by ‘Lakunle Jaiyesinmi

To allow the death of the public universities just like the public primary and secondary schools died after the death of NUT? Does he now work with the private universities? Does he hope, certainly that’s what will happen…?

My attention was recently, precisely at a time when I should be frolicking with friends, drawn to a beautifully written piece by someone I hold in high regard, a father, fighter and lover, Pa Ikhide. I have always loved to read him. This time, his piece focuses on ASUU (a body he refers to as that of thugs. Of course, with an apology against generalisation). This piece is titled “ASUU is on strike again. Who cares? SMH” and can be read HERE.

This said piece, you will agree with me is an eye-opener. And I can create a lengthy piece of conjoined words to describe my admiration for the thoughtfulness and intended patriotism that make the crust of Pa Ikhide’s beautiful harangue. However, now and then, as I read through the piece, enjoying the tides, I stumble on some words and my head reflexly enters the shaking mode, as in ‘no, no, no’. I will not be pleased if ASUU sues my Pa Ikhide to court for his patriotism, wins and hence, making my Pa forever bankrupt. This piece can be used as evidence in the court of law.

To the point.

“ASUU members are thugs”

Really; how so? Some persons will be happy with this tag but at whose expense? To what degree is the correctness or incorrectness of the tag? Well, let’s content ourselves that every Nigerian has the right to freedom of speech. Only that certain persons, depending on how they are perceived in the society, may need to exercise some caution while indulging themselves as such.

“…they are always on strike,

nobody seems to know why,

except that it involves being paid a boatload of money”

Wow. Three facts in one sentence. Are they actually always on strike?

Nobody seems to know why? In spite of the noise by parents, average Nigerians and even many of the students who are directly affected, directed against the Nigerian government and in favour of ASUU? Maybe someone needs to be more conversant with the news, and if those ones do lie, at least, with the directly concerned stakeholders.

And yea, this one. I love the use of words, “rogues in academic robes”. Not what follows, unfortunately, “have colluded with any government in power (AGIP) to defraud and rob generations of beautiful children what is their right – a good education.”

From Encarta dictionaries, collude as a word means, “to cooperate with somebody secretly in order to do something illegal or undesirable.” As far as I’m concerned, of the tens of millions of Nigerians citizens, Pa Ikhide, ‘my gracious’ father is the only one with this opinion. I’ll appreciate a knowldge of any other person(s) he might have ‘colluded’ with. Let’s go on…

“…even when they are at work, they are on strike.” What does that mean? Is this an attempt at self-contradiction? Maybe, maybe not.

This next line needs no interpretation from me. It’s a self-sufficient statement of fact except of course, if the real definition of fact (or speculation, if you mind) has changed in the course of my last nightslumber, “Their members want to have sex with every child that walks into their pretend classrooms, when they have satisfied themselves, they pimp their helpless wards, yes, they do, to their friends, constipated generals and pot-bellied rogue-politicians who have too much money in their thieving
pockets.”

“…fully less than 10 percent of Nigerian university dons have children living in that mess called Nigeria.” Less than 10 percent? I’m interested in this fact. Who did the survey? Where’s the reference? With due respect sir, caution, Pa Ikhide.

“…inside the filthy chicken coops that pass for classrooms from preschool to the tertiary level.” Who made the classrooms so? ASUU? A reaction is required. I suppose this is one of the reasons why ASUU is currently on strike. I suppose. But this piece has earlier presented, probably an oversight, that the only reason ASUU is on strike, as far as the people are concerned, is because of pocket money (to use my term). Savour the rest of the present paragraph. I have no interest.

The next paragraph, Pa Nigerian Intellectual bemoans the state of ASUU’s website. He did a good job telling the world how much he takes issues personal with ASUU and my guess is this is demeaning and inappropriate for the stature of my Pa. This paragraphs successfully ends with a line that makes me chuckle.

Pa Ikhide’s personal disaffection goes on through the next paragraphs. He actually made a personal confession, maybe this can help us to understand why he takes offense of ASUU, why the faces of the executive members of ASUU annoy him, why he has chosen not to see anything good in whatever ASUU has done or is doing, especially the speech of the President of ASUU, as expressed by my INDEFATIGABLE Pa.

The closing statements of the third to the last paragraph, here: “This is not the first time I have called ASUU’s attention to that disgrace of a website. There are some on their roll that truly believe that in the 21st century, websites are an inconvenience. It is a distinctly Nigerian phenomenon, one that I have been blogging about for years now (Viewing Nigeria through a web of broken links).” A good way to market an article. Dog chop dog. *Ti t’enikan ko ba baje, ti elomiran ko le dara. *hmmm, nice one.

When, in closing, Pa Ikhide calls for or decalres his support for a possible ban of ASUU, what should one think is his intention? To allow the death of the public Universities just like the public primary and secondary schools died after the death of NUT? Does he now work with the private Universities? Does he hope, certainly that’s what will happen, that with the death of public Universities comes the rush of more Nigerian students to the Universities of his sponsors? I don’t want to believe I’m speculating that my Pa Ikhide now works, on contract or otherwise, with the private universities.

I’m left with no choice, sir. Pardon me. winks.

PS. *Omode kii mo eko je ko ma yii l’owo*

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‘Lakunle Jaiyesimi, B. Pharm. (Ife), is of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.