Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle
Amosun, as well as the management of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU),
Ago-Iwoye are facing severe criticism for announcing on Tuesday that
students union activities on the campus had been banned. The Students Union Government (SUG) “vehemently and unequivocally”
rejected the proscription, saying it trampled on their right to freedom
of association. Continue...
“The released news by the School Management as regards the
proscription of OOU SUG is not coming as a surprise, because we saw it
coming before now having informed the OOUites and the public yesterday
with the plan to put in place caretaker committee that will be puppet to
government,” President of the union, Ifade Olusegun and Public
Relations Officer, Bamgbopa Olawale said.
“However, the Union without any reserved apology, vehemently and
unequivocally reject such illegal proscription, owning to the fact that
the ground given by the management is baseless, unverifiable, fallacious
and inconsequential.
“Moreso, the formulation of the Students’ Union was by the entire
students of OOU in respect to their right of freedom of association
which is entrenched in the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria, and so, the school singularly lacks the constitutional power to
proscribe the Union.
They implored students of the school to disregard the proscription
order and be patient, as the SUG would inform them of the next step.
They also urged them to be rugged, calm, lawful and resolute as the
quest to fight for reduction in school fees continues.
The Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) said the move was
“bizarre and senseless” and assured “Amosun and his minions” that the
last had not been heard of the matter.
“Today, the Acting Registrar of Olabisi Onabanjo University announced
the proscription of the OOU Students Union on the university website.
As bizarre as the announcement sounded, even more bizarre was the reason
given for the proscription”, James Ogunjimi, CDHR Coordinator, said.
“They said the SUG was proscribed for ‘collaborating with
unregistered group and external influences’. Whatever that means, it
makes no sense to anybody.
“As an organisation, we see this announcement as 'the voice of Jacob
but the hands of Esau'. We see this announcement as yet another
anti-student move of the anti-student government of Ogun State carried
out by the university management. We reiterate the fact that neither the
Ogun State government nor the University management voted in these
executives; the students who empowered them are still very much behind
them and as such the SUG retains its power and influence.
"We are also very much aware that following the announcement of
scrapping the union, they want to follow it up with an announcement of a
caretaker committee led by the 'suspended' OOU SUG Welfare Director,
Awobotu Charles (aka Main Man), who has been pinpointed as Government
spy in our struggle thus far.
“We dare the government to make
the announcement and to allow the caretaker committee to come to
Ago-Iwoye. They will feel the wrath of OOU students; and if they escape
lynching, they would never be able to enter Ago-Iwoye again.
“If Governor Amosun and his
minions think the announcement has stopped anything, they have no idea
how determined we are. It has escalated things and has only made us more
determined. The fees will be reduced and implemented this session or
there will be no peace. We will fight this with all the strength that we
have and with the last drop of our blood.
Similarly, the Labour Party in Ogun State said the proscription was
proof of Governor Amosun’s immaturity. It called on every citizen of the
state to see it as a battle for everyone and support the students.
“Mere thoughts, even insinuations being baseless, could be swept
under the carpets of different make-ups. With time, they may mature to
real time tangible facts, such that their voices and conspicuousness
cannot be shielded or covered the-more”, Adeyemi. A.Azeez, the party’s
Director of Students Affairs, said.
“Yesterday's pronouncement of OOU SUG BAN by Governor Amosun-led
government is another pointer to Nigerian Student's in Ogun State and
the national at large, that APC-led administration in Ogun State is a
structure that lacks respect and honour for the fundamental human rights
of the masses.
Recall, in 2011 Governor Ibikunle Amosun in his manifesto, promised a
50% reduction in school fees of all tertiary institutions in Ogun
State, people of Ogun State never knew that it was a mission to steal
their mandate. If the government could not maintain STATUS QUO, the fee
should not be increased unbearably.”
He noted that education in Ogun
State is no longer affordable to the sons and daughters of the poor, as
state-owned institutions are on clear competition with private
institutions in terms of school fees.
“Labour Party in Ogun State,
strongly condemns the ban of OOU SUG by Ogun State government, it is a
clear mission to enslave the ever-articulate Nigerian students in Ogun
State”, he added.
“We call on all well meaning and intellectual Nigerian students to
see the struggle for the entire students ' populace in Nigeria. An
Injury to one is an injury to all. We must fight all counterproductive
policies with a view to driving this state to that point we can stand
tall and be proud of.
“Therefore, arise o compatriots and let us embrace the Labour Party
to fully resist the return of Amosun in 2015. Together, we can build a
greater Ogun State with strongest economy in Nigeria and an enviable
among the league of states in Nigeria”.
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