𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐔𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐒𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧: 𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐆, 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐮 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
I must express my deepest disappointment at the recent press release credited to the leaderships of students’ structures in Ekiti State, fronted by Comrade Owolewa Taiwo, condemning alleged “unwarranted attacks and harassment of students” by the Director-General of the Bureau of Community Communications, Hon. Mary Osho Omotoso.
I do not have any personal issue with NANS as a body, which has over the years played a formidable role in advancing the interests of Nigerian students. Indeed, as someone who has served in different student leadership capacities myself, I understand the weight of student voices in shaping society.
However, in this particular instance, the leadership of students' structures in the state has allowed itself to misrepresent facts, trivialize issues, and reduce unionism to a spectacle of tokenism.
For context, just like other groups, individuals, and lovers of culture who gathered at the 2025 Udiroko Festival, the Bureau of Community Communications (BCC) also had its assigned space for public engagement. It was within this space that representatives of the students' bodies approached the BCC team to request for "drinks", part of items that were meant to be distributed as souvenirs to members of the public.
Unfortunately, the manner of this request was unruly and confrontational, carried on the wave of the “aluta” spirit we often see in student unionism. When it escalated to an attempt at forceful collection, the BCC staff in charge of the items intervened to caution them. It was at that point the DG became aware of the situation, and in her usual manner of zero tolerance for disorganization, she stepped in, cautioned both parties, and restored calm.
That was all. No harassment. No intimidation. No inhumane treatment. To now see a dramatic press release flying around with wild allegations is not only dishonest but deliberately malicious.
What makes this laughable is that the same associations that issued this release are often the first to run to the DG whenever they need assistance. And in most cases, they never leave empty-handed. This raises a fundamental question of why would the same office you consistently approach for support and mother-to-son dialogue suddenly become your antagonist, except there is an ulterior motive?
This, sadly, reflects how some student leaders have reduced the noble heritage of unionism to mere tokenism, seeing every engagement as an opportunity to extort or issue threats for financial or political gain. That is not leadership; it is opportunism.
Student leadership has always been about ideas, courage, and service. But what we see today is a tilt towards aggression, manipulation, and reckless name-calling. When you use every crooked avenue to malign reputations or extract concessions, you are not building the future, you are mortgaging it.
The DG, Hon. Mary Oso Omotoso, has been one of the strongest supporters of students and youth bodies in Ekiti State. She has provided consistent backing, resources, and access, always encouraging a constructive model of engagement. It is unfair and shameful for anyone to attempt to paint her otherwise just because she insisted on order at a public event.
If we must criticize, let it be on the basis of truth and integrity, not on sensational press statements meant to score cheap points or impress political backers. Students and youth leaders must resist being used as pawns in the hands of those who wish to settle political scores by dragging innocent public officials into unnecessary controversies.
The DG remains committed to bridging communication gaps between government and communities, including students. She will continue to engage youth constituencies respectfully but firmly, without yielding to intimidation or blackmail.
Finally, let me address the so-called 48-hour ultimatum. It is, quite frankly, laughable. Governance is not run on the threats of street ultimatums, and the office of the DG cannot be stampeded by grandstanding. If you believe in engagement, you seek dialogue; if you believe in intimidation, you issue ultimatums. The latter has never worked, and it will not start working today.
The doors of engagement remain open for genuine student leaders who wish to build, not destroy. But if some prefer to turn student activism into a marketplace of threats and smear campaigns, then they should be ready to bear the full weight of the consequences of their recklessness.
Student voices are powerful and should be used to shape society positively, not for tokenistic battles that destroy credibility. If union leaders must lead, let them do so with wisdom, facts, and integrity.
𝐅𝐞𝐦𝐢 𝐄𝐬𝐚𝐧, 𝐒𝐓𝐀 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐆.
