Why we honoured S.L. Akintola – Students

BY MUSLIUDEEN ADEBAYO, IBADAN

The Federation of Oyo State Students Union (FOSSU) National Council and the local chapter of the union at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, recently conferred a posthumous honorary award in honour of the former premier of the defunct Western region, late Samuel Ladoke Akintola.

According to the students, this gesture was to recognize his great works and to celebrate the distinct legacies of the late premier as a role model to the youths in defending the unity of the nation.

The students also proposed the commencement of S.L. Akintola distinguished and personality lecture / award where martyrs and distinguished personalities who have excelled in their various fields would be honored.

FOSSU National Vice President, Abdullahi Adeyemi, said it is very disheartening that since the establishment of LAUTECH, no event has been organized to celebrate the great work of the martyr in the history of Nigeria politics.

He said the need to celebrate him prompted thenational body of the union and the institution’s chapter to organize the event that took place at M.K.O. Abiola lecturetheatre on the Thursday 27thSeptember this year.

Nwolise, Head, Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan delivered a lecture on “Politics and Good Governance in Contemporary Nigeria: The Role of the Youths in Ensuring Good Governance, listed, among others, the roles of the Nigerian youths to include public education, enlightenment and mobilization, campaigns, constructive criticisms, excursion and visits campaigns and vote for good people in government, refuse and expose blood money and tacking positions on various issues as they affect them and the society.

Responding on behalf of the family while receiving the award, Amb Yomi Akintola, said he is proud of the honor given his late father. He equally promised to support them to actualize the yearly S.L. Akintola posthumous awards of excellence by the students which will commences next year as proposed by the students.