After close to two weeks of silence, the suspended President of the Great Ife Students Union, Omotayo Akande, aka TY, has finally spoken on his suspension.

In a statement released on the 12th of August, he said that the invitation letter for the UN conference was received by the Assistant Secretary-General, Kelvino and then forwarded to the Financial Secretary,  AY SUG, during the mid-semester break. By the time he got the letter and was able to formally apply, the deadline was approaching. A letter was then drafted requesting for school sponsorship.  When the time came to append signatures, it was discovered that neither the Secretary-General nor Assistant we’re around. He said,” All members of the CEC present at the students’ union building we’re very much aware of my invitation except for those that travelled”.

He admitted that the non-appending of the necessary signatures was a “constitutional aberration “. He also said that the parliament should have been informed, but this was during the mid-semester break.  He admitted that an alternative could have through bulk SMS. He said,” Signing alone flawed democracy,  and our Union’s long tradition. I APOLOGISE UNRESERVEDLY”.

He finally raised the question as to whether his suspension was actually a vendetta. He noted that in a Parliament of 150 Honourables, only 56 were on seat, and 29 voted in favour of his suspension. While commending the Parliament for implementing check and balance, he raised the issue of the severity of the punishment. He said,”This therefore   places serious question of political interest and objectivity on the suspension…several political gladiators have taken advantage of my mistake to score political goals”.

He concluded by appreciating all who had stood by him, and promised that he had learnt his lesson.