Not matte how angrily erect a penis is, it will always lie back on the scrotum (a Tiv proverb).

The above proverb underscores the fury inherent in human emotions, particularly anger. In African society, whenever there is a score between two brothers, there is always room for reconciliation, no matter the offence. It is foolishness for two bro

hers to be at war with each other to a point that only the grave can unite them.

In the interest of the uninformed, the womb that births the above proverb is the current storm of dissension that almost swept the National Association of English and Literary Studies, UI off the coast of unity. And the proverbial angry penis we mention earlier is the ongoing verbal war between the NASELS President, Mr Awoyemi Michael, and the erstwhile PRO and current coach of the same association, Mr Adetokun Samuel.

During the weekend, the President sent a post on the NASELS UI Family WhatsApp group, requesting members to send in their takes on the alleged indictment of Mr Adetokun alias ASK alongside the ex-officials of the Oluwaseyi-led past administration for financial misconduct. The post literarily tore the house apart as members pitched their tent of support for the President and the embattled coach.

The bone of contention was that Mr Adetokun should step down as the coach of the NASELS male football team since he was a member of the indicted officials of the Oluwaseyi-led administration. The claims and counter claims that greeted this saga are such that this week (Friday) there would be a general congress to address the impasses that have cropped out of the whole palaver.

Mr Adetokun’s apology (defence) is that he is just being used by Michael as a scapegoat or the latter is on a “witch-hunt” mission for having opposed his candidature during the last election. In his rejoinder, ASK accused the president and his alleged “girlfriend” of always having personal grudges against him, hence the sudden vindictive mission.

Whether these allegations are true or false, the bottom line is that the constitution has to be strictly adhered to to solve this problem. The pro-Samuel faction are of the opinion that the whole matter is stale and buried in the sand of time since all the members of the past administration have graduated. So, digging out the past is not a good thing for Michael to do. Others are of the opinion that by singling out only Samuel, it is tantamount to injustice in justice; hence, Samuel should not become a sacrificial lamb to be slaughtered on the altar of justice for the atonement of the sins of others.

Valid as this logic may sound, have the pro-Samuel group forgot Williams Shakespeare’s warning in Julius Caesar which says, “The evil that men do lives after them; good is oft’n interred with their bones”? Perhaps they are right; for Samuel is but “an honourable man”. This is not to affirm his position anyway. But the ground of time past should not be advanced to address the issue at hand. The said sum of money for the controversial website has not been remitted to the association’s coffers as recommended by law.

On the other hand, the President should not in the course of ensuring justice allow personal sentiments to becloud his judgement. The fact is that the recommendations of the said committee were subject to approval by the Congress. It is true that the Congress mandated the then President, Miss Oluwatoni to implement the findings and recommendations of the Audit Committee. It is sad that she was not bold enough to take actions in that regard. So if justice is to be done, then all the members of the executive that made up that administration should be summoned as recommended by the Audit Committee to come and explain to the association how they plunged the association into such a huge debt.

Conversely, if the President feels that by virtue of his being a member of the Oluwaseyi-led administration, Samuel is not credible enough to serve NASELS in any capacity under his regime, and then the latter should respect such a decision. We cannot say that just because the matter in question had been overshadowed by time and space, it is a forgone conclusion. After all, our actions as human beings do not just perish in the cruel hand of time. Just as our quote earlier stated, actions are seeds which bear fruits.

Nevertheless, we cannot undermine the place of peace and reconciliation in this saga. It is truism that Samuel was a part and parcel of the past administration, and that he cannot exonerate himself from the collective role they played in the handling of the association’s finance. However, the President should either call him or his fellow ex-officials to account. But if otherwise, then the whole administration should be pardoned—-an act which although would encourage the already “chop and go” politics that reigns supreme among campus politician.

Furthermore, the pro-Michael and pro-Samuel camps must come together on the same negotiation table in so as to solve this conflict. It is true that many verbal swords have been drawn and arrows of abuses thrown at one another. However, peace must be given a chance in the interest of the association and for posterity sake.

The issue at hand can be settled without necessary punches of verbal assaults against one another. Although the Friday Congress was not able to address the matter to a reasonable conclusion, due to the lateness of Samuel, the next should take the form of a reconciliation meeting than a battle about to be fought by the seemingly warring factions.

Efforts should also be made to instil in the consciousness of every NASELSites that leadership is first a moral responsibility and trust. It is at an avenue to test once integrity and character. Hence if given the opportunity to serve, one should not abuse it.
It must be committed to very member during the Congress that he who is faithful in little can exhibit the same when saddled with a bigger responsibility, hence, the need to avoid any act that would cast those entrusted with leadership in a bad light.

We hope that the already sharp verbal swords cutting bigger wounds deeper into the integrity of the two factions would be shielded and the injured would be healed with the balm of reconciliatory words which will restore peace and unity for the growth and prosperity of NASELS UI.