Exclusive Interview With The SUG President On The Arrest & Release By SARS

With regard to the plot that surrounded the arrest and the release of the SUG Executives by Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), the PRESS Crew recently had an interview session with the Students’ Union President , Com. Akadiri Bayonle Seun and here comes the outcome. Read after cut… Also Read:

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Press: Concerning the incidence that happened last Saturday, I must say it clearly that there are side talks and chit-chats among students and reason being that; they don’t understand what prompted the incidence and the situation that surrounded it, so, except we make a Press Release which we’ve come for, to let the students know what surrounded the incidence and how it has come to be, the chit-chat will continue and to some extent, at the side of the students, it may lead to a betrayal of trust. So, I will want you to make it as brief as possible and also I wouldn’t want you to mince words – clear explanations should be given to words that need it. Can you give us a brief summary of what happened on Saturday?

President Akadiri: Let me ask, I heard, as I’ve not had access to the news, that Press Council actually released a Press Statement as regard the arrest…

Press: It wasn’t a Press Statement, it was a News. And in the News, the contents of the News were “alleged” not “certainty”

President: Well, that is the work of the Press. Now, from the issue of what happened on that very faithful day, the students deserve to know what happened. Let me start by saying 7 people were involved which are: Myself, Vice President 1 and 2, General Secretary, Sport director, Welfare Director and MC Last Born, an alumnus of the institution. Now, as regards what actually happened, we were in school on Saturday, I had my voter’s card with me. I slept on campus overnight; Friday/Saturday, so, waking up I called my welfare “please can you pick me up to get to my polling unit, because I’m not feeling too well.” And that Saturday morning when I woke up around 7:30am, I discovered I wasn’t feeling alright, though, three days before that day I already had, let me say, minor ailment, and I went to see the CMD (Chief Medical Director) even the CMD was actually the one who prescribed some drugs for me – the CMD of Medical Center. I was still on that medication , but I was unable to use the drugs overnight, so, I called him (Welfare Director) basically that “Ok, come and take me to my Polling Unit,” as I did not have access to bikes, and during the Presidential election that was how I went – I slept in school as well, he took me to the place and after voting I came back home. [adinserter name=”Block 3″][adinserter name=”Block 2″]

Unfortunately, he was asleep for a very long time, so, he came late. Before he arrived I discovered my health was deteriorating and I don’t know, probably diarrhea or something like that, so I had to use the restroom twice, it was even the PRO 2 that actually helped me with the water. So, I said, since it is election day and I have my Voter’s Card with me, let me use that excuse and go get my drugs, and fortunately, there is this MC last born who also has his Polling Unit not far from mine, and that was why I asked him also to join the bus. On getting to, because I stay in Agbowo, on getting to Agbowo junction, it was even the police that paved the road for us to go in and they asked where were we going, I responded that, I’m going to get my drugs before going to my Polling Unit. But while we were going, I discovered down the road of Agbowo, around Ile-Eja area was somehow rough, so, I told my welfare that I don’t like the way my area is, people staying in Agbowo are very …. Agbowo is a volatile area, I asked him to turn back to see if I can just savage the situation and move on to my Polling Unit, but unfortunately, while on our way to my Polling Unit, we met some police men on the way, who actually all of a sudden stopped us and they were like; where are you guys going to? And I told them that I first wanted to go home and take my drugs but I have to go to my polling unit.

They came down and searched our bags, they said “Ok these people are students. But one of the officers then said they should search our boot, so when they searched our boot, they found two old wooden axes. When they found these two wooden axes they never even wanted us to explain before they drove us along to their station. The narration behind these two wooden axes is that, I believe previous administration probably because of anti-cultism, seized those axes. Those axes have been there since we came on board and nobody has ever thought of saying let take it out of the Union bus, because it has always been there. When we got to the station and consequence of the cash found with the seven of us, they said we wanted to go and buy votes. The man did not even allow us to explain anything, and that was how it started. Before we knew it, they transferred us to the CP’s office in the evening that the CP was interested in our case. Even while in the Police custody at Bodija, that was the first station we were taken to, it was the DPO that was fetching water for me to use the restroom.

I actually used the restroom like three times, telling her that, this is my situation and it was because I was actually going home to take my drugs, so, others – my fellow executives were like; president you cannot go alone like this, because of your health we are not too comfortable with the way you are doing, and that was how others were involved. When we got there, the logical question is that if we are actually going to scatter the Polling Unit, let me assume, can we be going with just two wooden axes, and we are seven in number? But once you find yourself a victim of a circumstance, there is no reason to justify your stupidity; to justify how gullible you are. Let me say, if actually I’ve fainted that day in the school campus or lost my life, People would surely say “they ought to have taken the risk of going to get my drugs” and that is life. So, when we were transferred to the CP’s office, they said we should be taken to SARS office, and even when transferred to the SARS, in the cell, I had to use the gent.

That was Saturday night and Sunday morning. Monday afternoon we were transferred to the state CID, and that was when rumour started coming around that so and so and so, But. We thank God for the management, we thank God for the students and we thank God for everybody. They started putting some calls through, those that actually know the kind of person we are. In short, that is just the brief narration and the details of what happened.

Press: From the report that we got, it was said that some result sheets and charm were found in the Union bus, what can you say to that allegation?

President Akadiri: Ah! That is a big question, but for real, I don’t know about the charms actually, because, if you check the case filed, nothing like that can be found. Probably they saw “gbere” on some people, not me actually – all these things parents used to do on their children when they were small – that is what I would classify as charms. And about the result sheets, you know students will always write the results of polling units within the school on paper, and that was found with somebody. But it is never in any way result sheet. You know, it’s funny that, just like I said earlier on that there is no point or reason to justify situation when you found yourself a victim of circumstance. Sincerely, because every other person becomes wiser than you are even if you are the wisest person, but as for me I did not see any charm, and if you check the case file, there is nothing like that, even something that was like a nail cutter was classified as knifes, you understand. But, that is police for you.

Press: Another thing is, someone said on that same day that the FOSSU bus left the campus, and it didn’t seem that had any hitch. From the report obtained, some stated that because you were, maybe anti-government, that it looked like a trap, like a set up. So, how would you justify that?

President Akadiri: Ok, because I’m anti-government, anti-APC?

Press: Yes, lets put it like that

President Akadiri: Well, just like you’ve known me, I’m a liberal person, I don’t know, if it was a set-up, best of luck for the person, and best of luck for myself and those who are involved. The person should continue, but there is what we call Karma. As regarding someone setting me up, I don’t care, because if there was nothing like that in the bus, nobody would have any justification for setting us up, but if anybody had actually done that, thank God for clear conscience. Even if I was going to be doing anything wrong – I’m not saying that I’m a saint – on Election Day, would I go with almost all my executive members? So, from the common sense perspective, any other thing aside what we’ve told you is fallacy. And the truth is, there is this saying that there are three sides to a story: My side, your side and the truth, but what I’ve actually been portraying to you is my own side and the truth and I hope the truth sets me free.

Press: To be objective, because we heard different things concerning this issue. You know that on Election Day, no vehicle is allowed to move.

President Akadiri: The something is, students enjoy some privileges. The vehicle has no plate number, normally are you supposed to use a vehicle without a plate number? It is not possible, right? So, students enjoy some privileges, that even on our way going we still met some civilians going home from their Polling Unit. Let me say this, I said it earlier on that when you find yourself in a shit, nobody will be ready to associate themselves with you… people only celebrate success, when you have any one or two problem people try to tell you that you are wrong like this, you are wrong like that. I’m not trying to justify my reasons for going out, we were in a mess; we were in a mess already.

Press: It is evident that before election, politicians have been parading this Student Union building, and some said the Union have collected money from them.

President Akadiri: No no no , the issue is just, let me tell you this, Honourable Awoleye came to this institution and the bike men celebrated him, and even declared indirectly a public holiday for him and the union was not aware. If as student Union, politician are coming, you don’t chase them away, you welcome them, and ask them “ok, what are you going to do for our constituency?” As big as PolyIBADAN is, only three state honourable aspirants actually came down here and …also that my Presidential aspirant, too, at least come to us, and the three of them are alumni of the school. It is actually true, whatever they say is true, because in every rumour there is an iota of truth, if they actually come here, no problem, but have you ever seen me declare for any of them except for my presidential aspirant, whom I know is from my Alma Mata? So, if the Union has not taken any position in any candidate, why would somebody be saying they’d been flopping around?

Press: Lastly, how would you commend your release, with the effort of the management, are you looking forward to a sanction from them?

President Akadiri: I wouldn’t want to talk about that, because I don’t know, the vehicle has been pounded already, I don’t know if there will be any sanction, I just pray we will be given a free hearing. Because, honestly, the management through the Dean of Students’ Affairs actually tried their best, with the intervention of the Rector, the faculty and departmental students for us to be released, it’s a long story. I just hope and pray that things will not get out of hands. This interview was constructed with the Students’ Union President, COM. AKADIRI BAYONLE SEUN, whom was involved in the awful scenario, and we believed would be in the best position in giving the account of the incidence. [xyz-ihs snippet=”press”] [xyz-ihs snippet=”drop-comment”][xyz-ihs snippet=”post-footer”]