The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS has vowed to storm OAU campus for a showdown until the management address students demands
The union codemned the closure of campus by the management of obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
The union called on the management to address the issue leading to the death of a 400L female student, Adesina Aishat Omowunmi rather than closing the university campus.
In a statement released by the union and obtained by DAILY GIST, It noted that the management unholy decision to shut down the school is not unexpected, as they call on students’ union leaders in South-West Zone to converge at the school gate to press home their grievances.
“As an association, we find it appalling that the University management could go to the extent of twisting the narrative by saying that she was adequately treated.
“Meanwhile, reverse was the case. It is on good record that the helpless student was abandoned and was certified brought-in-dead at Seventh Day Hospital, Mayfair for treatment where she gave up the ghost. But, the management in their characteristic manner had to lie that she was promptly treated of severe infection (which they could not even name). The fact that the management could not name the ‘severe infection’ is a testament to the fact that they lied.
“As against the content of the 4th paragraph of the circular that was issued by the University management, there was no attempt by the University management “to call the students to order and allow normalcy to return to the campus and its environs…”.
“Rather, the VC refused to heed all calls to come out and address the protesting students who were actually requesting for his presence at the protest ground. And, it is public knowledge that the students did not at any point in time during the cause of the protest engage in any form of “unbridled brigandage” not to talk of breaking any known law. At least, protest is an internationally recognised right and the students were still acting within the prism of their fundamental rights. Issues are very clear!
“In unison, the Zonal leadership condemned the reckless closure of the University by the management and call on the VC to, as a matter of urgency and necessity reopen the institution for students to continue their examinations. We make bold to assert that if the University management should fail to announce the reopening of the University, the Zonal leadership shall relocate its secretariat to Obafemi Awolowo University campus gate until the VC reverse the decision. Also, we shall be calling for the removal of the University Vice-Chancellor at that spot and we shall be mobilising in our numbers.
“We therefore call on students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and charge all SUGs across the South West to put everything in place to arrive OAU campus gate tomorrow by 8am for a showdown until the management rescind the decision”.
