A letter of defence from UCJ UI former PRO II against the Union's unjustified Disclaimer published against him!

            

A LETTER OF DEFENCE

Good day amiable Campus Journalists, I am Jubril Olalekan, the former Public Relations Officer II of this hallowed Union. I am writing this letter to debunk the mystery surrounding the whole incident of my getting disclaimed by the Union, as well as shed enough light, hopefully, on those likely questions that clog your hearts.

Sometime last year, 27th of December 2021, I got a proposal from a friend stating that the Student Union, via the office of the PRO, were looking at creating a YouTube Channel and that he wanted me to be the male host on the program. I couldn’t give an immediate ‘yes’ due to my position as a campus journalist, so I had to ask him about the entailments of the program and that if it were to have any political connotations, I would assuredly decline. He then went ahead and stated the peculiarities of the program:

i. To conduct indoor and outdoor interviews regarding pressing student-related issues will be discussed.

ii. To help student entrepreneurs on campus with their products.

iii. To cover red-carpets of major events happening on Campus

Upon seeing the aforementioned, I agreed to take up the task seeing that there’s nothing political about it and most importantly, it is an initiative geared at ensuring the betterment of the students, which I believe it’s this same cause that UCJ stands for. I was still in Lagos when this happened.

When I finally resumed in late January, we (the team members) had our first meeting with the SU PRO(OMA) sometime in mid-February where we discussed the birthing of the ‘Campus 247’ idea. It was this same day that I reemphasized my politically neutral stance on the team and then told him that there’d be a need for us to sign an agreement in a written document form, which he obliged. And the 21st of February we had our first shoot which was the introductory video for ‘Campus 247’ wherein I featured as the ‘Host’. This video is as neutral as anything you can imagine, there was no part in the video where I was doing a political campaign whatsoever.

Eventually, I got a DM from the UCJ President, Ibukunoluwa Dada, instructing me to come to his room the next day to see him, which I did. We spoke and in fact, I showed him the appointment letter I received from the SU which was signed by the SU President (MASCOT) and the PRO(OMA). He saw the details of the letter and how innocuous the agreement was, however, he insisted that I had to chose between UCJ and Hosting Campus 247 – I was literally taken aback, it was something I never envisaged.

On the 25th being a Friday, I met with Mr. President again in his room as instructed by him. And he sternly told me to decide on the spot, whether I am for UCJ or the Hosting – he was ready to terminate my membership on the spot, an action that doesn’t agree with the Union’s Constitution. I couldn’t decide such on the spot. I have been a CJ for good three years, how could I have chosen to sweep those years of sacrifice beneath the rugs? I then pleaded with him to give me an extension of time till today (Sunday) but he refused and told me I had till 11am of the same day to come back to his room to give him a response physically (he said I shouldn’t call him), and as at then the time was some few minutes to 10 already. I agreed and left. I was on my way to his place when I got a call from the Clerk of the Senate, Miss Harietta, at about 12:09pm, informing me that I’ve just been summoned to a meeting by the Senate which was to hold virtually at 7pm. I acknowledged the summon, and I returned to my hall.

Later in that same day at about 3pm I had a program to attend. I was at the venue when my phone went flat and unfortunately, I had no means to power my phone (we all know how terribly we’ve suffered from power outage). The Senate meeting eventually held and I, inadvertently, couldn’t make it. I had a vigil that same night so I left for vigil immediately the program ended – I couldn’t reach anyone still. However, it was sometime around 2am thereabout that a fellow Uite came to me and in her words, she said “Jubril, have you seen the whole thing circulating about you?” I had some moments of pause, then she broke the most heartrending news I’ve ever heard to me; UCJ had just released an ‘unjust’ Disclaimer about me!

Why is the disclaimer unjust?

i. According to the constitution, before a CJ can be dismissed for any offence there has to be an established panel to investigate the case, and then present it to the Senate, with decision to be made within two weeks! This wasn’t done!

ii. The Senate published a disclaimer against me without any trial or appeal, and without hearing my own side of the story!

iii. The clerk of the Senate told the house that she contacted me multiple times before the meeting; that’s not true! She contacted me only once.

iv. Mr. President failed to present the letter of appointment letter given to me by the UI SU to the Senate in other to look at the intent of the letter despite having a copy of it in his possession!

v. The Senate literally painted me as though I’m a criminal, like one who has committed a felony with that Disclaimer, without stealing anything from the Union nor used the Union’s name for FRAUD! Did you for once consider the emotional, mental and psychological implication that could have on me as a fellow student like you?! Don’t you know I can go suicidal?!

UCJ is a voluntary Organization, and I have served this Union selflessly for good three years in different capacities without getting a dime or any support whatsoever from the Union! Rather, I have laboured for the Union with my own resources. In my three years I served as a correspondent, I worked under the features desk, I served under the 33rd UCJ Publicity administration, before finally becoming the PRO II. And unfortunately, this is the bizarre treatment I get from the Union for my years of devoted service without any track-record of misconduct whatsoever. Even a common CJ shouldn’t be treated as an insignificant trash like I was treated, how much more the PRO II. of the Union.

Finally, I hereby appeal to the Senate and Mr. President, with all sense of humility, to please take down that ‘image-tarnishing’ disclaimer that was published about me. I am not a criminal, and I will never be one. I will willfully tender my resignation letter as the PRO II. of this venerated Union. If at all I haven’t gotten anything from the Union for my years of service rendered, I believe granting this appeal will definitely be a handsome pay.

Thank You.