Nigerian Campus Editors Describe OAU SU Suspension As Return To Autocracy

Campus Editors across Nigerian tertiary institutions have voiced out their opinion on the recent suspension of the Obafemi Awolowo University Student Union by the Management of the institution, they described the development as a return to autocracy.

In a Press Statement issued by the umbrella body for the Editors; National Association of Nigerian Campus Editors (NANCE), it commended the coordination of Ife student and questioned the resolve of the Bamitale Omole led administration to suspend the Union activities without any reason.

"The news of suspension of OAU Student Union activities came to us as a rude shock. We have been following the trend of activities of Obafemi Awolowo Student Union in the past few days, we must commend the great coordination of Ife students in exercising their rights and also showing they are conscious.

"In any sane assembly, the right to peaceful assembly is never a disputed fact and now that even at the federal level, youths are given the platform to air their thoughts, a democratic and responsible leadership even make available ways by which people can make their opinions known. Professor Bamitale-led administration has decided to rule without criticism, even Obama does not enjoy that opportunity.

"In Nigeria, when a critic comes up, the sitting government will always find a way to frustrate efforts of such critic, we expected that an academic environment should be that of civility and maturity .
It is a bad situation that instead of looking for ways of listening to students' agitation for better welfare and hostels, Prof Bamitale Omole led administration is busy looking at ways of suspending the institution's Student Union, in a typical Nigerian autocratic way. We will not be surprised if OAU Management is scared of something."

The student editors however went further to agitate for the probe of the Nigerian Vice Chancellors.

"Finally, we are pushing that all universities in Nigeria write a joint petition to the President of the federal republic of Nigeria not just for OAU but for the probe of activities of all Vice-Chancellors in Nigeria.

"Our vice chancellors are looking too powerful to be probed but we challenge the federal government to rise up to the challenge starting with the vice chancellor of OAU.

"We appeal that all youth bodies/student organizations come together to fight against autocracy that is beginning to dwell in our institutions."

It will be recalled that the students of Obafemi Awolowo University got their Student Union activities suspended following the protest by students to agitate for a better welfare condition.

See What Wikipedia Says About OAU Students' Accommodation

The biggest online hub of documented information which constitutes the Internet's largest and most popular general reference work has said the Halls of residence where students of Obafemi Awolowo University reside are over populated, some having an increment of about 300%. The article reads:

Ile-Ife campus is built on about 5,000 acres (20 km2) of a total of 13,000 acres (53 km2) university owned land. Its halls of residence include:
*Awolowo Hall, initially meant for about 700 occupants but now houses over 2,000 occupants
*Angola Hall, initially meant for 440 occupants but now houses over 1,600 occupants
*Alumni Hall, meant to serve less than 300 occupants but is accommodating over four times of that
*ETF Hall, meant for about 500 occupants but now houses over 1,400 occupants
*Fajuyi Hall, initially meant for about 700 occupants but now houses over 2,000 occupants
*Ladoke Akintola Hall meant to serve less than 300 occupants but is accommodating over four times of that
*Moremi Hall initially meant for about 700 occupants but now houses over 2,000 female students
*Mozambique Hall initially meant for about 700 occupants but now houses over 2,000 female students
*Murtala Muhammed Hall meant to serve less than 300 occupants but is accommodating over two times of that.

It will be recalled that the students of OAU protested their deplorable welfare condition especially the state of the Halls of Residence about a week ago which forced the University Management to shut down activities in the university. Some of the pictures posted on the social media by students of the University to express their state of welfare are pictured below.

OAU Management Suspends Union Activities

The Management of the Obafemi Awolowo University has suspended the activities of her Student's Union till further notice. This suspension was announced in a circular pasted around campus. However, the reason for the suspension was not made know in the circular.

More details later...

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Beaten Bus Driver, Likely Reason For Mid-semester Break

The University has not been shut down as speculated but rather the Senate of the university decided that the students should embark on a mid-semester break, the Public Relations Officer of Obafemi Awolowo University, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju told campus journalists.

In a telephone chat with Mr Olarenwaju today, he insisted that the mid-semester break was necessary as the Senate of the University decided yesterday. He however said the students dare not question the authority of the senate on the decision. He further maintained that the University authority will recall the students as at when due.

Though the University PRO refused to link the mid-semester break to any development but a very strong indication that reached us has it that the decision of the Senate is linked to the treatment handed down to a public transport bus driver popularly known as ‘Town Gboro’ last week and not the protest embarked upon by students as many believe.

Late last week, a bus driver who was alleged to have stolen a gadget of a student of the institution was arrested by members of the Security Committee of the Students’ Union. During the period of investigation by the Security Committee, the bus driver reportedly confessed to the same allegation of theft upon which he was beaten seriously. This led to him been taken to the Health Centre of the institution for treatment afterwards.

There are however rumours pervading the University community that the bus driver died yesterday due to a yet to be ascertained reason. These rumours have been quashed by the Students’ Union saying it is not true. The association of bus drivers since Monday has however mandated their members not to operate within the University community which they have since complied with.

OAU Students’ Union Condemns School Closure, Demands Re-opening

The Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo University has condemned the announcement of a mid-semester break by the University Management which orders students to vacate their Halls of residence.

Addressing journalists today in a Press Conference on OAU campus, the Public Relations Officer of the Students’ Union, Ojedokun Emmanuel a.k.a Immanuel Kant said the school closure is unwarranted and unjustifiable. He said the Management has not pointed to the Monday demonstration of students as a reason for the school closure rather speculations that the students are planning to disrupt the upcoming convocation of the university and the coronation of the new Ooni of Ife where the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and the Queen Elizabeth of England are expected to be present.

“The Management did not shut down the University because of our protest which was nationwide but because they speculated that the students may want to disrupt the convocation and coronation of the new Ooni of Ife which is far from the truth.

“We are Intellectual Fighters for Emancipation and at no point would we stop the coronation of the Ooni. As a matter of fact, we see it as a cheap blackmail which holds no water” Immanuel Kant said.

The Management of OAU late yesterday evening announced that the students should vacate their hostels latest 12:00noon today, Wednesday for a mid-semester break. The University authority in the Press Release announcing the break did not state any reason particular reason for the break.

The President of the Students’ Union, Omotayo Akande a.k.a TY in his own remark said the Union has concluded plans to write back to the Management stating their position and asking the reason why the Management will embark on a mid-semester break without carrying the university stakeholders including the Students’ Union along. He also stated that the Union is demanding the immediate re-opening of the university.

It will be recalled that the University announced the first mid-semester break in about the last three years during the last semester in the midst of the NASU-Management face-off. This will be the second mid-semester break in this session.

On School Closure: Students’ Union Calls An Emergency Congress

The Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo University has called a Congress to determine the fate of the students over the earlier announced closure of the University by the Management.

OAU Peeps News Agency earlier reported that the University authority has announced that the students should proceed on a mid-semester break in the wake of students’ demonstration that only lasted 24 hours.

In an emergency meeting of the Students’ Union stakeholders comprising of members of the Central Executive Council (CEC), Hall Executive Council (HEC), Students’ Representative Council (SRC) and other student leaders, it was unanimously resolved and declared by the President of the Union that a Congress will hold tomorrow, Wednesday by 7:00am to discuss what the next line of action will be.