Idris
Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall Chairman, Oluwadamilare Fabiyi Caleb popularly know as Fadaca , has issued an apology to the Union of Campus Journalists following the incident in the recently concluded Students' Union election in which pressmen were removed from the Hall's WhatsApp group.
In an open letter made available to Zikpress on the 22nd of March 2025, Fadaca admitted to removing UCJ members from 'Issues Affecting Zik Hall' WhatsApp group and apologized for the controversial statements he made regarding the press and their stand in securing accommodation for the forthcoming session.
"I am writing this article today to address recent tensions that arose in relation to the last Students’ Union election. Specifically, first, to tender an unreserved apology; and second, to provide context for my actions. I find it pertinent because of the level of respect I have for the UCJ and the need to give appropriate context to the general public on the issue that transpired that day," the statement read.
"Firstly, I sincerely apologize for removing members of the University of Ibadan Campus Journalists (UCJ) from the "Issues Affecting Zik Hall" group, irrespective of the provocation that led to it. Additionally, I deeply regret the statement I made regarding the press and accommodation. It was an angry remark made in the heat of the moment, which I take full responsibility for and now unequivocally retract. Moreover, I acknowledge that I do not have the authority to implement such a statement. I earnestly hope that the members of UCJ will accept this apology in good faith. Throughout my time on campus, spanning seven years, my principles have been firmly rooted in justice, equity, and fairness. I have always championed these values and have never aligned myself with oppression in any form. Many members of the UCJ can attest to my longstanding dedication to student advocacy and the fight for fairness," the statement continued.
"Furthermore, to provide clarity, the group in question is one of the most respected and structured forums in our hall, even including the presence of the hall warden. The level of decorum expected in this group is high, and the discussions are considered internal matters, often addressing issues exclusive to hall residents. Members are encouraged to communicate through the executives for formal engagement, particularly when engaging with the warden. At the time of the incident, a publication was released concerning the warden’s remarks on the election process, though harmless remarks but internally seen as a message not worthy of publication. The publication came as a screenshot from within a group that is traditionally seen as a safe space for discussions among Zikites, this kind of action was not expected of anyone that is a learned member of the hall. The publication might be easily misinterpreted externally by people with opposing political views, putting the hall warden in an unfavorable light. Therefore, with expectation that everyone on the group is expected to respect the sanctity of the group, the pressmen on the group were removed as an apparent solution to give the expected privacy."
He admitted that his assumptions about the UCJ's involvement in the leak were unfounded as he later discovered that the group was compromised, and he would have wished not to respond in this manner.
"In hindsight, I acknowledge that I made an unfounded assumption that the screenshots were shared by members of the press in the group since the publication was made by the press, this might not actually be true as I later discovered that the group was externally compromised. However, these assumptions led to my actions and those remarks, for which I once again apologize. It is also important to state clearly that, the election results were yet to be announced and the actions were as a result of the sensed compromise on the expected level of sanctity and privacy of the group and not because of the election results," the statement continued.
"In closing, I extend my deepest appreciation to the campus journalists for their unwavering dedication to upholding the truth. I believe in your mission and your commitment to objectivity, and I sincerely hope that this apology and contextual clarification will be received in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding," the statement concluded.
