FROM THE HORSE'S MOUTH with Abdulhafeez Oyewole (Part two)

This week chat is one I would not soon forget in the history of many chats I’ve had with people personally. Why? Because I received the best fortunate news of my life! It’s a tidbit about Pen Club. Did I just say that? Yes, the revelation you will get to identify with in this edition of the special exclusive media chat with another students’ leader. Lest I forget, I am Abdulhafeez T. Oyewole, the Editor-in-Chief of the highly respected Pen Club of the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria;  welcoming you on board.

As promised last time, I have the honour of bringing to you the President of National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS) in person of Mr. Rilwan Bello who talked about the achievements of NAPSS under his watch to the extent that he lost count. He is however of the belief that, the best way to serve God is by serving His creatures.

Excerpts>>>

Pen Club Editor (P.ED): This is Abdulhafeez Oyewole, the Editor-in-Chief of Pen Club of ABU Zaria (cuts)

NAPSS President (N.P): Oh, Pen Club! I have been hearing about you guys o.

P.ED: (Smiles) Really? Thank you sir, I am highly elated to have heard this from you. We’ve been sending our reporters around.

N.P: Yes, actually, actually, it’s true.

P.ED: And I am very glad to have a chat with you this day.

N.P: Okay. It’s a pleasure. Thank you for having me.

P.ED: To get started, who is Mr. Bello Rilwan?

Ridwan Bello aka Alomo, NAPSS President, ABU Chapter

N.P: (Smiles) who am I? I am Bello Rilwan ‘na’ (grin). Well, I’m Bello Rilwan, a 400 level student of the Department of Political Science and I am also the President, National Association of Political Science Students (NAPSS). I think that will suffice, right?

P.ED: (Smiles) it doesn’t. We would like to know about your academic and family background.

N.P: (Giggles) in fact, I never knew it. Okay! I am from a family of four, from Kwara State, Nigeria. I live in Lagos and I did my primary School in Lagos. Then I proceeded to Command Secondary School, Kaduna to do my Secondary School and after that, I was so fortunate; (should I say I am so fortunate or deserve it ?) to be in Ahmadu Bello University [ABU], Zaria and right now like I said earlier, I am studying the science of politics.

P.ED: So, what is the journey of NAPSS so far like under your watch as the President?

N.P: Okay. It has been challenging in the most beautiful way actually. We’ve been able to achieve some of our manifestos. The tenure is still on board. We are not yet concluded. We just hope we are able to achieve the remaining few manifestos that we promised at the inception of the regime and it’s, like I said stressful in the most beautiful way.

P.ED: Okay. What are the success stories you’re talking about under the manifesto of your government? In other words, brief us on it.

N.P:  Wow! Okay.. Last week [month ending], we wanted to see our H.O.D [Head of Department] before the commencement of the administration [Second Semester progrogramme(s)]. We usually go around to our Patrons, the H.O.D and likewise to concerned lectures to show them our programmes, our intended projects. I wasn’t counting because I lost count. And fortunately of the eight programmes in our manifesto, we’ve been able to achieve six so far.

P.ED: Like what and what?

N.P: I’m going to tell you that.. When we started the government, we divided our programmes into two: the tangible and intangible parts of the project. The tangible include: the renovation of our garden; as in, not just renovation, in fact, the reconstruction of the entire garden. That is the Aristotle Garden of Political Science; reconstruction and re-wiring of the walkway lights. If you know ABU very well, our [Pol. Sci. Dept.] lamps on the walk way stopped working and we were able to fix that overnight. We were able to provide wireless at the Department, so people can browse and we were also able to secure a Secretariat; office, so to say for the Association, ermm.. we… I can’t remember, I can’t remember all [chuckles].

Renovated Aristotle Garden of Political Science Department, ABU Zaria

Erm.. Yah, in terms of finance, we design a programme called Financial Update Mechanism, because we believe or we still believe that financial status is every man’s right. Every member ought to know: what we have, how much we spent, what we are doing with their money. So at every time we have a congress, we always give them an update on whatever we are doing with the funds. This is a programme designed by this administration also. I can’t really remember all.

P.ED: What are the challenges that are confronting NAPSS presently or the union has faced?

N.P: Uhm, the challenges that we’ve faced so far is finance, though I see it as no problem but as a challenge because I believe in managing the little resources you have, to achieve so many. But obviously if you get more finance, of course you’re going to get much more.

Support again from… let me say guest visitors to achieve certain thing. Like for our public lecture, I went to Abuja to see some of our Alumni that could grace the occasion. That has been very challenging also. I think these are some of our few challenges but we are able to overcome most of them.

P.ED: So, if I get you correctly, you mean your led-NAPSS relationship with lecturers and students is cordial and thus is not among the challenges? 

N.P: No, no, no; that’s not a challenge at all because, my personal philosophy is that sometimes in politics, it is necessary that you play your cards very open, because you have got nothing to hide. So, since we are that transparent and we have nothing to hide, so the relationship has been intimate.

P.ED: How would you assess the serving Executives in your cabinet?

N.P: Thank you for reminding me about my Exco. My Exco has been very wonderful. In fact, without them, we would have achieved very little. I will like to categorically called Salam Amdi, the Secretary General who is [at the time of the interview] in Abuja also for NAPSS assignment. Also, the treasurer Umar Suleiman has been very accountable and transparent. He shares the same view with the government. We’ve also got the Editor-in-Chief for organizing our magazine; a lot of them. Loveth, the D.O.S (Director of Sports) of the Association, and others; they have been wonderful. They are the best people to work with actually.

P.ED: What are other things NAPPSITES should be expecting from this regime?

N.P: Yeah… like I said, we’ve implemented all our tangible projects that we promised since first semester. Now the intangible one includes tutorial. We have started our tutorial since first semester; so I won’t count it as something yet achieved. Also, the Public lecture that is coming up on the 24^th of September and the debate we would be organizing with different Departments. So, these are just the few things that we promised in the manifesto that are yet to be fulfilled and we hope by the end of this month. They will all be fulfilled.

P.ED: Alright. Who are you hoping or expecting to take over from your led-administration?

N.P: My expectation is very simple. We need people that are service oriented, and that’s just what we deserve. Some one that we do better than we’ve done, someone that we see leadership as not an avenue to enrich himself but as an opportunity to serve and not to be served. So, we are looking for people that are service oriented and we are so glad with the kind of response we are getting because of the way we’ve been able to handle the Association. So, the kind of people that are coming out, the kind of programme that are promising, I think they have been very positive. We hope the best persons emerge.

P.ED: Any anointed candidate yet?

N.P: (Grins) no, no, no; we don’t do that. (Smiles) we are very Democratic. Nothing like Godfatherism [here].

P.ED: It’s really nice you cleared the air on this. What are your last words for your colleagues in the struggle, fellow students and perhaps lectures?

N.P: Okay. I have a personal philosophy which is the best way to serve God is by serving His creatures. Okay, whenever I speak, I am always talking about service because this is paramount. The creatures here include the people, plants, animals, everything; because there is really nothing we can actually give to God. So by serving the creature, I just simply mean being service oriented and so if you do that, it means for me, you are really serving God. Because, there is nothing we can give to God. So the best way to serve His creatures is by doing the right things, by propagating peace, service to humanity generally and all those goods stuffs. Everybody knows that.   

P.ED: Thanks for giving us your time.

N.P: Thank you for having me.

P.ED: Hope you would honour our call when next we call on you.

N.P: Of course. And I hope when we invite you for our programmes, you will be there.

P.ED: Most definitely. Just ensure that we are informed about the programme prior to the time.

That has been it on today’s edition of “FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH with Abdulhafeez Oyewole”, Join me, by God’s grace, next week for another interesting chatting moment with another interesting star guest. I know you won’t want to miss out. Do have a rosy week in entirety! Bye for now.