The Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo University has condemned the announcement of a mid-semester break by the University Management which orders students to vacate their Halls of residence.

Addressing journalists today in a Press Conference on OAU campus, the Public Relations Officer of the Students’ Union, Ojedokun Emmanuel a.k.a Immanuel Kant said the school closure is unwarranted and unjustifiable. He said the Management has not pointed to the Monday demonstration of students as a reason for the school closure rather speculations that the students are planning to disrupt the upcoming convocation of the university and the coronation of the new Ooni of Ife where the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari and the Queen Elizabeth of England are expected to be present.

“The Management did not shut down the University because of our protest which was nationwide but because they speculated that the students may want to disrupt the convocation and coronation of the new Ooni of Ife which is far from the truth.

“We are Intellectual Fighters for Emancipation and at no point would we stop the coronation of the Ooni. As a matter of fact, we see it as a cheap blackmail which holds no water” Immanuel Kant said.

The Management of OAU late yesterday evening announced that the students should vacate their hostels latest 12:00noon today, Wednesday for a mid-semester break. The University authority in the Press Release announcing the break did not state any reason particular reason for the break.

The President of the Students’ Union, Omotayo Akande a.k.a TY in his own remark said the Union has concluded plans to write back to the Management stating their position and asking the reason why the Management will embark on a mid-semester break without carrying the university stakeholders including the Students’ Union along. He also stated that the Union is demanding the immediate re-opening of the university.

It will be recalled that the University announced the first mid-semester break in about the last three years during the last semester in the midst of the NASU-Management face-off. This will be the second mid-semester break in this session.