Lessons from; THE DISCOURSE

There couldn’t have been a more fulfilling Monday than the one which witnessed our much awaited expected event: THE DISCOURSE which was birthed by AMITY to seek an end to the various forms of bias which had plagued our community. The serious discussion, as the dictionary meaning of the tag implies, had about 120 LASUCOMites in attendance and our esteemed mentor, Professor Babatunde Solagberu.

THE DISCOURSE; witnessed the keynote address of professor Solagberu which centered on changing our biases. The surgeon dissected the topic by enlightening, exposing, and challenging students on the context of religion and practices in different parts of the world. In his words “religion is just an identity, nothing more” this left the audience stunned before stating that “nobody should discriminate on religious grounds, only a weakling would”.  The Professor further hit the point when he reiterated that “most of us practice the religion of our parents who are from certain geographic areas whose religious distribution is predictable, only a minute few do not”.  Religion should never be that which separates us the most, it should never be bought as a sentiment in politics. Rather, it should make better persons of us and hence prepare us for a sterling future. If it is brought to the grounds of partisan politics the result is shallow thoughts of followers and leaders alike, resulting in poor leadership and dwindling results. On a final note he postulated that only a few things can be more correct than the words of Mahatma Gandhi that “God has no religion”. Hence, we should never tag others as lesser nor count one’s self superior over another.

There were video presentations that centered on discrimination, sentiments, and competence. These presentations were deliberate actions, strategically placed to further prove our points on erasing religious bias and its other brothers from the hearts of our audience.

The panel discussion was the most awaited part of the event as for some it was tagged “the moment of truth” intelligent questions where posed to the panelists of past and present leaders of faith based associations; with the singular aim of educating the populace on past events which had involved religious bodies and the politicking of the land, present policies and a plan for eliminating such ungodly trends in LASUCOM.  To a reasonable extent the panel raised did not disappoint as she spoke in one voice condemning  all forms of bias and with a truth drenched tone reiterated past occasions where they were involved collectively or as persons with regret. 

On proposing solutions; a leadership of all round competence was placed as an irrevocable standard for the association. Furthermore, to curb the trend via nibbling it in the bud a proposal that all religious associations should hands off allocating rooms to incoming 200 level students, while LASUMSA wakes up to her duties was put forward. The audience was not left out of the discussion as quality ideas also emanated from all who spoke; worthy of note is an idea as proposed by one “alhaja” which threw some dust in the air and strained some nerves; she proposed that “The university chooses roommates and rooms for students which would in the long run initiate religio-ethnic tolerance over time in the culture of our student life.

The panelists arrived at a resolve that competence should form the very basis of voting any aspirant, not religious or friendship sentiments.

The discourse came to a climax with contestants in the upcoming elections making personal and public statements/pledges towards competence and abhorring religious bias and every other forms of bias; it was really surprising to hear some say things like “if I am not competent do not vote me in” which followed the symbolic signing of the pledge to competence roll-up banners. Trust LASUCOMITES they all quickly joined in the campaign via signing and pledging to competence.

On a final note the summary remains that anyone who campaigns or supports on other grounds rather than competence is handicapped.  LASUCOMites are advised to look critically, think deeply, see ahead, and make their research before deciding who to vote or who not to.

 

DISCLAIMER: If any candidate believes that this initiative is brought up to support/deface him or her, the same is meant to be living in Otueke and celebrating yam festival, nowhere near the Medical school. An advice; you better face your campaign squarely……if you lose/win don’t think we are part of our success/failure story. Chikena!