*The September 10th Oye-Ekiti Incident: Setting the Record Straight*


Yesterday, September 10th 2019, there was a crisis at Oye town in Oye Local Government, Ekiti State, while I was on an empowerment and advocacy tour to engage with women across the State. The tour commenced on Monday September 9th, with visits to two local governments which were hugely successful and peaceful.

On September 10th, we were billed to visit three local governments – Moba, Ilejemeje and Oye. The first two stops were just like the ones before – peaceful with no incident. While we were at Ilejemeje, we received a call from our advance security team that students of the Federal University of Oye (FUOYE) were protesting a lack of electricity in Oye town. We were told that more information would be provided on the situation. Shortly after we received word that the students had dispersed and the coast was clear for my visit.
When my convoy got to the Oye-Isan junction, we were met by a convoy of excited Okada riders who led us into Oye town. We made a stop at the primary healthcare center along the road for me to present delivery kits to pregnant women. There was no sign of any trouble. We proceeded to the venue of my town hall meeting at the civic center with women in Oye Local Government. The atmosphere was very peaceful, the women were singing and dancing and there was nothing to indicate that anything was amiss. I stopped at the tent erected for the mobile health clinic in front of the civic center to greet the elderly patients who were being attended to, and I also went to greet the beneficiaries of the Food Bank for the ederly project (Ounje Arugbo), who were assembled under another tent. I then proceeded into the hall for the program.

Half-way through our event, there was a disturbance outside. The FUOYE students (and possibly infiltrated by local thugs) had re-grouped and were trying to get into the venue. The security officers prevented this from happening. We finished our program, and by the time we got outside, we found that vehicles from my convoy and those of my guests that were parked outside the venue had been vandalised. As we were driving out of Oye town, we encountered at least two road blocks that the students had mounted to prevent the movement of vehicles. I could see students/thugs throwing stones and large sticks at us as we drove by.

However, the casualties that were recorded did not take place while I was there. There are eye-witnesses, photographs and video footage to confirm this.
There are reports circulating that the crisis occurred because I refused to address the protesting students. This is totally false. I did not encounter any group of students when I got to Oye town. They had dispersed before my arrival, and when they regrouped I was inside the venue. It is possible, as I stated earlier, that the group that came to the venue trying to gain access with sticks and stones in hand might have included local hoodlums, but there was no way of telling the difference.

I am scandalized and shocked beyond words to hear that I instructed security officers to shoot at students.

Yesterday morning, as I was driving past my office in Ado-Ekiti, a group of women were gathered there to protest. They are members of a Female Sweepers Association, who were protesting a cut in their monthly salary by the previous administration. They wanted me to help them. They were very polite and pleasant. I listened to them and promised to pass on their message to the appropriate authorities. These two protests happened on the same day. If I had met a group of protesting students, as a social justice activist myself, I would have listened to their complaints and addressed them. I firmly believe in citizens’ rights to protest on issues of concern.

I am deeply saddened that at least one fatality has been recorded. As a mother my heart bleeds. All these students are my children, and no mother prays to weep over their offspring.


I extend my sincere condolences to the family concerned, and I wish those who are still receiving treatment a speedy recovery.

The Obirinkete Tour has been suspended pending a review of what transpired yesterday. I thank friends and all members of the public who have expressed concern over this. God bless you all.

Erelu Bisi Fayemi
First Lady Ekiti State

Hnmm

Okay

I support her.

hmm

ok

The fact that you even thought of it shows how barbaric your environment is.

Mother or not.

The police officer that shot the student is a father too, being a mother doesn't justify maybe you order the students to be shot at or not

Ok. It is well.

But a student is dead

Well...

As an alumnus of Great Ife you should be familiar with the Aluta spirit.

Your account is not so different from an eye witness account I read from the wall of an equally respectable woman on Facebook.

However, I disagree with the assertion that the students had dispersed before you got to Oye.
Do students willfully disperse in such circumstances?

Did you bother to ask how the security forces cleared the road for you to attend the program?

I do not support the actions of the students though, but I know how you elites view such protesters.
I will still give you a benefit of doubt though and blame the overzealous security agents.

I really pity the foolishness of a lot of security agents. The person you're defending overzealously would deny you flatly and you'll be forced to carry your cross.

There are many ex-policemen on death row simply because they foolishly thought their principals would defend their overzealousness.

I am deeply saddened that at least one fatality has been recorded. As a mother my heart bleeds. All these students are my children, and no mother prays to weep over their offspring.

sojiboy:
*The September 10th Oye-Ekiti Incident: Setting the Record Straight*

I am deeply saddened that at least one fatality has been recorded. As a mother my heart bleeds. All these students are my children, and no mother prays to weep over their offspring.

Erelu Bisi Fayemi
First Lady Ekiti State

No playing of politics with this sad development, I tend to agree with her even though I belong to a different party.
There is no gain in trying to tarnish her image because we dont like her husbands policies or party.

leave story ma. When politicians need blood, they don't care about motherhood trash

Why would a sane person shot at students in d first and place

Nigerian students can be crazy when it comes to welfare issues

Tout lò mó elomi... they see protest as an avenue to do whatever they like

How does vandalizing a person’s (that has nothing to do with your plights) car solve your problem

Lol naso

Ok

madam you don't even have such power anywhere either real or imaginary..APC people really think we are in some sort of byzantine Era

Gf

Good one

TOPCRUISE:
Nigerian students can be crazy when it comes to welfare issues

But the government that failed to provide the "welfare" to the students despite receiving exorbitant fees isn't crazy, right?

What kind of a country is this? Where asking for your right is termed crazy.

EKSU for example hasn't had power on campus/off campus hostels since 2015. Yes, you read that right. No spark of PHCN light in an area of some 10,000 nigerian students since at least 4 years ago.

Sick of living a country where this is termed normal.

Motherhood and fatherhood is a lovely stuff to behold.

If you need Original Pure Honey... Call or whatsapp me on the number attached to my signature below