Greatest Ife.I miss the Aluta, just like yesterday,

Great refresher there, Cicero.

I came in when Burkina was the president. The guy was a good speaker and a fine boy, to boot. I remember the day he was impeached. It was in Amphi theatre and he restricted all moves to get him impeached but after a couple of attempts the students succeeded.

After him was Akin Revolution. He also tried. Then came Hemhem. Hemhem was like a school father to me being a friend to my sister in their set. I worked for Hemhem; in fact, our room(Rm 189 Awo) was his informal campaign secretariat. In fact, I was one of the first people to advise him to contest for Presidency, having lost Secretary General in 3 consecutive times. I read the political mood on campus at the time and I knew Hemhem stood chance. Hemhem used to be a well respected voice in Students congresses then and his suggestions on 'way forward' were usually widely accepted at that period when the campus needed vibrant leadership. It worked. He won.
But along the line he derailed in his presidency, and trust Great ife students, they wasted no time in impeaching him.

Then there was Diamond and later Saburi who had also lost an earlier attempt.

Ife politics was interesting. One thing about Ife is that if a leader messes up, teh students waste no time in impeaching him.

Manifesto nights are usually sights to behold. 5000 seater Amphi theatre filled to brim with every space filled. The crowd, the fun, teh fireworks, the politicking, the shouts, till late in the night and the political songs after the manifesto.

OAU is indeed a Great uni,i rememba wen i was der,i stayed in Fajuyi hall in my 1st year,unlike Awo&Angola hall,its a little bit free 4m unnessary joke(Aro).Except in part one,i stayed in town(igboro)as popularly called by buses condoctors.i can neva 4get life on campus,readng lik mad,old&new buka,moz at evening,stress of d test&exams,dose sturbon lecturers,Aluta continual,Amphi theater lectures in part one,results e.t.c.Great!Great!Great Ifeeeeeee!

Great Ife, u are really great, u really shapen my mind set, congratulating you on your 50th anniversary,

I came in when BigSam was the president.Then there was the IFE 4 issue in court.Then,i think Carl then Ropo Ewenla,then Vakama and the Legacy.The election of Legacy was very funny,

pcicero:

I was in OAU between 1998 and 2002. Stayed in Angola in year 1. Awo Hall all the way till graduation.
I was active in student union politics. I was a radical but a centre of the left.
Vakama (Victor Akinjo Kolade) was the president of SUG in my first year. We were told that votes from UJCM and other politically naïve students brought him to power. The embargo on Students Unionism had just been lifted after the Tony Fash debacle in 1995. It was during his term that Obasanjo visited after his release from prison in October 98. Obasanjo was asked to prostrate for his anti-students role during his military regime. But Prof. Omole the VC and Vakama saved the day. Vakama later became Special Adviser to Obasanjo on Students and Youth Matters.
Late Bola Ige also came  and we were awed by his erudition. I took the name Cicero after listening to him.
Then Lanre Legacy became the next SUG president. He was a member of DSM. Legacy's words could move mountains. He was the quintessential leader. It was during Legacy's tenure that the killings took place on July 10,1999. I was staying in Awo and had barely left the Kegites coronation at Awo Cafe when the shootings started. I was at New Buka earlier on with friends and some union guys (most of whom were my firends) came to tell us that they heard some cultists were planning to attack. Unfortunately, the usual preemptive raid on suspected student cultists was unsuccessful as they were eager to return to the Kegites gyration at Awo Cafe.
It was sorrow, tears and blood the next day, as the cultists had murdered Afrika (Yemi Iwilade) the then SUG Secretary and other students. The solemn mood and the fear of possible reprisal attacks on suspected cult members led to the closure of the school. Prof. Wale Omole lost his job because some students manipulated him as the possible sponsor of the attacks due to his anti-students stance.

Dr 3As became the next president. He was a member of the Pacesetter political movement (CLO and CDHR) and they had many senior lecturers as patrons. His term was marred by confrontations with Prof. Rogers Makanjuola whom many students had been supporting to take-over as the next Vice Chancellor. Many believed that his closeness to some lecturers who felt bitter about Prof. Makanjuola choice as VC were responsible for the confrontations.

Yinka Sotade (Burkina) was the next SUG president. He is a very close friend. We are still in touch. I contested as the Clerk of the SRC but was persuaded to step down for a friend who was later removed and later supported Charles Ubani (a fellow member of SRC from Arts constituency).
Burkina became unpopular for accepting to serve as a member of a security panel set up by FG. He was also believed to have strayed from the ideals of his political group- DSM (democratic socialists movement). I was one of his few supporters when he was ousted.

I was a secretary of the election petition committee that brought in the next SUG president- Akin Revolution of CWA. It was my final year and I had served as a member of the SRC (students' representatives council) and PRO of the Transport Committee of the Students Union.
I went back for MBA in 2006 and finished in 2008.

I remember the day the whole IFE congress pursued Burkina along road 1, i was just coming from town and i saw this guy running like a madman along the road, then i saw behind him a heaving mass of students pursuing him with equal fervor, men it was a sight. my OAU was a mad school.

Jarus:

Manifesto nights are usually sights to behold. 5000 seater Amphi theatre filled to brim with every space filled. The crowd, the fun, teh fireworks, the politicking, the shouts, till late in the night and the political songs after the manifesto.

Jarus, you political foot soldiers especially from the DSM bloc did a lot of harm of avoidable harm, i did not have time nor patience for most of your rhetorics because i could see thru them and politics for me was just too selfish.
A lot of political violence was caused by DSM, i remember how they beat 'have you eaten' to coma and that was the end of the guy. Nobody heard from him ever since, i think that was the election that brought in Burkina.

Kamali:

I came in when BigSam was the president.Then there was the IFE 4 issue in court.Then,i think Carl then Ropo Ewenla,then Vakama and the Legacy.The election of Legacy was very funny,

Bros,

what happened at the Legacy election. I heard about how Ife students burnt Vakama's properties. The same thing happened to Dr. 3As when he went and start the OAU pure water venture, which for me i think was not a bad idea in itself but the DSM boys would not have it.

Though still a student, i'm quite aware of the past experiences of d great citadel of learning. For Jarus & Demdem, Faj has also come of age- we're gradually taking the shine out of Awo. IMO, Faj is now d most-sought after hall in OAU now.

@Rabzy.

Legacy election was very funny.The SU's(Christian Union ) wanted another candidate but the other students wanted Legacy.Then Legacy was the Student Union PRO.The night Legacy was declared President was a night to remember, Come see crowd,

Student Unionism has died down now as Prof Omole (new VC) has refused to reinstate d Union. Though i stayed in Faj in my part 1, 2 & 3, i hope to stay in ETF for my final year coz i cherish my privacy. Though i regularly go to the common room for EPL matches which is also an avenue for students to catch fun. I can never forget the 'aro', 'ekaro se foso', 'talo n jona'<-anytime someone's food is burning, 'apa'<-whenever an electric spark occurs as a result of numerous connection of hotplates!

Gonorrhea Could Join Growing List of Untreatable Diseases

Is the new VC related to Prof Wale Omole that was a previous VC.Omole was the VC in the year we entered.I remember the aluta to reinstate Adeola Soetan(SHOW).Omole had to be dragged to Amphi .There he commited to reinstating SHOW.We heard SHOW was a president of president in Ife.He was part of the the IFE 4.It think Demola Yahya,Tony Fashayo and Seeni Ajayi were the others,

rabzy:

Jarus, you political foot soldiers especially from the DSM bloc did a lot of harm of avoidable harm, i did not have time nor patience for most of your rhetorics because i could see thru them and politics for me was just too selfish.
A lot of political violence was caused by DSM, i remember how they beat 'have you eaten' to coma and that was the end of the guy. Nobody heard from him ever since, i think that was the election that brought in Burkina.

I was never a DSMite, nor a Marxist like them. In fact, I have more leaning towards Pacesetter than DSM. They are too ideological and sometimes violent for me.

I actually wasn't active at the campus level, only in my department where I played Godfather role until i came out for election myself in final year and lost

But I followed campus politics very well and did some underground work for Hemhem. I also used to use my weekly column, POINTBLANK, in Economics Dept's press outfit, ECONOMIC INSIGHT, to express strong voice on campus politics.

Some dude posted this piece on FB, thought I should share here.

I fell in love with you the first time I beheld
your alluring graduer of natural beauty,
your enchanting intelect, and your sense of culture I found irresistible,
I saw you and something leapt in me.

, But, I knew I had to be a champ to even catch your attention,
the bests were not just good enough for you,
you insisted on the best of the bests,
you have your ways of attracting them.

Two years of consistent stalking, waiting around the faculty of law
just so you could look my way,
my joy knew no bound the day you finally called me by my full name,
gave me a number, and whispered the word 'yes' to me, 'yes' to my dreams.

In you, I found faith in God and faith in myself,
you added shine to my glitters,
A kiss, just a kiss, a touch of our lips,
and I am blown away far above the skies.

You opened your petals at my tapping, I am one of the lucky few,
I was with you, once, and I have never been the same again.
Just thinking about you awakens the poet in me,
and your song, our song, I still sing with drunken ecstasy.

Those who never got a chance with you may continue to hate on you
and call me crazy for singing your glory,
we can' t blame them, can we?
you are a beautiful experience that eluded them.

I carry you with pride, and I promise to always do you proud,
I love you. I really love you my Great Ife.

pcicero:

I was in OAU between 1998 and 2002. Stayed in Angola in year 1. Awo Hall all the way till graduation.
I was active in student union politics. I was a radical but a centre of the left.
Vakama (Victor Akinjo Kolade) was the president of SUG in my first year. We were told that votes from UJCM and other politically naïve students brought him to power. The embargo on Students Unionism had just been lifted after the Tony Fash debacle in 1995. It was during his term that Obasanjo visited after his release from prison in October 98. Obasanjo was asked to prostrate for his anti-students role during his military regime. But Prof. Omole the VC and Vakama saved the day. Vakama later became Special Adviser to Obasanjo on Students and Youth Matters.
Late Bola Ige also came and we were awed by his erudition. I took the name Cicero after listening to him.
Then Lanre Legacy became the next SUG president. He was a member of DSM. Legacy's words could move mountains. He was the quintessential leader. It was during Legacy's tenure that the killings took place on July 10,1999. I was staying in Awo and had barely left the Kegites coronation at Awo Cafe when the shootings started. I was at New Buka earlier on with friends and some union guys (most of whom were my firends) came to tell us that they heard some cultists were planning to attack. Unfortunately, the usual preemptive raid on suspected student cultists was unsuccessful as they were eager to return to the Kegites gyration at Awo Cafe.
It was sorrow, tears and blood the next day, as the cultists had murdered Afrika (Yemi Iwilade) the then SUG Secretary and other students. The solemn mood and the fear of possible reprisal attacks on suspected cult members led to the closure of the school. Prof. Wale Omole lost his job because some students manipulated him as the possible sponsor of the attacks due to his anti-students stance.

Dr 3As became the next president. He was a member of the Pacesetter political movement (CLO and CDHR) and they had many senior lecturers as patrons. His term was marred by confrontations with Prof. Rogers Makanjuola whom many students had been supporting to take-over as the next Vice Chancellor. Many believed that his closeness to some lecturers who felt bitter about Prof. Makanjuola choice as VC were responsible for the confrontations.

Yinka Sotade (Burkina) was the next SUG president. He is a very close friend. We are still in touch. I contested as the Clerk of the SRC but was persuaded to step down for a friend who was later removed and later supported Charles Ubani (a fellow member of SRC from Arts constituency).
Burkina became unpopular for accepting to serve as a member of a security panel set up by FG. He was also believed to have strayed from the ideals of his political group- DSM (democratic socialists movement). I was one of his few supporters when he was ousted.

I was a secretary of the election petition committee that brought in the next SUG president- Akin Revolution of CWA. It was my final year and I had served as a member of the SRC (students' representatives council) and PRO of the Transport Committee of the Students Union.
I went back for MBA in 2006 and finished in 2008.

You were my set. I remember all these events very vividly, I miss IFE

My Great Ife Poem-Originally written as a Part 1 Student in 1997

Babbles of disconcerted voices
All attempting to define
A scene beyond description
, An assembly of psychos
All let loose on poor humanity
Each displaying abnormal tendencies
Striving to outdo the other
In acts of incalculable calumny
Awo Hall for you

Fairies come visiting to planet earth
Angelic and cherubic maidens
Dreamy eyed paragons
All residing in Mozambique
And yet some have the guts to say
That the beautiful ones are not yet born
Moz 101 for you

Take a trip to Moremi
And you risk a case of eternal entanglement
For the oldbirds do not want to be left out
In the bid for Mr Right
No play without a promise of marriage
Scratch my back and I scratch yours

The Rwandan child may look healthier than you do
After transversing the great distance
From Angola to Ajose
Only to speed back to Health Sciences
To listen to lecturers that are voiceless
In a marriage of convenience with the board
Bombarding you with innumerable formula
Whose applicability remain a mystery
White House for you!

A citadel of higher learning
Abound with palatial and gigantic structures
The likes of Spider Building and Oduduwa Hall
All reside in Africa's most beautiful campus
A first among equals, even in its heavenly landscape

People with diverse cultures
Aiming to reach the olympian heights of knowledge
Aros and Eficos all combined
To give a hybridized specie

In stress and strain we live
And yet still claim all day long
That Ife is truly great.
Great Ife!

Idris Aloma Bello- July 23, 1997-Room H4, Angola Hall, OAU, Ile-Ife

hapi golden jubilee to my sch

Is dis the same aloma,i think i remember you. Greatest Ife !!

Show me another school in Nigeria where you can have this kind of spirit or emotion across a diversity of students!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_POJbeP69M

I finished from Ife too, but av come to realise that the greatness is just an illusion,an appendage and an appellation to brag with. Anyway sha , Greatest IFE, !! Great ! Great !

I was in Ife during the days of Anthony Fashayo, Ife delayed our resumption becos of June12 election, 4 year course turned to 6,MOPOL invasion of 1999, funny enof I was one of the students captured by MOPOLwe slept the night at More Police station,that same night as the inmates were praying for Nigeria we heard about the death of Tunde Idiagbon in detention.

I remember Fabro of econs dept,Pedro of Mech engine,Asaolu of accounting,Prof Wande Abimbola,Omole,Rogers,omo sesewa,Iya shefoso,risky burger,Mojo,snooker tables,Faj Cafe,Awo cafe,Rotunda,Amphi theatre,Forks n fingers,UJCM,Casor,CLF,SCM,CHARIS,ECU,the muslim union.I remember when we had Jihad in Oau,when Jihadist distrupted exams and sports guys burnt muslims praying mats b4 they returned from jumat prayer, the jihadist returned and spoilt tech instruments of some xtian fellowships, the school was closed after the ugly incident.

I remember iyan forogi,dapo,motion ground,staff quarters,New buka,old buka,iya egin in old buka,oau community bank,amala and ponmo joint at pharmacy,Mr thinker at the entrance of Angola hall, I remember when Ife used to have underground electric cables b4 they converted everything to overhead poles. I remember zoological garden,MOZ 101,I remember when sports hall used to be mixed (both boys and girls) they moved guys into Faj and Faj never remained the same. I remember sports complex,archy studio,Health centre,I remember Lagere,town Gboro Buses,I remember when we used to av artist coming to perform at amphi and oduduwa hall .

If for anything, the fun alone makes Ife great, E je ka bu Iya ara wa oooooo ! Animal Kingdom. Great Ife !

2b continued,

This Aloma video of Lagbaja reminded me of Shina peter's touch and pay of 1994.It was then unthink of that a student could do such a thing,

Great Ife! For Learning and Culture.

<iframe width="425" height="344[flash=425,344][/flash]" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/v1Qh_fyVHFw"

@ kamali
Abeg, no twist history oo. Ropo Ewela was never the president of the SUG. We were in ANA (association of Nigerian authors) together. I learnt he contested but he never won. Carl was before Tony Fash. There was no SUG election after Tony Fash until Vakama's election.

@st.domain
Yes, I knew. I saw your earlier post.we were same set.

franktolk:

I finished from Ife too, but av come to realise that the greatness is just an illusion,an appendage and an appellation to brag with. Anyway sha , Greatest IFE, !! Great ! Great !

I was in Ife during the days of Anthony Fashayo, Ife delayed our resumption becos of June12 election, 4 year course turned to 6,MOPOL invasion of 1999, funny enof I was one of the students captured by MOPOLwe slept the night at More Police station,that same night as the inmates were praying for Nigeria we heard about the death of Tunde Idiagbon in detention.

I remember Fabro of econs dept,Pedro of Mech engine,Asaolu of accounting,Prof Wande Abimbola,Omole,Rogers,omo sesewa,Iya shefoso,risky burger,Mojo,snooker tables,Faj Cafe,Awo cafe,Rotunda,Amphi theatre,Forks n fingers,UJCM,Casor,CLF,SCM,CHARIS,ECU,the muslim union.I remember when we had Jihad in Oau,when Jihadist distrupted exams and sports guys burnt muslims praying mats b4 they returned from jumat prayer, the jihadist returned and spoilt tech instruments of some xtian fellowships, the school was closed after the ugly incident.

I remember iyan forogi,dapo,motion ground,staff quarters,New buka,old buka,iya egin in old buka,oau community bank,amala and ponmo joint at pharmacy,Mr thinker at the entrance of Angola hall, I remember when Ife used to have underground electric cables b4 they converted everything to overhead poles. I remember zoological garden,MOZ 101,I remember when sports hall used to be mixed (both boys and girls) they moved guys into Faj and Faj never remained the same. I remember sports complex,archy studio,Health centre,I remember Lagere,town Gboro Buses,I remember when we used to av artist coming to perform at amphi and oduduwa hall .

If for anything, the fun alone makes Ife great, E je ka bu Iya ara wa oooooo ! Animal Kingdom. Great Ife !

2b continued,

The great Dapo

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1043907941

In all our celebrations, let us remember Obafemi Awolowo. When others were using the money from oil boom to build empires and strengthen caliphates, he build Cocoa house, NTA and Great Ife! Today, how many universities can compete with OAU's infrastructure?

pcicero:

@ kamali
Abeg, no twist history oo. Ropo Ewela was never the president of the SUG. We were in ANA (association of Nigerian authors) together. I learnt he contested but he never won. Carl was before Tony Fash. There was no SUG election after Tony Fash until Vakama's election.

I hope NASU(Non Academic Students) or sesewa have not invaded the thread o

great ife.

great ife

Great Ife made me what I am today. I am always glad to be associated with Great Ife! - For Learning and Culture!!

@Demdem
What !!!!!! My Jesus! is that Dapo now ? has he turned white or e rub powder for face as usual, na wah ooo. I remember when Candle break inside hin , very funny . Thanks for the pics/Insight