Dear Comrades,

I have watched with keen interest and prayed for a convenient time to challenge the world of men. This piety that I have give so much to showcase that which was bestowed by the grace, yet ridiculed for service to humanity. I had wished something better than this misfortune of men, this bone that cripples even a giant to sit…and watch, but not in vain. I had watched and waited for a call, a word, or question, but non-came. I picked each one of you by your duty, according to the responsibility placed on your shoulder to manage the Human and Technological resource at your beck and call. My silence is no longer golden; my words will find not rest till justice prevails. If it fails, all fails...one fall too many.

I have led men, not ghost, spoken and heard, even misinterpreted. I have dwelled in the face of war for peace, hate for love, disregard for service, but none can match that which I suffer in the hands of SWA International.

Nigeria had always been my choice of a nation, any day. I proudly embrace it, respect it, regard it and would readily serve it. I have no place like home, my country, my Motherland, Nigeria. By this virtue, I cherish my Name, which I had painstakingly built with tears, sorrow and pain. That, which many have regarded as an honor to talk with, works with and would readily stand with, without pride or prejudice.

Be that as it may, I came into office with the feel of ensuring the growth of the Organization. I can boldly state that I suggested introduction of the body to Post-Primary Institution, wrote for an HIV/AIDS Walk, tried to get a Logo’ed Shirt for the Nation, and quoted a slogan at the end of every letter or first post, amidst a host of inventories that has now become the fad in SWA International. I had personally funded creation of posters, monthly news letter with the name of one or two members or Active Executive. I had sponsored printing of Local and interstate document and letters, building the format, Mastered ceremonies, and prepared the final reports without mention. I had traveled far and wide, surfed in many places, leaving the homepage open for new interest to spread. Mostly, I have been labeled has been funded by SWA International.

When I reacted to the intrigues of those who felt the trip was an avenue to move off the face of my country, I had lashed out in full force, making them understand the tenet of SWA International. Kindly check the SWA World and point to the earliest mention of “SWA International”, I mentioned it. I had published the need to discuss on the Portal of SWA International, practicing what I preached by making all my comments via the SWA-OAU Portal. My activity in the University has led to the adoption of a University Portal by the Gorvernoring Council…LaGuardia was my teaser.

I had given all kudos to a “we” Team that barely existed, basically because they felt fund was available and been marshaled by one entity. I had been scarred many atimes to solicit from friends and well wishers. At a particular point in time, the University Registrar had given the sum of Five Hundred Naira to fuel a trip to Lagos. That much have I given. When the Assembly felt it wise to trust me, I was asked to remove and ensure the commitment of a few officers. The constitution was amended and the table for reform was put in place. I was directed to get information on our numerical strength. All this I asked the responsible quarters. Alas ! Nobody responded. I was further surprised to hear from the Regional Representative that our strength was at thirty or thereabout.

When the bubble burst, I was told that sixty people registered in one day from SWA-OAU ! Could it be true ? Was that the reason my name was removed from the International Candidate for Speakership seat ? I wish to ask, was the IP Signature investigated and discovered that it came from a junction I surf ? What date was it ? Did you try a random check to see if they actual existed ? Did your intelligence in Nigeria mention it was me ? Why me ? I pray your intelligence is not the same man who doctored an event that I actually did the Master of Ceremony with Three Honorable Lecturers in attendance to vet it took place in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in conjunction with the host Chapter and my Executives as witness. I hope that your dream of “promoting global democracy, one student at a time” is not to promote disharmony when one single entity has become a god by charge. Why did he lie about the event ? What honor would have been given should it be mentioned that I participated in the “Tri Games” ? What about the certificates I printed for other events posted to him, yet not publicized ? What occurred between my personality and my membership of SWA ? Who had been burning funds for SWA-OAU before now ? If SWA-OAU can boost of an account number, what about SWA Nigeria ? So much unsaid, yet, so much for a name destroyed.

If I had loaned money from a bank to run my affairs without a prior document, would it not be preferred that I deny it ? Am I that backward in law ? Am I so daft, after taking a blow at SWA International to make available members of my chapters name for easy acces, now go ahead to open emails for ghost names ? Such a way to go global. I had started discussion and vote post on the SWA-OAU Portal to encourage and also make the members have a feel of the effect of voting and getting them prepared for the Event. Alas ! The smile on his face had no grin of regret while my Executives told me that my name had been removed…no reason yet, but rumors. Rumors of all kinds of directive of SWA International asking for my head. Why ? Rumors of the Vice-President (External) declaring himself Acting President…to a congress who barely see him. Am I that foolish to jump eureka at their ineptitude and inconsistency ? The answer is NO…not I.

I had given my humble self to a group of men who has now become a mechanism of my destruction. Or what else can I say, when the person who contested against me, I asked to serve as Public Liaison Officer? Or his friend, who became the Vice-President and almost lost his office for been in active for six (6) months like his counter part and had to settle for Vice-President (External) with no report of any progress in his department ? Or the estranged wife who had been silent as Scribe, turning up with the joy of motherhood to hand over my nightmares without a report on past activities ? What more ? The same man who felt he could write two letters in one day at different hours, who can not create the time to paste on the SWA International Portal, claiming I loaned and refused to pay. The same person I had advised to stay in school and not loose a session, scolded quietly for stating wishes to take-off in Canada, now making me the Bad Boss in an unedited movie script ?

I have not suffered in their hands…no, not yet. I have only been tutored by the acts. That the One and half month holiday was their choice time to have a meeting without posting it on the SWA-OAU Portal. That their decision to out-stool me was not only perfect but disgraceful enough to state their intention. That they felt it wise to be so incoherent like they had always been, unknown to me, and a leader who felt the “we” was greater than the “I”. Who made my Vice-President (External), Acting President was a directive from SWA International via the Regional Representative of Nigeria. It was verbal, they claimed, without even a suspension or meeting by the Local Executive. Without a query on why my name should not be removed as a candidate, I was also informed that my candidacy had been removed on a rumor. Such a shame, I repeat, such a shame. I weep…I weep not for myself alone, but for my generation. This is the crop of leaders and followers we ask for in return for our sweat. This is what psychologically derails a faithful to join the wagons of “kill and divide”. This is the true world of conflict.

I am a liberalist, a Socialist Liberalist. I do not believe in at all odds of Office, but in the heat of Growth and Development. What it takes me to write and sign my name has president, also conveniently allows my name to stand above names by standard, by my contribution, my status as a follower of good tidings and bindings with relative might to serving humanity as a desire. My heart is moved that work need be done to ensure that there is a change…it will come, it may not be my duty, my destiny, but it will come. When the chips are down, my yahooligan would prove beyond reasonable doubts the sabotage of my programs, covered by the Nigerian Television Authority on SWA-OAU, that was sent but undelivered for reason best known by the Regional Representative. Leftovers of posters, certificates, letters of Request for Hall usage approval and the visit to the Vice-Chancellor of the University in response. Those are some of the unwritten feat. Nobody can deny the near fatal cancellation of the Abeokuta Trip, which I had to force by personal contacts and funds. Many are the Organization which I had sought and gotten involved in the SWA Dream…so much for all the worries I now face.

Many questions still hang in the air, unfielded by the paparazzi of my mind. My hands are tied by the dignity of Nationhood and a tomorrow for the youth and its’ conscience. Silence had been a battle that has created the enmity of progress in the mind of much causality of war or words and worlds. The axe would not want to be sent to chip the mountain, nor the river to outwit the sea. Just one word…who am I to blame for where I stand ? Destiny, diligence and discipline has brought me this far, it will surely not end here. From where I stand, many had stood in the face of the wind, dust blinded to see a new faith of men in trust, in line, chosen to be heard, to speak and inspire a new breed without greed.

When the time of men begins to gain faith in permanent interest and positive change, then will this generation be rid of war, war, and beckon to jaw, jaw. I dare to stand. My faith is to serve and teach and if per chance to lead, I will lead . . . without fear. My word is my bond, my love, my sweat ! I do not stand alone, I do not stand for a man. I stand for Humanity…that, is my stand.

Akinbo A. A. Cornerstone.

cc.
alireza@studentworldassembly.org, amin@studentworldassembly.org, aydin@studentworldassembly.org, kevin@studentworldassembly.org, dabal@studentworldassembly.org, janine@studentworldassembly.org, mo@studentworldassembly.org, patience@studentworldassembly.org, shahram@studentworldassembly.org, tatiana@studentworldassembly.org