The Devil's Advocate; The Half Truth Which Deceives

 

           The Devil's Advocate; The Half Truth Which Deceives

‘The control of information is something the elite always does, particularly in a despotic form of government. Information, knowledge, is power. If you can control information, you can control people.’  Tom Clancy

According to Section 3, Article 9 of the Constitution of the National Association of Philosophy Students, University of Ibadan;

(1) "The P.R.O shall in consultation with the president or the executive council carry out the internal and external publicity of the Association's activities

(2) Be the link between NAPS Press, NAPSITES and the executive council on information matters."  Which clearly states that on no occasion should another individual do this except for circumstances like death, withdrawal from office or suspension. If situations like this arises, NAPSITES will be duly informed on who is to take up the post by the executive council.

Deplorably, it seems this has happened without our awareness as really crucial information that could have been disseminated by the P.R.O on behalf of the executive council has become rumors. In an association where relevant questions are being asked for the sake of transparency by concerned NAPSITES, the least we need is a devil's advocate.

The executives are accountable and answerable to NAPSITES and this was promised during their electoral processes. Often times, aspirants have always come with the words like 'transparency and accountability' to lure NAPSITES into voting them into power and leaving us in the dark most times. Is it the case that we have been deceived again? It's just recently NAPSITES got the 'supposed' reasons why dues is to be paid into the Financial secretary's account which could be have been officially stated in a memo or special release. It's understandable that stalites are used to the system. How about these freshmen who are new in the system? To prevent misconstrue or wishful thinking, the executives are supposed to let NAPSITES know the reasons and intentions behind their actions which is not a privilege but demanded of them according to the constitution.

It was supposedly said that the Freshers' welcome is not a necessity. Perhaps we don't know, aside the merry making (item 7) which requires physical gathering, what happens to other cogent information such as; how to calculate CGPA? Freshers' essay competition? Orientation on courses to pick? And many more. Of course, it will be a form of great disobedience to the University's management if there is a physical convergence but haven't our reality evolved into virtual? Are NAPSITES supposed to go around chasing executives about why certain things are the way they are before they speak out or the information is just for certain privileged members of the association?

We deserve more than seasonal greetings, we deserve up-to-date, well-seasoned and error-free information. We believe this is not too difficult to ask from the ones we put our trust in to lead the department. We deserve more than an uncouth devil's advocate