OAU students says University lied, demand reinstatement of students

The Students Union Government, SUG, of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, has called on the management of the institution to reinstate the recently suspended students with no condition attached.
The SUG led by the president, Comrade Oyekan Ibukun, made the call in Osogbo, the state capital, during a press conference held at the Nigerian Union of Journalists, NUJ, Correspondents’ Chapel.
A release by the PRO of the University, Abiodun Olanrewaju, said that the students were suspended for criminal activities, breach of the code of conduct of the University and violent violation of their matriculation oath.
But, the students said the alleged criminal offences for which the students were suspended, were “baseless and all the vandalization claims of the school management were all cooked up lies”.
A press statement jointly signed by the Union President, Ibukun, Secretary, Boluwajaiye Adeoluwa and Public Relation Officer, Okediji Simon, said that the students would no longer tolerate victimisation of students activities on the campus.
“We vehemently condemn the illegal and unjustifiable suspension of four undergraduate and two postgraduate students respectively of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife by the University Management.
“We use this medium to debunk lies and subterfuges that have been made against our members. It must be clearly asserted at this point in time that students only embarked on a peaceful protest and what followed was their indefinite suspension from the University.
“On the foregoing, the Union hereby
demand immediate and unconditional reinstatement of both undergraduate and postgraduate students that were suspended by the Management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
“We demand an end to era of victimization of students activists on campus on account of expression of their grievances and dissatisfaction over the current state of Obafemi Awolowo University campus
“We demand the University Management to call the leadership of Postgraduate Hall as well as Great Ife Students’ Union to a round table discussion which must lead to quick, immediate and unconditional reinstatement of students on suspension among other issues.
“We demand the University Management to be more committed to facilitating a holistic improvement in the general welfare conditions of students on campus by ensuring stable supply of water and electricity on campus, standardisation of our laboratories and equipment of the University library with updated books, as well as renovation of existing halls of residence and construction of new ones to decongest the population of students living off campus which is characterized with a very poor security network
“We charge the Federal Government of Nigeria to be more committed to funding the education sector by approving 26℅ of the total annual budgetary allocation to the sector to raise the general standard of education in the country which will in turn increase productivity, innovation and creativity, development, etc.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria is also charged to be sincere with their fight against corruption by ensuring that no corrupt politician has a place in this current administration.
“We also demand the Federal Government to gear up their efforts in combating the plagues of poverty, terrorism, diseases (monkey pox) and youth employment in the country.”

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