PETER OBI IS THE MOST EXPERIENCED, NOT LEAST EXPERIENCED

Comrade Michael Agwulonu Talks with Willy

It’s August, and as our custom is, we bring you the juiciest interviews for your reading and enlightenment pleasure. Covering every region in the country remains a candid mission for us and in this post; we touch down in the South-West.

TWW brings you interviews with youth and student activists this month, and you don’t want to miss any of them. Questions would be answered, and myths would be demystified. Follow through with us as we delve into the world of unionism.

Let’s head over to our chat with our first guest for the month, Comrade Michael Agwulonu.

TWW: Could you tell us a bit about yourself?

MA: My name is Comr. Michael Chukwuemeka Agwulonu. I am a student of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

I am a dynamic student leader with a passion for harnessing quality thoughts for a better life and impact. I currently serve as the Ondo State Coordinator of NICESA SW, the Class Representative of my set (CVE Class '23), and the Chamber Proprietor of Daniels Chamber, FUTASU Bar Association.

I am also a Digital Marketing Strategist who is passionate about helping small and medium-sized businesses drive measurable growth in the digital space via digital marketing solutions. I am currently working as a Chief Marketing Officer at AdmPredict.

You can know more about me here

TWW: So, what does it mean to be an activist? How long have you been doing this? What drove you into this?

MA: To be an activist means you strongly believe in political or social change and take part in activities to try to make things happen—things that will cause sustainability and the development of your environment. As an activist, you must demonstrate your support for a cause or belief without putting yourself in danger.

Since September 2019, when I was called to the bar (as a Barrister) at the FUTASU Bar Association, I've been immersed in activism. I was introduced to an association called the FUTASU Bar Association, with the idea that I would be advocating for the rights of students restricted to the union court of law.

The association, in conjunction with the Judicial Council of the student union of the Federal University of Technology Akure, is committed to promoting the rule of law in the interest of the students and the school, and also providing legal solutions to the students’ legal issues within the school environment. 

I love the mission. As a student activist, I saw that there was more to gain, ranging from intellectual abilities, critical thinking, paying attention to detail, interpersonal relationships, communication, public speaking, leadership, advocacy, conflict resolution, problem-solving, and negotiation skills. I thought of my personal development through these skills and what I could do in my capacity to make the association grow. That drove me into student activism.

I connected it to my political responsibilities, as I served as the Class Representative of my departmental set.

TWW: How do you combine being a student with your extra-curricular activities?

MA: I will start by saying the extra-curricular activities I am involved in are more about leadership, politics, activism, spiritual welfare, and business. It has not been easy balancing these activities with my academics. At some point, I wanted to reduce them because of stress; emotional pressure that comes when I cannot make everyone happy in my duties; shortage of time to attend to my primary assignment; spending part of my personal finances to cater to people under my watch; disturbances from the people I lead; lack of gratitude from colleagues; and many more. But, I am trying my best to combine them without being affected and without leaving any activity unattended.

What I do to ensure that academic performance doesn’t become affected by my extra-curricular activities are:

First, I give priority to the most important activity over the others. There are times I will be loaded with so much work to do on a particular day – meeting with lecturers, attending classes, participating in meetings, attending to the needs of some students, and many more. I focus on one after the other according to its level of priority. If I can’t meet up with one activity, it is either postponed to another day or I make an excuse to miss the activity.

Second, I manage my time effectively. In my spare time, I plan out how I can meet up with tasks laid for me and read my books. I don’t also joke about my night classes. Also, I delegate some responsibilities to people who can assist me. I have an assistant and appointed some of my mates that are in their own way capable to lead to help in assisting me in carrying out my leadership responsibilities.

Finally, I built a passion for everything I involve myself in, and this has made it easy for me to be fully active and dedicate my time.

To balance up everything you involve yourself in, you need perseverance, tolerance, passion for what you do, and dedication.

TWW: The strength of student unionism looks like it is on the decrease, most student bodies are not really recognised outside of the schooling environment in comparison to earlier times. Is there hope that this would change one day or is student unionism dying out?

MA: I don’t think student unionism now can be compared to the earlier times. The impact or strength of student unionism outside the schooling environment is nothing to write home about. We are not getting it right. No one is ready to fight for the cause.

There are many factors that have affected student unionism nowadays. Everyone (the lecturers, the school management, the Student jagabans—outside and inside; the government; the alumni bodies; and the students themselves) wants to be involved in the regulations of the union. Some are based on their selfish interests (what they want to gain as an individual) and some are after the pursuit of power. There is no cordial relationship between the student union and the students they are leading because they are no longer promoting their interests. 

No be everyone sabi who dey lead dem, but they sha sabi say person dey there dey lead.

Once they get to know the attitudes of that person (if bad), they become disconnected from the system, thereby causing disunity and a lack of cooperation. Of the 100 percent of leaders, only about 20 percent show concern about the people they lead. We hope that the 20 percent can revive the system by leading by example.

I would like to use this opportunity to appreciate the work of the FUTA Student Union. They are concerned about the growth of the students and the school at large. The present administration has played a vital role in ensuring that the students have a say in the system and has organized activities to further that cause and to help them improve themselves. They are among the 20 percent that can revive the system.

TWW: A lot of so-called comrades today are known to intimidate their fellow students. Does this happen in your school and if yes, what steps are being taken to correct it?

MA: The Federal University of Technology Akure is not a joke in ensuring equity among students. I will tag the university as one of the most secure and disciplined tertiary institutions in Nigeria. No one will intimidate you, and if anyone is caught intimidating his fellow students, he or she will be sanctioned and be brought to the panel.

There have been cases when students threaten each other and even bully themselves, all in the name of school fatherism. The outcome was that they were expelled from the school.

The legal structure of the school is solid and has affected the actions of students within the school environment. You can't do something wrong and expect to be satisfied. There are some cases that come to our table as student advocates, and if it is beyond our capacity to deal with, we move it to the school management to take charge.

TWW: This is the 6^th month since the strike, how affected have you been by it?

MA: To be frank, the strike has affected me negatively in academics. By this, I mean I have little knowledge of what was taught during the few periods we had lectures before the strike. It is really difficult to open my books to read and understand because I can comprehend faster when I am in the midst of my fellow mates.

I have also missed my classmates. Our company, our collaboration, our interactions, and our collective intelligence hold special meaning for me. I also miss my lecturers, my chamber members, and my lodge mate. Also, as the Ondo State Coordinator of NICESA, I would have carried out physical outreach to all registered tertiary institutions under the association within Ondo State, but, the strike couldn’t permit me. The Federal Government really let us down big time.

In the same vein, I will say that I have been blessed positively during this strike. I am able to do what I am unable to do while in school because of time and resources. During this strike, I have been able to connect with more people, I have been equipped with productive activities, I have been able to attend more intellectual events that improve my knowledge in the field of Civil Engineering, and I have been able to work with people that I don’t think I can.

TWW: Has the stance of the Federal Government with respect to the impasse on the strike influenced your present decision on the choice of vote in the forthcoming elections?

MA: My voting decisions have always been dependent on personalities. But, the stance of the Federal Government with respect to the impasse on the strike has only made me see the leaders in control as those that lack a sense of belonging... and has also gyrated my focus on voting for someone who is concerned about making Nigeria better.

TWW: The popular voice of the youth today is with the Labour Party candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, and he also appears to be the least experienced among the three main runners. Do you think a shock victory is possible?

MA: And who told you that he was the least experienced among the three main runners? He is more experienced than others in all rounds. With his view about the solutions to the problems we are facing as a country, his educational background, and with his achievements as a one-time governor of Anambra State, you should refer him to someone more experienced. Others are just experienced in their bad governance and don’t even know what they want to offer.

No one knows tomorrow. Anything can happen in a second. As of now, Peter Obi is doing a good job intellectually, as evidenced by his appearances on TV shows, interviews, conferences, youth gatherings, and religious centers. If he wins, then we are victorious.

If any other person wins, then we are not yet there. But, my conscience is spared as I have played my role.

TWW: As we round up, do you think the youths would truly stand up and vote and defend their votes, or do you feel their actions would not go past social media?

MA: Youth can do more to ensure that we vote for the right person in power. And that role is to ensure that they stand up, vote, and defend their votes. But, definitely, not everyone will yield to this task because of their gain within a short period of time. But, we can try our best.

From what I am seeing, Peter Obi's political branding has gone far beyond social media. People are volunteering to campaign for him no matter what it will cost them. That is love for you. And who are the people doing it? The Youths

TWW: Finally, as we conclude, do you have any word for our readers, especially for students affected by the ASUU strike?

MA: Sure. I advise every student affected by this ASUU strike to use this medium to find something productive to do. It has been about 6 months since we’ve been at home. Can you ask yourself about the activities you’ve carried out during this period? If you cannot answer the question with productive activities, then you have to go back to your board. Do that productive thing you were not able to do at school due to time or resources; do it when you're free or have the opportunity.

Some of the things you can do in this period are:

First, involve yourself in learning a digital skill (those that are demanding in our present world). Second, attend seminars connected to your field or your interest. Participate in any personal development events. Apply for innovation competitions, if you have any business ideas.

You can also start a business or expand on existing ones, intern or volunteer for companies in your capabilities; register yourself in one or two professional bodies related to your field, and partake in the activities they organize.

And finally, have fun too.

TWW: Wow, what a session this has been. Thank you very much for this chat, sir.

MA: It’s my pleasure