By Gift Obiajuru Ukadikebuazua

Abida Israel, a graduate from the faculty of law at the University of Benin and former Chief Justice of the Student Union Supreme Court, has voiced his disappointment with the lack of support from the older students of the University, known as Staylites, during a recent fee increase for fresh students in the 2022/2023 academic session.

On Tuesday, September 19th, the University of Benin students discovered a significant increase in school charges on the university’s Kofa portal. The fees for returning students in Sciences and Non-sciences were raised from #45,400 and #41,400 to #85,500 and #81,500, respectively. This sparked widespread agitation among the students, particularly on various WhatsApp group chats for UNIBEN students. The Staylites threatened to protest unless the school fees were reversed, leading to a General Assembly organized by the Student Union leaders on September 20th, 2023. Following the General Assembly and discussions with the management, the University eventually bowed to student pressure and reverted the school fees to their initial rates.

However, Abida Israel, a vocal critic of the current Union leadership led by President Comr. Nmoye Israel and Speaker Hon. Fakorede Ogunjobi, took to public platforms to criticize both the President and the Staylites. He accused them of failing to defend the interests of the fresh students when their school fees were increased but now rallying against the fee hike for returning students.

Abida Israel’s statement, titled “The 2nd Increment of UNIBEN’s Tuition Fee under Israel Nmoye: Karma at Work and the Hypocritical Effusions of Staylites,” harshly condemns the silence of the Staylites during the initial fee increase. In his statement, he noted, “When about four months ago, the school management increased tuition fees, everyone was agitated and ready for a demonstration. But, the management, in their wisdom, exempted the Staylites from the fee hike, and the planned protest lost momentum because only the Freshers were affected. But, little did the Staylites know that the management’s plan was unfolding slowly but surely.”

He further criticized their change of stance, stating, “Yes, like Martin Niemoller, when the school management came for the Freshers, you did not demonstrate or speak out against the increment because you were not affected. And now, they have come for you, and you are shouting, ‘let the poor breathe.’ Well, let the poor breathe their last. None of you ever minded that the majority of those Freshers were indigent and were forced to defer or forsake their admission due to the increment. If you saw nothing wrong with a 100L student paying #115,000 in tuition fees, then you should not complain about paying #85,000 and #81,000 respectively. After all, the higher you go, the tougher it becomes. All of you who beat the drum of protest because of this 2nd increment are selfish and hypocritical.”

He also criticized specific actions of the student leaders, saying, “You all considered the Freshers as voiceless, but those who could have alleviated their plight by acting or speaking out, simply because they were not affected, suffer a worse fate than the voiceless. This is a spiritual mystery with practical consequences. If you could not protest when 100L students were made to pay over 100k, but you embarked on a protest recently because you are now affected, then you are egocentric.”

Abida Israel concluded his statement with a pointed message, saying, “If UNIBEN Students have not learned enough lessons, Almighty God, give them more Israel Nmoye.”

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