OAU students blame FG over continuous closure

Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, have asked the Federal Government to consider the reopening of the institution as a priority through the constitution of a new Governing Council.

The Governing Council, they said, would subsequently appoint an acting Vice-Chancellor to direct the affairs of the institution for six months.

The students, under the aegis of Alliance of OAU Presidents, Association of Campus Journalists and All Nigerian United Nations Students Association spoke at a press briefing held at Osogbo, on Monday.

Authorities of the institution had on June 22, 2016 shut the university indefinitely and ordered students to vacate campus over continuous protests by workers, who faulted the appointment process of a new VC, Prof. Ayobami Salami.

Apart from protesting, the workers have also approached the Federal High Court in Osogbo to declare the appointment process as illegal.

Subsequently, the Federal Government through the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, dissolved the OAU Governing Council and called for a stop of the appointment of Prof. Salami pending the court case.

But the students explained that issues that led to protest and closure could be resolved while academic activities were ongoing in the university.

The spokesperson of the students’ associations, Mr. Olanrewaju Oyedeji, said “The school closure has kept students at home for 95 days and the newly admitted students have been at home over 10 months and they are yet to begin academic activities.

“The Federal Government dissolved OAU Governing council and has failed to constitute a new one which falls short of provisions and expectation that a New Governing Council should be constituted immediately after dissolution of one, to ensure that there is no vacuum in power.

“The non-constitution of a new Governing Council has led to non-appointment of an Acting Vice Chancellor for the institution.”

He lamented that the inactivity of the Federal Government constitute a new governing council has “led to damage on the future of thousands of students and we can no longer bear the pains the closure has caused us.”

‎Earlier, the students launched a social media campaign with #ReopenOAU which has attracted the attention of top government officials including the Senate president, Bukola Saraki.

As a way to acknowledge and show concern for the students, Saraki assured that the issue would be discussed in the Senate’s plenary sesion today (Tuesday).

Also, the students have written an open letter to the government and approached the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi to wade into the crisis.

Others present at the briefing were ACJ OAU Vice President, Special Duties, Miss. Fadipe Olamide;

President of National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies, Afeez Gbadamosi; President of National Association of Science Students, Olateju Elisha; and PRO ANUNSA, Afolabi Lekan.