Protest: OAU management orders students to vacate hostels, suspends SUG swearing-in

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun state has ordered the closure of the school and directed students to vacate hostels.

The school also suspended the swearing-in of the newly elected officials of the Students’ Union Government (SUG).

The move follows the protest by the students who were demanding justice for the death of their colleague.

According to the students, a 24-year-old colleague, Adesina Aisat, died due to the negligence of the school’s health centre workers.

However, a press release by the Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olarewaju, the school Management said it understands the grief resulting from this untimely death within the community and sympathises with the parents, friends, colleagues and the entire students of the University on this sad loss, and prays for the repose of her soul.

“However, Management condemns in strong terms the continuous and uncontrolled protests by the students culminating in unbridled brigandage, blocking the Ife/Ibadan and Ife/Ede highways and other adjoining roads that could be used as alternative routes, and engaging in other acts that are detrimental to their health and the safety of the generality of the people.

“Therefore, having exhausted all necessary avenues to call the students to order and allow normalcy to return to the Campus and its environs, the authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, have accordingly closed down the School until further notice. This is to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

“In view of this, all students are hereby directed to vacate their halls of residence and the Campus latest by 12:00 noon on Saturday, 2nd October, 2021.

“Consequently, the swearing-in of the newly elected Students’ Union officials has been put on hold, pending a review of the situation.

“In the meantime, the University management has put in place the machinery to unravel the circumstances surrounding the immediate and remote cause(s) of the crisis”, reads the statement.

Below are some of reactions from the students:

@FinLit201: Everybody who visits the health center has one story or the other to tell; all negative! Imagining giving a patient complaining of shortness of breath malaria and ulcer drugs

@Adeytahyour: They claim to answer the call to serve humanity. In OAU HEALTH CENTER. Are they really faithful to the call?

@Sir_classic_: The anthem states sports and STRUGGLE. We struggle everyday for our survival. Stop joking with our livesMan gesturing not okMan gesturing not okMan gesturing not ok OAU health center is wack and responsible for our livesBroken heartBroken heartBroken heart. We demand a changeRaised fistRaised fistRaised fist. Prioritize student welfarism…White heavy check mark