It had always been my ambitions to run for a political post, have a feeling of what power felt like.
On a quiet Monday morning, the Assistant Rep of my department announced that LAUMSA (Ladoke Akintola University Medical Student Association) was about to hold her elections. Prompting the question if anyone of us would be interested in running for the post of Senator. An idea which I kinda fancied, and thought about for quite some while.
Though, I was persuaded to get the form by one of my noble friends who said I should try it out. Getting the money for the form was easy and contacted the Ass. Rep on collection and submission of form.
Then something peculiar happened which was quite weird per say. Every candidate had no opposition for the post they were gunning for. It was an headache for the electoral chairman as he never expected it to be so.
As the constitution of the association states, no election would hold if the candidates have no opposition and the election date should be postponed for one week.
Surprise surprise surprise, the situation remained the same, no opponents for the candidates. As the law states, the candidates shall be declared winners in absence of no opposition.
And that was how I got elected automatically to be the senator of my level in the senate house.
So the post that were available are as follows;
President
V.President 1
V.President 2
5 Senators from each level
And some other portfolios
Initially we had only 4 aspirants for the post of Senator in our level until one decided to join in the last day.
We were told we would have to travel down to Oshogbo since the College of Health sciences is located there.
Lest, I forget LAUTECH is the school in question (Ladoke Akintola University of Technology). It has 3 campuses, a main campus, one for the basic medical science and one which is not located in the same area as the other two for the health science.
Being a medicine student, I belong to the health science campus but we do our preclinical in the basic medical science and sometimes in the main campus.
So the appointed day for the inauguration of the winners of the election came and the electoral chairman made an order we converge at the basic medical science campus. Though we had to wait for long hours before he arrived with bus which would take us to Oshogbo for the inauguration.
The journey to Oshogbo was stressful in two ways. Firstly. the electoral chairman didn't account well for the number of passengers travelling down to Oshogbo so we had to squeeze ourselves into the bus and I had a bad stomach upset which made me felt uncomfortable throughout the journey. 200level 100level and 300level students who had been given the post of Senator took one bus and its was like packing sardines in a tin.
At one point, I almost made a number two in my trousers but then we were already a few minutes away from the health science campus. On getting there, I rushed down and asked the electoral chairman where I could find the rest room and he pointed me to the direction. I hastened as quickly as my feet could take me.
Luckily for me, there was water available and eased myself of the stomach upset, though I hadn't eaten anything that morning which was kinda weird.
We all assembled in a lecture hall, as we got in with proceedings. Firstly, there was a dissolution of the previous government.
Then we had the inauguration and swearing in of the Central Executives Council (President and co). Before we the senators got inaugurated and sworn in. Well, there was still an election that had to take place again.
The previous regime senators were also in attendance as they would be dissolved by the outgoing Senate president. Which he would now, inaugurate and swear in the new senators.
The post of the Senate President, Senate Deputy President and Senate Registrar. As luck would have it, the latter two were unopposed for the position but the Senate president position was contested by two individuals from 500level (I am in 200level). We made our votes and it was a close encounter between the two of the aspirants.
The election was conducted by the electoral chairman and the outgoing Senate president, after the election the outgoing Senate president also stepped down and swore in the new Senate president and his other two.
We had a short break where we were served chinchin and drinks. I ate it like an hungry lion cause I was so so hungry.
Afterwards, I got to be in a senate proceeding and it was amazing. I never knew politics could be fun also.
But the major reason I actually entered for the post was to know how power felt like. If I would be drunk in power or remain my humble self.
It was tiring though, we sat for hours deliberating in issues that had risen from the previous regime. All in all I was made part if the committee in charge of Amendment of the Constitution of the association.
Time to go home couldn't come better, well the story was still the same. We had to squeeze ourselves into the bus.
Finally. we got back to ogbomosho after the journey. Just slide into my bed after taking a nice shower.
In conclusion, I got to be in a senate proceeding and I got to make contact with my seniors. And visit a new place I haven't visited before.