By: Akinsola Rebecca.

Over the years, important historical events that remind of heroic personality have been reduced to mere partying and whining. We tend to forget the main purpose of remembrance ceremonies as years go by and if purpose is forgotten, essence will be missing. There is however the need to ask if our union is learning from our past heroes or not. The Student Union Government of the University of Ibadan under the administration of Team Rebirth led by Samson Samuel Tobiloba sets aside February 1, 2024 to remember Adekunle Adepeju, a 200L student of the department of Agricultural Economics, University of Ibadan who was shot on 1st February, 1971. He was reported to have died at 23 while trying to rescue another student who was injured during a demonstration by students over low quality of welfare and catering in the university. An official public release, signed by the incumbent president of the union, was issued on 31st of January, 2024 to invite students to join in the event of the remembrance of the deceased tagged “53rd Remembrance day for Kunle Adepeju.” The scheduled activities of the day were graveyard visitation, candle night and gyration.

The actions of Adekunle are indisputably heroic and significant to the spirit of brotherhood and unionism; however, many students are of the opinion that the remembrance, considering its modalities, was of no significant advantage to the students and the academic community. No doubt, we respect and value the deceased, nonetheless organizing a festive day to party and celebrate may not be necessary. I overheard some students accusing the union of mismanaging funds in putting this together( although it might not cost a luxury as imagined). A student who pleaded anonymity says “if the funds used for all these activities was used to sponsor some other students who are yet to pay their fees, would Kunle not be more pleased in heaven? Well, everyone cannot be satisfied and our opinions do not often count or improve the course of things in the present but they can promote great transformation after now.

Now, to the big question, is the ceremony a necessity or a misplaced priority? Maybe, I might not have a yes or no answer to this question but my opinion may help you see this in another light.

Is the remembrance needed? Yes. Which better way should we have remembered the martyr? Gyrating and frying “akara” for a 53 years corpse is ridiculous and absurd. If the major purpose of the remembrance was to remind the students of the need for brotherhood, encourage the improvement of the student’s welfare ( nothing really changed after his death. Infact the education sector is now worse and the students are not welfared) and to also remind the students of their dead heroes, a better awareness programme would have served us best. The Union should have looked into educating and sensitizing the students on their rights and the need for brotherhood in remodeling our tertiary institutions into a home even for the poor masses. Kunle Adepeju has done his part for the university and has gone but how are we also going to stand against the stray bullets of incessant increment in fees, poor education facilities and other problems being fired at the Nigerian student?

Remembering Adekunle should not add to the long list of events in the second semester. We can as well sleep and face why we are here instead of gyrating. The world is in need of heroes who will rise against the status quo and change the game, the messiah(s) we are expecting will not come from heaven but will rise from amongst us, and until they arise, our dead will continue to mock our cries and clamour for change. Do I blame the Student Union executives for attempting to immortalize the deceased? Of Course not, at least we are more aware of the exploits of our dead heroes like Kunle Adepeju. We can only do better by not making a party out of every event. In this academic environment, education comes first; we would be more grateful to be educated even though we are fun lovers.

The memories of parties and merriment will fade but lessons taught will stick to us even outside the walls of the university and it will encourage us to do our part to change the world. The University is in need of more activists like Adekunle. To crown this, the students are to be empowered to stand against injustice and mistreatment even if the only means to do that is public demonstrations and peaceful protests. What legacy are we going to leave for the next generation? Definitely not partying!