Victoria Ascerta’s Triumph: A Call for Unity in the University of Abuja SUG

The University of Abuja Students’ Union Government (SUG) election yesterday marked a historic victory for the Victoria Ascerta camp, a beacon of hope for students seeking a united and transparent union. The defeated Godfathers camp, notorious for hijacking the union and perpetuating corruption, has once again been rejected by the student body. This victory is not just a win for Victoria Ascerta but a clarion call for the SUG to reclaim its purpose: serving students, not self-interest.

Too many student union politicians treat the SUG like a LAWSAN mock trial—abstract, simplistic, and detached from reality. The union is not a debating club. It is a battleground where power matters, democracy is fragile, and adversaries like the Godfathers camp play dirty. Supporting a united SUG is not just right—it is essential for the security and integrity of student unionism in Nigeria and for our shared values as students of this great institution, the University of National Unity.

For years, the Godfathers camp has been a direct threat to the SUG’s integrity. Their interference, through lobbying naive senators and executives, has fueled division and corruption. The emergence of our Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Patricia Manko Lar, has thwarted multiple godfather-backed plots, including political thuggery and attempts to destabilize the union. Their tactics of disunity—likened to ballistic missiles—threaten the very tenets of our institution. We must support efforts to dismantle their divisive agenda and eliminate the threat posed by their corrupt, terror-exporting influence.

Anti-student sentiment is central to the Godfathers’ ideology, matched only by their obsessive hatred of unity. They exploit our democracy, using fake charities and mandatory ₦23,000 “consolidation fees” to radicalize and corrupt new leaders, advancing their embezzleocracy while hiding behind past financial misdeeds—publicly exposed yet unpunished.

The moral divide is clear. Victoria Ascerta, the light, is a vibrant democracy that champions students’ rights to vote, speak, and dissent. In contrast, the Godfathers’ darkness is an embezzleocratic dictatorship. Political aspirants are brutalized, transparency in financial dealings is stifled (as evidenced in the 9th Assembly Clerk archives), and leaders are beaten or unconstitutionally dethroned for upholding constitutional duties without bias (see the 9th Assembly Chairman Selection Committee records). They are tortured for asking questions, executed for demanding freedom.

Anyone conflating a liberal democracy with a corrupt regime needs to ditch social media, and political apathy syndrome and face the union’s reality. When the Godfathers launched their latest barrage of political propaganda, they didn’t target Victoria Ascerta directly—they preyed on newbie senators with promises of high take-off grants and siphoned student dues with most promising their pawns of an appointment in the Vice-Chancellor’s office, what a world. This is a war crime against the student body, plain and simple. No excuses. No spin. Yet, some faculty presidents and student politicians issue copy-paste statements, treating this as a petty spat in a “cycle of violence.”

Victoria Ascerta’s response, however, is precise and principled. It targets the Godfathers’ corrupt machinery with minimal collateral damage to the student body. Their actions reflect values of accountability and justice, unlike the Godfathers’ reckless assaults that force students to bear the cost of their greed.

Victoria Ascerta’s campaign will be studied as a masterclass in defending student interests without losing moral clarity or violating constitutional principles. The SUG has a right to defend itself against a Godfathers camp openly committed to its destruction. Most students understand this; many voice it boldly. Even those previously swayed by the Godfathers’ propaganda now see the truth: Victoria Ascerta is not the problem. They condemn corruption but reject the delusions of apologists who equate light with darkness.

Yet, some within the university rush to criticize Victoria Ascerta, ignoring facts for the sake of moral posturing. While the SUG battles corruption, embezzlement, and godfatherism on multiple fronts, these critics undermine the fight. Some union leaders warn that “the SUG is running out of friends,” citing discredited claims to justify their apathy. This moral cowardice weakens us, harms vital cooperation with Victoria Ascerta, and emboldens a Godfathers camp that views a united SUG as its enemy.

The Godfathers’ hostility has strained relations to the point that the SUG was not even informed of key moves against their influence. This lack of trust diminishes our standing and emboldens those who exploit our union. A strong SUG must be clear about its interests and the threats it faces. The Godfathers’ indecision and pandering to corrupt elements undermine core Aluta principles and jeopardize the union’s success.

Now that the SUG has been reclaimed by students through Victoria Ascerta’s victory, a few inconsequential elements of godfatherism linger. I urge the Senate and the Cabinet to unite and work for the greater good of the students. Do not misuse take-off grants or student dues to feed godfathers. Let us heed the words of Barr. Paul in Philippians 4:2, where He called on Euodia and Syntyche to reconcile for the greater good of the church. Like them, our leaders must set aside differences and build a union that serves all.

Support for a united SUG is about security, sovereignty, and survival. We stand with Victoria Ascerta because it shares our values, defends us against corrupt forces, and upholds democracy under attack. A weak union emboldens its enemies. The Godfathers’ assault on our SUG is part of a broader attack on student rights across Nigeria institution. Their fight is our fight.

Ubuntu