A presidential aspirant of the University of Ilorin Student Union Election, Com. Junaid Hammed, speaks with SALIHU AYATULLAHI on his political career and the motives behind his aspiration.
*Q. Can we meet you sir?
A. I am Junaid Hammed, a 300l student of Art Education, Faculty of Education.
*Q. Some people look at you and the feeling they immediately get is one of amazement, others express amusement, while some are just bewildered; a few even pooh-pooh your ambition, describing you as a desperate presidential aspirant. There must be a spirit that propels you because having participated in your faculty primary and seeing how it went, you are in the race again never stepping back nor relenting your effort, what is that driving force?
A. Thanks you, let me clear one thing, i never participated in any primary election as it was not stipulated in the Constitution and i wouldn’t participate in anything unconstitutional. Secondly, I am not desperate, the driving force that propel me to come out is to serve Unilorites and be their servant.
*Q. In your experience, what are the challenges faced by members of historically underrepresented students in Nigerian Universities? What strategies do you best think could solve that, and how successful would this strategies be?
A. Thank you very much, over the recent years, i believe some people are after their own self-interest. Firstly, the paramount thing that would be in my mind is to serve. However the strategy i would put in place is team work and ensure the love of my people is engrossed in my heart.
*Q. As the current PRO 1 of the Faculty of Education, there was a time you had face-off with your president, and you wrote a letter to the Student Representative Council, what was the cause and how were you able to solve it?
A. I am ignorant of that, as no letter was read at the floor of the house of the Faculty of Education.
*Q. Your tenure as the PRO 1 has witnessed a lot of landmark events which includes the Leadership summit, what is the secret behind this?
A. Like i said earlier, the love of my people and the love of God has been paramount in my heart, and that was the reason why i organised the leadership summit.
*Q. Information had it that you are not in good term with your president and some other Executive, can you briefly talk about your relationship with them.
A. Like you said, it is a rumour, and i don’t dwell on rumour. I am in good term with my president, the other Executive, the SRC and the good people of my Faculty, and if i am not, it would be obvious in the Faculty. To answer your question straight, I am in good term with everybody!
*Q. What is you negotiating style, approach and philosophy?
A. I believe in win-win, though, i don’t settle for less.
*Q. The question is if we see a FABULOUS presidency today, will these things be pursued vigorously?
A. As soon as i emerge, i will convert at my manifestos to policies.
*Q. What could cause you to fail as a president?
A. Not carry my people along.
*Q. Can you explain better sir?
A. Like i said earlier, i believe in team work, two heads are better than one. I will love my people and carry them along.
*Q. Who are those you consider your likes either among the Nigerian elite or the political leadership?
A. Every politician in Nigeria that has the love of God and their people in heart.
*Q. Do you have any word for your supporters?
A. Yes, I say thank you to them. You are fabulous.