THE FRAYING FABRIC OF UNIONISM: A CALL TO REVISIT THE UNIVERSITY OF ABUJA'S FOUNDING PRINCIPLES

As I reflect on the current state of affairs at the University of Abuja, I am reminded of the poignant words of Chinua Achebe: "We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. Now he has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one.  He has put a knife on the  things that held us together and we have fallen apart." (From "Things Fall Apart")

These prophetic words echo the sentiments of many who have witnessed the erosion of the university's founding principles. The University of Abuja, once a beacon of national unity, has begun to fray at the seams. The bonds that once held students together, regardless of their tribe, tongue, or creed, seem to be weakening.

A casual observation of campus life reveals a disturbing trend. Students, once known for their camaraderie and sense of community, now seem more focused on individual pursuits. The spirit of unionism, which once defined the university, appears to be waning.

A simple yet poignant example illustrates this point. At the university gate, students often wait for keke (tricycles) to transport them to their destinations. However, when a student with the means to pay for a keke arrives, they often opt to ride alone(Drop), leaving their fellow students behind. This small act speaks volumes about the declining sense of community and mutual support that once characterized the university.

As students, we must ask ourselves: What has happened to the unionism that once bound us together? Why have we begun to prioritize individual interests over collective well-being? The answers to these questions lie in our collective failure to uphold the principles that founded our university.

It is time for us to revisit the values that made the University of Abuja a symbol of national unity. We must rediscover the love, compassion, and sense of community that once defined us. As Achebe so eloquently put it, "We're falling apart" – but it's not too late to mend the fraying fabric of our unionism.

Let us come together, as students, to rekindle the spirit of unity and mutual support that once made our university great. Let us remember that we are all part of a larger community, bound together by our shared experiences and aspirations.

As the great Nigerian poet, Wole Soyinka, once said, "The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny." Let us not remain silent in the face of our own disunity. Let us speak out, let us act, and let us reclaim the unionism that once made the University of Abuja a beacon of hope and national unity.