Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye students have distanced themselves from the protest that would be held tomorrow (Tuesday) outside the Ogun State Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
The students who were seen participating in a solidarity demonstration on Monday at the main campus in Ago-Iwoye declared that they were content with the current favourable campus climate and would not participate in any upcoming disturbance of the peace by the unhappy protest organisers.
They were armed with placards carrying various inscriptions, screaming solidarity slogans, and cautioning those fanning disruption and disaffection ahead of the Students Union elections in the institution to desist immediately or risk their wrath.
Comrade Feyi Adeogun, the departing president of the Students Union Government (SUG), described some outside forces operating under the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) as “busybodies” because their goals conflict with those of OOU students.
He also called on appropriate authorities to intervene and stop any activity that could endanger the current peaceful coexistence in the University, they expressed their preparedness to reject any type of imposition by outside forces.
The outgoing SUG President, who was flanked by faculty and departmental heads from the university, stated that all parties involved must unite behind the electoral committee to hold free, fair, and credible elections in the best interests of all students.
Adeogun stated that the candidates for various student union seats and their supporters had decided to proceed with the election following multiple talks among stakeholders.
The entire student body, he continued, “ has implicit faith in the electoral committee members’ capacity to hold fair elections that are generally seen as acceptable.
“OOU students are united, we have no issues and so we don’t want any external forces. We can conduct this election free and fair without the overbearing influence of former students who have graduated. We know what we are doing and we want to use this opportunity to convey this to the Management and other relevant authorities.”
“Our attention has been drawn to some funny characters going about plotting the disruption of public peace. I want to tell you that a purported protest that is planned to take place tomorrow at the Governor’s Office, no student of this school is ready to join the protest because we are all satisfied with the pace of progress and development ongoing in this school.”
“I hereby declare personally that I am supporting the students struggle and their interest that the election must hold. The aspirants are saying the election must hold, the Faculty leaders are saying the election must hold, the Departmental leaders are saying the election must hold. Fortunately, ordinary students are saying the election must hold.”
“We are going to mobilize the entire students against any untoward protest. As you can see, the school is doing virtual classes now and this informed why some are not physically present here but they have called us to show their solidarity to what we are doing.”
President Bola Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State were specifically urged by the SUG President to intervene in the situation and not permit anyone, regardless of stature or social standing, to meddle in university students’ internal issues.
In response, Mr. Joseph Osifeso, Principal Assistant Registrar in the Vice-Chancellor’s office, praised the students for acting in a friendly and peaceful manner and gave them the assurance that their complaints would be brought to the attention of the appropriate parties.
Osifeso asked the students to maintain peace and harmony in their interactions with the university administration, which he said, places a priority on their welfare and well-being.
