waiting to be attended to by the secretary of the CBT centre when he was asked to move back by Dr. Abdulraman of the faculty of engineering.
READ: Drama as Dr. Ajiboye’s wife “weeps, begs school authorities not to fire husband”
And when Eminent tried explaining to the lecturer that he is the SUG president, the lecturer told him to ‘get out’ and it was at this point that eminent demanded to be respected as the SUG president.
I saw the two of them arguing and went there to see what was going on. On getting there I saw a student arguing with the lecturer and collected his ID card without even knowing he was the SUG president. It was in the process of removing his ID card from his neck that my hand hit his face. I never slapped Him.
It was after this that the SUG president came back to meet me to say I slapped him and I told him I never slapped him.
After this, staffers of the CBT, the DVC Academics and others intervened in the whole situation and everything was settled and the exam continued.
It was when I got home at night, I was confused and surprised when I saw how the whole issue which had been settled earlier had turned out and I started receiving calls from everyone.
What will you do about SUG’s demands (they want him sacked and they want a public apology)?
I owe no one an apology, and I even deserve an apology from them.
They have no right to make any demands from me. It is an aberration. I was there on behalf of the students and to represent the interest of the students. If I was in my office, none of this would have happened.
I even called the DVC Academics, Professor Ijaiya, that are they now saying we should not correct any student that is misbehaving.
What will you say to the SUG president when you meet him?
He’s my son and I even called him yesterday already. He should forget whatever happened. It’s part of leadership and heaven will not fall.
Seriously, this is the most ridiculous thing I have heard in a recent time.
You are SU president, and so fucking what?! Demanding to be respected by an elder/lecturer is a very rude thing.
I know this lecturer very well, if he slaps the “SUG President”, I’m certain it’s justified.
@Max, you must have been intellectually enslaved. No lecturer has no justification to physically assault any student c that promote violence. If the said lecturer cannot respect a constituted authority like SUG president, he doesn’t deserve t be respected. The SUG president Is a constituted authority and must be respected. As a student, you have the right to seek audience with whoever u want to within the the hour and SUG president isn’t an exception. In an academic environment, values are taught and this values include respect for human race. If students have no justification to be physical on a lecturer, so do lecturers have no justification too. Respect they say is reciprocal.
@Max, you must have been intellectually enslaved. No lecturer has any justification to physically assault any student because that promote violence. If the said lecturer cannot respect a constituted authority like SUG president, he doesn’t deserve to be respected. The SUG president Is a constituted authority and must be respected. As a student, you have the right to seek audience with whoever u want to within school hour and SUG president isn’t an exception. In an academic environment, values are taught and this values include respect for human race. If students have no justification to be physical on a lecturer, so do lecturers have no justification too. Respect they say is reciprocal.
Lol… Constituted authority. Constituted authority, my ass. They are constituted for students not lecturers. It’s like telling your parent to respect because you are the first born.
If you can’t respect your lecturer, my friend, you can stay at home. Of what benefit has any recent years SUG been to anybody?
“You have right to seek audience with anyone…” Can you tell me where that is stated anywhere?
Your lecturers are constituted authority above your constituted authority.
“Values are taught in school”… Yeah! And one of it is never to shout back at your elders. Unless you miss that while you are constituting students authorities.
Respect is reciprocal… And I think that has been given to Eminent when the lecturer decided to speak with him before he started shouting.
Oh… And intellectually, you are far behind me. You have to run race to catch up my friend.
It’s an unfortunate scernerio anyway,our culture and value system taught to respect elders and teachers irrespective of our statue or position and been an SUG president is not excluded. I hope the school authority resolved the issue and move ahead!
Max no word for you. But a quick question how would you feel if the president happens to come to you state and slap your state Governor?
Different scenarios. This is an upside down scenario.
@Rex the analogy is lopsided.
Is there no respect for elders anymore… Pls we are in Nigeria and a Yoruba settings for that matter.. He can slap you for all I care … He is older that you in all ramifications.
If your father had slapped u will tell him to apologize?
Hope you want to live long and hope u don’t want your children and younger ones to do the same to you in future?
SUG president my foot!