ON THE CLOSURE OF OAU BY THE MANAGEMENT

In what came as a surprise to the students, the management of Obafemi Awolowo University, ILE-IFE in the late hours of December 1st, 2015 after a meeting of the Governing Council of the school shut down the school indefinitely. The decision arrived after the students had boycotted lectures a day before the meeting demanding good welfare conditions, re-fumigation of the halls of residence which have been conquered by bedbugs and frightening rats and reinstatement of a student, Olawale Ogunruku, who was suspended in 2011 among other demands.

But in a swift reaction, the management decided to forestall any other possible protest which the students might stage protests especially during the incoming convocation ceremony, alleged visitation of the President of the country and Queen Elizabeth of England to Ile-ife for the coronation of the new Ooni. The management consider the students as an element of embarrassment, hence they prefer sending the Great Ife students home. This must be condemned.

Having paid skyrocketing school fees, the management cannot improve the welfare conditions of the students, the state of condition of the laboratories, lecture theatres, library are disgusting and not fit for any academic purpose. Students sit on the floor to receive lectures despite the huge amount of fees they are paying. This is pathetic. Now, they are telling the whole world what they are passing through on the campus like many other government universities in the country.

The students are suffering from erratic power supply, poor and coloured water, stinky environments. For how long would one expect the students to cope with these horrible and terrible situations after they have paid the mouth-tearing fees? Their telling their plight to the world has become the management's way of achieving their hidden agenda. The management cash in on the peaceful lecture boycotting to attain their obnoxious plan.

Having done nothing to elevate the standard of living of the students after they had paid the school fees, the management are planning to increase the accommodation fees. They see the students as a source of enriching their pockets. The secrets must be revealed!

It should be noted that there is nothing like unrest on the campus as reported by some media. OAU campus cannot be more peaceful than it is now. The closure of the school is grounded on false inclinations. As the management did during the last NASU strike, they have subscribed to lies again! They defend their cruelty and anti-student action on the fact that they are giving mid-semester break to the students. Of course, this is meant to shut up the students' lamentations and crying of woes they are suffering from the management.

Every meaningful Nigerian should come to the aid of the OAU students. No nation survives on lies. The management have committed a lot of atrocities in OAU, they want to cover up all their evils students want to expose. This must not be allowed to stand. The presidency and all Nigerians must know how corrupt and wicked the management of the government schools are, everyone should know that Nigerian students are suffering! The president through the ministry of education should investigate the rationale behind the declared closure of the school to unravel all evils perpetrated on OAU campus. Students should not be intimidated and silenced just because they voice out their pains and afflictions. OAU students are anti-corruption crusaders!!! Long live Great Ife!!!

Timothy Faboade
OAU, ILE-IFE.