STUDENTS' UNION GOVERNMENT
Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State.
PRESS RELEASE
"History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this
period of social transition was not the strident clamour of the bad
people but the appaling silence of the good people" Martin Luther
King Jnr
Our sincere appreciation goes to God, who remains the only
essence of our existence, and of course, the number one
commander of all Aluta forces in the world, even from ages past.
All our positive yielding efforts can not be credited to our power
nor our might, but through the overwhelming support of fellow
oouites. We appreciate our even dogged and even rugged oouites
for your inestimable sense of responsibility since the inception of
this responsive and responsible administration. More so, for the
courageous, vibrant, active and bravery roles played towards the
noble struggle, 'bring down our fees' we could not have achieved
this much without you.
This administration from the 5th of March, 2014 has continued to
take as prime importance, the welfare and wellbeing of all
oouites, especially in the areas of academics and hitch-free
transportation system. Of course, we are even committed and
prepared to defend your interest, with all our strengths, and
knowledge, but without timidity, fear of favour.
OOUITES DEMANDS
The student's Union Government, OOU has stated it implicitly and
explicitly to the State Government, our demands and which we
believe are not even to be requested for before they are attended
to in a sane geographical entity. Our demands ab-initio has
been; reduction in tuition fees, proper funding of the University,
completion of the hostels or return to the school management.
OUR MOVES SO FAR
Based on the undeniable fact, that this present administration
under the leadership of com. Ifade Olusegun Socialist, is a
conglomerate of intellectuals and highly tactical members of
executives, who approach issues, especially a sensitive one like
the bring down our fees campaign, with proper and meticulous
system, we've made the state government had their fill. After a
wide consultative measure taken, several letters circulated to
appropriate quarters, there was no response, let alone, a positive
response, then we declared a 2 day lecture boy-cott in order to
register with the state government how displeased our students
have been as a result of the astronomical fees payable by our
students. These moves and several were not yielding meaningful
result, and so we gave the government a 7 day ultimatum to
either address our students (oouites) issues or we embark on a
protest. The motion to embark on a protest after the expiration of
the ultimatum was moved and supported unanimously in the
General Assembly of the students, held on the 9th of August,
2014. On Tuesday, 12th of August, 2014, the state Government
announced a reduction in tuition fees of all institutions, in the
state, and that it shall take effect from next academic session,
2014/2015. Though, here in OOU, we can not claim not to be
aware or carried along in the negotiation which preceded the
declaration of reduction in tuition fees of all institutions in the
state. But it needs to be stressed that the President has not been
properly carried along in the negotiation. More so, apart from the
undeniable fact that OOU is the premier university of the State,
OOU is a peculiar institution and consequently must be treated
uniquely. It is the only institution in the state paying as much as
over 300, 000 per academic session, and so, a general reduction
will not meaningfully have an effect in OOU.
THE 2 DAYS PROTEST
In our solidarity movement to ensure that the state government
hearken to the yearnings of our students, we embarked on a
peaceful mass protest on Thursday, 14th of August, 2014 to Oke-
Imosan, Abeokuta. Over 2,000 students, occupied the front of the
Ogun State Governor's Office to meet with the Governor, but
unfortunately, he could not meet us, as it was alleged that he was
out of the state for a crucial meeting. In his stead, the
Commissioner for Education, Bar. Segun Odubela and the Deputy
Speaker of the House, Mr Tola Banjo came one after the other to
address the students, but we insisted on not giving them the
audience as the only person to address the situation on ground is
Mr Governor. When it all appears the Governor was not ready to
meet the students, we then took to Iwe-Iroyin for press-briefing.
However, it was unfortunate to note that some 'sponsored'
students from Mapoly had to unlawfully attacked some of our
students and carted away with their phones and valuables. Two
of our students that were seriously injured are; com. Omo-Akin
of faculty of sms and Omolade. They were consequently taken to
Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba for medical treatment, while
others who sustained minor injuries took to first-aid treatment.
From our investigation, one of the students who unleashed the
attack was found with his school identity card, with the name;
Jogunosimi Muhammed: meanwhile, for security reasons our
students marched down to Isabo, The female students had their
nap at CDHR Ogun State secretariat, adjacent Rev. Kuti school,
where the male students relaxed till the next day. The next day,
as early as 06:35 am, our students had continued with the
protest, heading straight to Oke-Imosun before they were stopped
at Kuto market by the police men. Meanwhile the president and
his team had gone to the Director of S.S.S. Ogun State to have a
security meeting with the state commissioner of Police. The
meeting was however suspended as the president and his team
had to rush back to the students in order to calm them down and
enable the success of the security meeting. It took serious appeal
before the students agreed to maintain a single lane at the front
of the M.K.O stadium in Kuto, while the meeting continued. It was
in the meeting we received the information that out students had
been tear-gassed by the policemen and as well arrested the union
Vice-president, com. Seliat Ogunbiyi together with other
students. Right in the meeting, the Union president, com. Ifade
Olusegun ordered the commissioner of Police to order the release
of out arrested students with immediate alacrity if the meeting
was to continue. The Union leaders and his team found no reason
in being in the meeting since our students have been dispersed,
which was not part of the promise made. We had to take to the
streets and near by market calling out our students to get back
on track, and of course, to give them first aid attention. While all
these were on going, the Governor beckoned on the President and
his executives for meeting. From the meeting, we could deduce
that obviously, the Governor was not properly briefed as he made
it known that he was unaware of the fact that O.O.U is still at the
early stage of 2013/2014 academic session, and so, he mandated
the existing committee to critically look into the matter within one
week. After this, the Union President requested that it is important
for the Governor to directly and publicly say this to the students,
and so, he headed to Kuto, but on getting there, he addressed
them. The Governor once again said it to the students that the
committee will look into it and he will get back to us within one
week, which is to last till Monday, 25th of August, 2014. The
Governor also used the medium to present a Bus to the students
Union Government, which he did the same for other Union leaders
present and students disembarked to their various campuses.
Apart from the different media outfits present to monitor and
televised our 2 days protest, we have had several press briefing
to address the matter. Moreover, the presence of the Union
President and the Public Relations Officer at Silverbird Television
on Monday has as well served as a good platform to update the
Public(s) on our stand and to debunk the propaganda claimed
that our struggle has been politically motivated.
SUDDEN INCREASE IN TUITION FEES
The Students’ Union Government has received influx of
complaints regarding the sudden increase in tuition fees from our
Students’ profiles. Oouites should be rest assured that we are
already looking into this critically, and shall get back to you
soonest.
OUR RESOLUTE STAND
* Should the Governor/Government fail to act as promised on or
before the spate of one week as demanded, we shall embark on
the protest, but this time with a mega attendance.
* Owning to the anti-oouites role played by Com. Okiki, the
factionalized Nans Ogun axis, and com. Osas, the suspended
Tasued union President, OOU SUG hereby declare them non-
grata and vehemently warns that they stay away from any of OOU
campuses until they do the needful.
*Mapoly Union President and his welfare officer have also been
declared non-grata for going to NTA to impersonate themselves
as OOU students.
*We strongly demand the removal of the S.A to the Governor on
students Affairs, for his immature way of handling issues, more
so as the alleged master minder of the attack on our students, as
this action was in tandem with his threat on the 25th of July,2014
when he visited our campus.
*We call on Ogun State S.S.S and the state Commissioner of
Police to with immediate alacrity, declare Jogunosimi
Muhammed, a student Of Mapoly who was one of those who
carried out the mayhem on our students, wanted. We believe that
getting hold of him will assist in getting his co-hort and serve s
as deterrent to others.
Mean while, as regards the Bus donated by the Governor to
students' union movement, either a Greek gift or not, the public
and oouites should note that our acceptance of it was to refute
the propaganda by some unscrupulous element that our move
was politically motivated. More so, as erroneously claimed by
Henry Adetona, chairman of Education Access Project, that we
are not students, then it should question their rationality why the
Governor would have presented the Bus to us, if in actual fact, we
are not students. Importantly, if the Government refuses to
implements our request, then the Bus will be added to other
Buses to convey our students back to Oke- Imosan
Dearest oouites, your perseverance and fore bearance from the
inception of this struggle has been highly commendable, and so,
we passionately implore you not to be weary, sick and tired at
this historical juncture, because in the face of obnoxious and
outrageous tuition fees, Oouites shall be victorious.
OUR DEMANDS
*More reduction in tuition fee that is in proportion with the
economic reality of the country.
*Immediate implementation of the reduction.
*Proper funding of the University.
*Completion of the Hostel or total hand over to the school
management.
*Non-victimization of any student and students' leaders.
Aluta Continua! Victoria Ascerta!
Com. Ifade Olusegun Socialist
President