POWER IN A CLASS LIST__WEEK239(EP1)

For me, the clearest abuse of power I have ever seen was not by a politician. It was by my course rep in 200 level.

We were in a federal university. Our course rep, let's call him David. He was chosen because he was elected , But small power entered his head.

He turned class captain to class god.

It started small. If you want his handwritten note, you must greet him specially. If you miss his greeting, he will not add your name to attendance.

Then it became worse during assignment submission and exam clearance.

Our lecturer gave us a group assignment. David was to collect and submit. He told us, "Each person should attach N500 for printing and transport to submit at lecturers office." 70 students in our class. That is N35,000 for just printing 20 pages. We knew it was a lie, but if you don't pay, he will not submit your own assignment. Many people paid because they were scared of carryover.

The worst day was during exam card signing. The HOD said course reps should arrange the list. David came to class and said, "Only people that contributed have paid course rep due.Others should wait."

I looked around. We are in school to learn, not to contribute up and down. One girl, Blessing, was sick during That period. She was in hospital. David said she did not care about him, so she should wait till last.

Blessing cried. She had a test the next day and needed her card.

That was when I saw abuse clearly. Someone who was supposed to serve us was now using our fear of failing to control us.

Nobody talked because we felt, "If I talk, he will remove my name from important updates. He is close to lecturers, he will spoil my name."

How do we hold people like this accountable?

We did three things that second semester and it worked:

First, we stopped making one person too powerful. We created a course group where lecturers themselves drop info directly, not only through course rep. So David was no longer the only gatekeeper.

Second, we started documenting. When he asked for N500, we asked him to write it in the group with breakdown. He could not. He stopped asking.

Third, we reported as a department, not as individual. Five of us went to our level adviser together and explained calmly how his actions were making class difficult. We did not insult him, we showed evidence — screenshots of his messages.

Our level adviser called him and warned him. He changed. He still remained course rep, but he became humble.

Abuse of power thrives in silence and in making one person the only source......... Whether it is course rep, market chairman, or church usher, once people depend on them alone, they will abuse it.

To stop it, we need to break that monopolyy of informmation, documment everrything, and speak together instead of whisperinng alonee.

If we do that, even small powers will learn to serve, not to rule.

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