Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has explained the crisis rocking the state-owned Olabisi Onabanjo University (O.O.U) Ago-Iwoye, saying the closure of the institution was because of the students’ attitude.
The university was closed down at the weekend, after a breakdown in negotiations between the students and government over further reduction in fees.
The state government had penultimate week announced about 61 per cent reduction in school fees in all the ten state-owned tertiary institutions. But, OOU students staged a protest, seeking further reduction and an immediate implementation of the new fees regime.
After a two-day violent protest, the government set up an ad-hoc committee to look into the matter. Its meeting with the students’ representatives was deadlocked, leading to closure of the institution.
Speaking on the matter yesterday, Amosun condemned the students’ action, which he alleged had “strong external backing”.
In his address at the closing ceremony of the Batch B NYSC orientation exercise in Sagamu, the governor further alleged that the plan was to create havoc in the state.
“As fresh graduates, you must have taken interest in the development concerning reduction of school fees in the tertiary institutions owned by our state and how the students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) decided that instead of commending the self-initiated good gesture of government, as done by their colleagues in the other nine institutions, to employ violent, aggressive and unlawful means to press for more demands. The government, after extensive deliberations with the leadership of the student union bodies reduced school fees with some institutions. We also agreed that for orderly implementation, the new school fees regime should commence with the 2014/2015 session. However, a section of OOU students insisted on the commencement date being the current academic session which will end in the next two to three months”, he said.
He added: “Though, we set up an ad-hoc committee to further engage them, the students chose the confrontational path. Obviously, they are acting under strong external influence and their plan was to unleash mayhem on the state and its residents. In fulfilment of the responsibility of government to protect lives and property, we decided to avoid any untoward development by directing that the institution be shut”.
Amosun na big tym liar*he jst keeps lyin against d students*he injured dem by usin mopo students,b4 he entered as d governor he promised oouites reduction in skul fee if he’s elected n he wants to play d same pranks wit us again*we jst started our first semester,students cnt afford d fee,oouites went on a peaceful protest*All his words are lies n foolish*i HAte him.oouites will stand to d end wit him,he’s sayin we are rogues cos our union leaders refused to collect money dat he offered dem,we are not rogues bt students fightin for our rights n we would not stop until we achieve our aim*GREATEST OOUITES*aluta continua
Mr Governor is a big liar(in the Nigerian constitution,dn’t we have the right to protest peacefully when we have issue bothering us).
Our action sincerely have no external backup,the current session is not even ending in four months not to talk of two to three months.
Academically,we’ve jsut spent 6weeks to receive lectures for this present semester which is the 1st semester,so what are we saying.Pls readers dn’t let the government deceive us because they are in the position of deceiving citizens.Let’s be sincere to ourslves,we dn’t need money or anyother worldly things to be sincere.The first day of the students @ abeokuta based on the protest was peaceful and lively for the fact that some of our students were injured by Mapoly students which was a plan by the govt representative to student affairs(Clement) made against us,well we thank God no life were lost but only sustain serious injuries on the head and some students fone and other properties were collected @ weapon point(nt gun precisely).The second day,what brought about the students action were caused by the police when they started shooting teargas @ students,which made some students loose their consciousness and others ran for safety whereby some started destroying properties which they were later cautioned by the Sug executives.
For everything we do in life we pay for and for every action we take there must be a reason.OOU students action has never for once been political and will never be.Every govt that faces issues @ times will alwys say it is political.Everything a ruler does will be accounted for oneday Insha Allah.
This media organization.I’ve called on u for help days back bfore this issue got to this stage,u neva gave me a rply that u receive my mail on ur box or not,bt now u can post all the lies mr omosun is telling the public.