Kogi ASUSS Election; Ojo Ranti Mathew reelected chairman

Kogi ASUSS Election; Ojo Ranti Mathew reelected chairman

It was a splendid demonstration of democratic electioneering procedure recently in Lokoja when members of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools, ASUSS, the umbrella union for secondary school teachers in Kogi State went to the polls to elect State Executive Officers otherwise known as State Administrative Council,(SAC) that will pilot the affairs of the union for the next four years.

As early as 7 am on May 11, 2014, the delegates had started arriving Kewan Hotel, Lokoja, the venue of the 2nd state Delegate Conference with the theme, “Primary Equity and Standard in Secondary School Education in Kogi State”. And a little moment later the venue of the conference was filled to the brim by delegates from all the local government areas of the state, all gaily attired and in a convivial mood.

After the first stanza of the Delegates Conference which featured presentation of certificate of service to the outgoing SAC members and delivery of the incisive lecture tagged; promoting Equity and Standard in Secondary Education by Comrade Samuel Owoyemi, a retired director in the Kogi State Ministry of Education, the second stanza earnestly commenced with accreditation of delegates from across the state. The election proper which was supervised by Comrade Omaji Samuel, the National Secretary – General of ASUSS and the Chairman of the Electoral Committee was a lesson in desired democratic etiquette. There was not a single incidence of acrimony, misunderstanding or shouting match associated with elections in Nigeria throughout the duration of the exercise. And at the end of the exercise, the erstwhile Chairman, Comrade Ojo Ranti Matthew and eleven other officers in the previous SAC of sixteen members were returned unopposed with only the positions of Financial Secretary, State Auditor I and chief whip being the ones contested for. The position of State Secretary was also contestend for, but the winner was returned unopposed when the eastwhile occupant Oguche Monday few hours to the election decided to step down from the race. However, in spite of most of the new SAC members being returned unopposed, the Electoral Committee still subjected the delegates to voice votes and the resounding ayes on each occasion was deafening in support of the contestants. At the end of the election, victorious officers were sworn in by the union’s Legal Adviser, Barrister Akpalla A.S.

Commenting on the election after the exercise, one of the delegates, Osheimoh Shedrack said the election was transparent, open and fair. “It was first of its kind that all delegates emerged from the three senatorial zones of Kogi” he said. And on the reason why Comrade Ojo Ranti Matthew was returned unopposed as Chairman alongside most of his former SAC members he said “ there is an adage that says, action speaks louder than voice. His being returned unopposed has actually portrayed what he has done. He is very amiable, very pragmatic and very hardworking. Infact, he has taken the union in the last four years to a height we could not even have imagined. So, his being returned unopposed is a sign of appreciation that we are happy to have somebody like him at the helm of affairs of the union”. Also speaking, another delegate, Abba Igali Paulina says “ the Chairman and most of his former SAC members had done a lot for ASUSS, that is the reason we returned them back to their positions. My wish for them is that God should give them more grace and strength to do more for members of ASUSS in Kogi State in the next dispensation”.

Also commenting on the election was the National Secretary – General of ASUSS who presided over the conduct of the election, Comrade Omaji Samuel. According to him, “ the import of this election first and fore most is that we are an organized group of people, people that believe in orderliness and decorun. It is rare in this country today to conduct an election and there are no skirmishes anywhere. Today, here, everybody was happy and voters voted correctly. If we can translate this into our national politics, we would fare better”. Assessing and advising the new SAC, he said “they have succeeded in their first tenure, but success supposed to be progressive. The success of yesterday may not withstand the stress of today. It means they have to ensure that ASUSS is carried from where they met it now and move it forward”.

Expressing his gratitude to the delegates after the election Comrade Ojo Ranti Matthew in his acceptance said “ we are delighted by your show of love, confidence and believe in our abilities and capabilities. We therefore in appreciation of this gestures of yours hereby wholeheartedly accept to serve in the various offices to which you have elected us to function in the next four years”. Speaking further, he said “ over whelmed by the avanlanch of trust and confidence you have reposed in us, we hereby pledge that  just as before, we shall stop at nothing in ensuring that your interests are protected in all areas”.

Meanwhile Comrade Matthew had earlier reeled out the achievements of his first tenure in address before the election to include, ASUSS’ robust and harmonious working relations with the Kogi State Government and the organized labour in the State, building a befitting ultra- modern Secretariat complex for the union without surcharging the members, enjoyment of minimum wage, establishment of multi – purpose co-operative society to boost the economy base of tutors in the state and the union’s assistance in procuring laptops for tutors among others. All these feats he promised to surpass in the next four years in the saddle.

KOGI STATE ASSUSS’ ELECTION 2014

POSTS AND NAMES OF CONTESTANTS

S/N	Post	Contestants	Remark
1.	Chairman	Comr. Ojo Ranti Matthew	Returned unopposed
2.	State Dep. Chairman	Comr. Sani H.S	Returned unopposed
3.	State Vice Chairman	Comr. Yusuf A. Aminu	Returned unopposed
4.	State Secretary	Comr. Oguche Monday Comr. Emejeh O. Sunday	Stepped down Returned unopposed
5.	Treasurer	Comr. Zubair Yusuf A.	Returned unopposed
6.	P.R.O I	Comr. Oshemoh E. Shedrack	Returned unopposed
7.	P.R.O II	Comr. Ichado Joseph	Returned unopposed
8.	Fin. Sec.	Comr. Akpa Philip A. Comr. Adehi Benjamin A.	Elected
9.	Dir. Of Social	Comr. Suberu Jimoh O.	Returned unopposed
10.	Asst. Sec.	Comr. Kashim Adoga	Returned unopposed
11.	State Auditor I	Comr. Shaibu Moses Comr. David Peter	Elected
12.	State Auditor II	Comr. Omotosho B.Ojo	Returned unopposed
13.	Chief Whip	Comr. Alege Olayinka Comr. Olorundare O. Jacob	Elected
14.	Welfare Officer (East)	Comr. Sokomba I. Umoru	Returned unopposed
15.	Welfare Officer (Central)	Comr. Agomi A.A	Returned unopposed
16.	Welfare Officer (West)	Comr. Pharuna H.F	Returned unopposed