In or about August, 2015, I received a letter scanned to my mail box, from the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, conveying to me, the decision of the Senate of NANS, to confer upon me, the award of Senior Advocate of the Masses. Upon digesting the contents of the letter, I decided to ignore it, but I informed my wife and a few friends and colleagues.
I was very suspicious, as I had been misled in similar circumstances, some few years back. Not long thereafter, my telephone kept ringing, which turned out to be Comrade Tijani Usman, the NANS President, who confirmed the contents of the letter and sought a date to present the award. I told him to give me some more time. Thereafter, the Vice-President of NANS, Comrade Musbsu Esinrogunjo, also called. And they kept calling, up to a point I stopped picking their calls.
Upon further reflection, I decided to dig into the NANS structure, as I had been off the students' union radar for quite some time now. I called Comrade Abiodun Aremu, JAF Secretary, and my long time friend and comrade, Seni Ajayi, to furnish me with the details of the NANS leadership. I also sent a mail to Comrade Omoyele Sowore and Nasir Kura, former NAMS President. Aremzo and Seni asked me to give them sometime to find out, but I didn't get a response from Sowore and Nasir. Of course I didn't mention to them the award, as I wanted an independent verification of the true NANS leadership. Meanwhile, the students kept calling.
The name and telephone number that Aremzo eventually sent to me, tallied with that of Comrade Tijani, the NANS President, who had been calling me. Seni Ajayi linked me up with Raymond Ojo, one of the spokesperson for NANS, from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Great Ife. I immediately called Comrade Ojo from Great Ife, as I felt more at home, since that is my base and I would be able to confirm the award, if at all. When I spoke with Comrade Ojo, he asked me to forward a copy of the letter of award to his mail box, which he later sent to me. Some days letter, he called me to confirm the award, as coming from the authentic NANS leadership.
When next Comrade Tijani called me, I then told him that I was willing to accept the award upon the condition that it will be presented at the University of Lagos, in the midst of students and the general public and he immediately agreed. He said the Vice-President will take up the Mobilisation of all the schools in Lagos and South West zones, to be available for the award. My aim was to weary them and probably get them off my neck.
A week thereafter, the Vice-President called me that the award will be presented at Unilag on a certain date, to which I promptly objected as being too close. Then there was a long lull. I took out time to pray and to consult widely. After some time, I decided to accept the award, but rather in a private ceremony, devoid of fanfare.
However, the event had exposed to me the gap between the students' union body and the working class progressives and past students leaders. It took so long to even confirm the data and details of the current NANS leadership. We had left them to wolves and politicians. I don't even have any link with Great Ife students union or even Unilag, the latter so very close by. I then took the award as a challenge to engage the students and keep close contacts with them.
It was in the midst of all these that the news broke that NANS had awarded Senator Buruji Kashamu, Man of the Year! I just exclaimed 'opari', (it is finished), meaning that I would have nothing to do with the same NANS ever again. But the students kept calling me, and upon proper inquiry, I discovered that the Kashamu award was a stage managed event, not involving the NANS leadership.
Further still, I now decided to accept the award, partly for the following reasons.
First, the award is true. Can I be described as a an advocate for the masses? By all means yes, with all sense of humility. I have been Principal Liaison Officer of Faculty of Law, Great Ife, I have been PRO, Great Ife Students' Union, President, Great Ife Students' Union, been involved in CLO, CDHR, JAF, NLC, NADECO, NCP, name it. I was right in the midst of the June 12 struggle, I participated in virtually all progressive students union struggles, traversing Zaria, Enugu, Jos, Benin, Onitsha, etc, all in my student days.
Second, since I was called to the Bar, I have been involved in very active human rights cases, all my life. I led the protest against GSM companies' exploitation, Lekki toll gate, was part of most June 12 cases, was there to defend OPC, ASUU, students, associations, communities, prisoners, the oppressed, NBA, etc. So, even if the NANS does not say so, I know within myself that I qualify to be a defender or advocate of the masses.
Third, the award is from the true leadership of NANS. I never lobbied for it, I don't even know them before now. If on their own accord, they decided to recognize any effort to alleviate the sufferings of our people, so be it.
Fourth, the first and last recipient of the award, was Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN. He was my mentor, father and boss. If I decline the award, I cannot control the students, on whom they may proceed to bestow it, who may turn out to denigrate the name and legacy of Gani. So, in a sense, I see the award as a means of preserving the Gani legacy.
Finally when the students came to my office, I was just too eager to learn more about the Kashamu story. The Vice-President said that the NANS leadership was not part of the award. The President was not aware of it and he too was not part of it. According to him, it was the deputy senate president of NANS, that stage managed the award and it was after the presentation that the NANS leadership became aware of it. Whether this is true or not, their presence in my office presented a platform for me to counsel them, to pledge my legal services for all students leaders facing persecution and oppression and to constantly engage them, on burning national issues.
As to their looks and dressing and appearances, I just realized that times have changed. Yes, in our days it was fashionable to go about campuses in slippers and worn out T-shirts and Fidel Castro French suits. We used to sleep in our buses, everywhere we went. But times have changed from our days.
Now I've read all manner of comments and even personal abuses, on this issue and I'm most amazed. With or without the NANS award, I remain and I will forever remain an advocate for the masses. My friends who are abusing me now don't even have any contact with the students again. My comrades who are shouting themselves hoarse can't even call me to find out the why and how of the award! It is most amazing.
Personally, I'm glad that so far, since we all graduated from school, God has been faithful to me, in particular, to sustain and to bless me, that I don't have to be in any political party, I don't have to be a nocturnal strategist for the so-called 'progressive' politicians or a 'consultant' to any government house. In the thick of the Lekki toll gate and LASU struggles, many of our past students leaders were in government house in Alausa, offering 'consultancy' services on how to quell the struggles.
It is good now that I'm in touch with the students, to guide them, to query them and offer some guidance, if they will accept.
But whether in criticism or support, I thank you all for the time taken, to be part of this.
Aluta continua, Victoria ascerta!
Ebun Adegboruwa Esq
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