OPINION: FATSSSA DECIDES; Changing the Electoral Culture

 FATSSSA DECIDES; Changing the ill-fated Electoral Culture 

by Habib Lanlehin

. "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”- Dr Martin Luther King Jr. 

“There’s no such thing as a vote that doesn’t matter. It all matters.” - Barack Obama 

Going through rudiments of what election entails and what culture points to is as unnecessary as the inclusion of the letter “P” in “ psychology “. This is not a calculus class where I bore you with imaginary “ DY/DX “ nor is it a sociology class where I have to strain your eyes and write an “ unending “ note.

FATSSSA is a faculty where we pride ourselves on the study of politics, human behaviours and Interaction and the study of human society at large. But does our learning start from the classroom or end in the exam halls? Or do we duly follow  all we learn and sweat for in the “ LLT “ on a hot afternoon? This is an important question all FATSSSAites need to ponder on a few hours before the election. 

PRESS NIGHT AND MANIFESTO NIGHT 

“ Nigeria is a country blessed with natural resources and great minds but with bad leaders”-- is a popular saying that 9/10 of Nigerians subscribe to, and believe passionately. But the trick is how did Nigeria a country of supposedly great minds end up with bad leaders? What is the political culture and how do intellectually challenged individuals sometimes make their way into government? Who screens them, who votes for them? 

A manifesto is a document that contains all the cardinal plans an individual contesting a post in government plans to deliver to the people. Are politicians popular for honesty? No. 

That's why quizzing each aspirant contesting a political position is very crucial. 

But dear FATSSSAites where were you on “ press night “ held on the 20th of October 2021?

 An evening/night where every aspirant contesting a political post was critically examined and questioned about their plans for our beloved FATSSSA and the feasibility of such plans. 

What else beats your love for the progress and advancement of FATSSSA? 

The Namib Desert is a coastal desert in Southern Africa. The name Namib is of Khoekhoegowab origin and means "vast place". It is the oldest desert in the world and has existed for over 55million years. I could have sworn that I was at this desert today which is supposed to be the “manifesto night”, but then I knew FATSSSA is not 55million years old. Manifesto night is an important evening/night where all FATSSSAites are expected to troop en masse to hear candidates read their manifestoes and then question them rigorously based on the contents of their manifestos, but where were FATSSSAites with intellectual questions and why is the “LLT” almost empty? Perhaps manifesto night only exist for a small group of people to bring down the CGPA of students reading in nearby locations with “ screams “ and thunderous wailings with few questions as a courtesy. 

Election culture 

“ even though he performed badly at the PRESS night and his plans appear to be shallow, non-unique and the feasibility of his plans are low, I'll still vote for him, he is my person “these are the shocking words I overheard a brilliant FATSSSAite uttering to his friend. The mind-blowing question is “ are all FATSSSAites victims of such mindset ?“ 

Do FATSSSAites vote blindly based on departmental differences, acquaintances and favouritism? Are we recycling the problems of the larger society and saddling ourselves with incompetent and shallow-minded leaders? Or do we follow the true tenants of democracy by casting our votes to a deserving leader with foresight? 

You have a voice 

Constitutionally every FATSSSAite has a role and voice in the political activities of the faculty. Apart from having the right to go to  “ FHR “ sittings and ask questions amid other rights. The first voice of a FATSSSAite is his “vote” the voice which empowers him to support the best candidate on his quest to lead. 

Directly we are all affected and afflicted by the activity of a “ round peg on triangular hole “ every FATSSSAite pay a basic due of #2000 and out of this basic dues, every organ present in FATSSSA are given a subvention. Is it then proper to vote for the wrong candidate who will mismanage your money and bring down the association with ill-thought plans while wearing a smile of incompetence? 

“When we vote, our values are put into action and our voices are heard. Your voice is a reminder that you matter because you do, and you deserve to be heard."

— Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex.

  Elections in the great faculty of the Social Sciences are on the 22nd of October 2020, all FATSSSAites are encouraged to participate and fulfil their constitutional duties without being biased based on kinship, familiarity, department, gender, ethnicity etc.

 A vote rightly cast is instrumental in making FATSSSA the best faculty in the University of Ibadan, where others take their lessons and come to learn, as it should be.