he elections of the next officials of the student union body of the Lagos state university seems to be attracting conflicting feelings from the students as the elections draw closer by the hour. The results of my personal survey about students participating in the electoral process amongst quite a number of completely random students returned some rather funny inference.
Amongst the senior students, some serious level of apathy exist. It was quite surprising to see that majorly, mostly only 200 level students are active suppoters and participants in the schools electoral process. Although most if not all of the aspirants are 300 level, they can easily siphon the support of their fellow level mates. My survey today showed that about half the questioned students actually have no plans of voting while about quarter only show support but have no plan of voting.
Only about quarter actually plan on turning up for the election tomorrow. A handful final year students would rather focus on their graduating with excellent grades than being involved in any election whatsoever. Many claim they've seen past leadership and have no plan in been involved in selecting another set of representatives that would assume power and leave promises unfulfilled. Some also say that their opinion wouldn't matter to them so there would be no reason to vote. Since they would be leaving they'd rather leave without intervening or interfering with the elections. Selfish? Or just plain apathy?
The 100 level students are not left out of this saga infact they own it. One would expect that the current 100 level students would be more inclined to participate in the election but surprisingly reverse is the case as about 3 in 5 100 level students have expressed their apathy towards the election. Some claimed they'd rather be home resting or reading or literally anything other than been present in school to vote. I expected enthusiasm on the part of these sets if students for many reasons such as this election might as well be their very first to witness up close or even participate in but No, these students don't feel obliged in any way to even come near the school premises at all. One might say they're lazy or better put stressed and would rather be relaxed than be involve.
From another angle one might say they're scared. An 100 level student from tge faculty of science plainly said she would want to be at home to be safe, incase of any electoral violence. It sounded logical. Another set of students in the 100 level which are the transiting students (found mainly in the faculty of science), share a completely different kind of apathy. They claim that since they'd be leaving school they feel there would be no need to participate in the decision making process. In fact a student of medicine and surgery plainly said that her choice wouldn't affect her when she moves on to the college of medicine. Another logical yet mundane standpoint.
From any angle, it all boils down to laziness. Whether it is fear, study or plain apathy there's no logical reason any student can't come over to the school (as they would on any other day) to just vote. Some students actually are actively involved in these activities especially the campaign process but Most youth's these days just don't want any part in politics because of some absurd obnoxious mindset that whoever will win will win and there's nothing I can do to change it.
The hatred for politics is real especially amongst us, we need to re-orientate our mindset to know that no matter how little we must be a part of our community's advancement and vote our choice about who will take us further.
Hopefully the election is free, fair and violence free. That burden though lie's on the electoral commitee and the school's security but the power to decide rests solely on we the students. It's our right, our duty and our responsibility.
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