By Muneer Yaqub
Today, I am excited. For the voice of my pen that rumbled a few days ago, seems to have been heard. The outcry of our underdogs has been harkened to, eventually. The people spoke, my pen stroke; barriers broke. Who then says the pen is not mightier than a thousand armor tanks?
It was said here some days back that two barricades had just been placed, by our Students’ Union (SU), on the old Jatau-Bridge: A Walkway that had been serving us students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, with convenience over the years.
This, the SU thought would safeguard the fate of a new project they had just completed. What project? An extension of the Jatau Bridge into another walkway. Although, Danfodiyo’s House of Assembly, the SRA, has dismissed the project as defiant to parliamentary procedures and due process.
In any case, while the illegitimacy of the new walkway is for the Students’ Representative Assembly (SRA) to decide, we the students believed, and protested, that SU’s barricades on the bridge were disdainful.
Even though they were to protect the walkway from the destroying hands of motorcyclists, no doubt that the physically-challenged and the crippled among us would suffer from them. For, where would their wheelchairs ply?
Anyway, perhaps out of sympathy for our lame friends, the barricades have suddenly disappeared; though not completely. But to this extent, something must be said in favour of the SU: It heard the cries of its subjects, and swiftly went to work— which is plausible.
It should be noted, however, that my closed eyes does not in anyway suggest blindness. Even though I have in recent times taken to criticizing this SU government, and its excesses. Posterity demands that wherever it deserves some accolade, it shouldn’t be denied. For my pen is strictly guided by the principles of truth and objectivity; and not of prejudice and cynicism. So, for this, kudos to SU. But there is more.
As I had said, the removal of the barricades is unwholesome. Only one of the duo has been completely cleared off. The second barricade has only been half-broken; it still remains a barrier. Certainly not where a wheelchair could ply without stress.
Such a decision, in my view, is a byproduct of indecisiveness. Yes. Because, even the motorcyclists the barricades have been claimed to be implanted for, could easily maneuver their ways through the half-broken barrier. What then is the essence of breaking it?
As far as I am concerned, the safety of the new walkway is none of my business, (as I insist that the project in itself is needless). That is for the SU to contemplate. But my own bone of contention remains how the well-being of our lame colleagues will be guaranteed, in whatever “welfare package” anyone has for we students.
Nothing has ever brought me to joyful tears on this campus, for example, than the day I suddenly noticed a change in the doorsteps of our big lecture halls. A part of each staircase had been made flat and slant. Such that wheelchairs could now climb them up hitch-free.
Honestly, I was so happy. Although not (yet) done to many other classrooms, (and nothing else has since been done in that regard), it is, at least, a show of mercy to the physically-challenged. And a plumage to the hat of the school management, who has done it.
In my view, nothing stops the SU, too, from doing this, at the walkway. In fact, it will tremendously add value to the new extension-project they wish to offer us. When the physically-challenged students can also climb, and ride on, walkways with as much ease as of other students, what is more humanitarian a service than that?
This, I think, speaks to why, as much as I adore the Tony-Elumelu-Bridge project of the last administration, only one key broke the dog’s teeth: the bridge is somewhat “anti-physically-challenged”. And that irks me, especially each time I ply the bridge and see a crippled student, or one on wheelchair, battling seriously with the high steps.
As for me, their welfare also ought to be considered, as we draw plans of the magnificos that should adorn our campus.
Anyway, as the SU may appear not seeming to give in to the destroyer motorcyclists, I might have piece of useful suggestion. Why not place notice boards across the walkway, indicating that motorcycles are not allowed; and/or station one or two “Baba Blues” there to watch over it, and to sanction trespassers? This way, I think the SU will be doing less harm to our fragile friends.
Again, kudos to the SU for the broken barricades; it’s most desired. But that’s not enough; there should be more to it.