The students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, OOU, have sent a warning signal to the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, that he would lose the 2015 governorship election in the state if he continues with his alleged anti-people?s policies, especially as they currently affect the students of the institution.
The students gave this warning during a press conference held in Lagos on Monday.
Naijacrux recalls that the students have since August, unanimously risen against the state government following their demand for further reduction in the school?s tuition fees and its immediate implementation.
In a press conference yesterday, organized by the Joint Action Front, JAF, the students described the state government as a ?set of shameless parents who chose to lie and deceive their children?.
?We are ever resolute to pursue this cause no matter what it takes, because the issue is very simple,? Olusegun Ifade, the President of the Students Union Government, SUG, said.
?If you are talking about reduction and you run to the media without having a conclusive or mutual agreement and the most annoying thing is you are saying the implementation will take effect next session, our own argument is logical and simple.
?Over 2000 students cannot pay and have applied for leave of absence for the 2012/2013 session, and many couldn?t return. If you now announce a reduction and you say it will take effect next session, what of this academic session of 2013/2014?
?Do they go out of school because they can?t pay and return next session? Is it logical? It?s not logical. Implementation and further reduction of the fees is non-negotiable?.
Dismissing claims by the state government that the students were being sponsored by the opposition in the state, the student leader said: ?Let me also address the rumour that we are being motivated by politicians,? Mr. Ifade said. ?We all remember the Ali-must-go protest in the 70s, we heard the students accused of being sponsored by the opposition.?
?During the LASU struggle, they said the 5th columnist and some politicians motivated it, but at the end of the day, the success of the struggle showed that it was a student motivated struggle.
?It is always like that in this part of the world, when we have a highly irresponsible government who always look for excuse to justify their irresponsibility and that?s why they are saying the struggle of Olabisi Onabanjo University is a politically motivated one. It is not and it will never be,? Mr. Ifade stated.
He stated further; ?They said it?s only 1 out of 9 tertiary institutions that is complaining,? he said. ?But it is only that one that is in 2013/2014 academic session; it is only one that pays the highest tuition fees in the entire Nigeria; it is only that one that is still standing and it will continue to stand.?
Also speaking at the media briefing, Chude Achike, the Vice chairman of JAF, explained why his group was involved in the OOU fees hike protest.
He said the protest falls under its ?Save Nigerian public education? campaign and is based on the fact that Nigerians have a right to proper education.
?The various governments want to commercialize education. Education is a right of the people and the irony is that whether the state claims to be progressive or conservative, they are not meeting up with expectation.
?We must commend the students of this school even in the face of propaganda, lies and various accusations. Students of this university must learn from the struggle and victory of LASU,? Mr. Achike said.
The students have however demanded that eight conditions must be met before the re-opening of the institution.
These include: further reduction in tuition fees not exceeding a maximum of N50,000; implementation of reduction for 2013/2014 academic session; proper funding of the university; and reinstatement of over 3000 dropped students of the university.
They also demanded for the ?completion of the hostels or immediate transfer to the school management, total removal of all security operatives- SSS, Mopol, Op-Messa, Police- from the school?s community, and non-victimization of our students or student leaders.?
Topic: OOU students ask Gov Amosun to reverse his decision on school fees or lose 2015 (Read 1852 times)
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April 09, 2015, 05:25:38 PM