FROM THE SUSPENDED STUDENTS’ UNION LEADERS
… The prize we have paid, the one we are paying and the prize we will still pay can never be compared to the invaluable worth of a qualitative education in a better welfare condition… for this reason, we have no regret.
Great IFE,
Permit us to express our deepest appreciation to friends and comrades who not only believe in our just course but have shown support in various forms to us as Students presently in the ‘‘UNIVERSITY OF SUSPENSION’’. Your persistent yearning for an update we believe is borne out of solidarity and concern.

OUR COURSE WILL CONTINUE TO BE JUST
Reality indisputably has consistently exonerated us as regards the course for better welfare condition. We now live on a campus of near health endemic as a backdrop poor welfare condition, unprecedented exploitation of our students in our butteries, incessant brutalization and killings of students off campus, high theft rate and encroachment of neo-fascist elements (cultism). Without any personal adulations, these were what we spent months of our lives curbing as occupants of the Ken Saro Wiwa building. We must also appreciate the members of the Students’ Union security committee who remained steadfast in the face of the attack on our Union.
The recent spate of sickness on OAU campus in the face of rigorous test and workload will undoubtedly compromise students’ academic performance. The safety of our members becomes questionable by the day and the essence of a vibrant Students’ Union becomes more conspicuous.
The mass of Great Ife students have consistently demanded for their voice as the lacuna created by the ‘suspension’ of Students’ Union activities is fast becoming unbearable.
FOR THOSE THAT DOUBT THE SUSPENSION- IT IS REAL
Making assertions are not bad, but asserting out of speculations especially when there is an opportunity to make clarification is cheap populism and a sabotage of our struggle. It compounds our worries as different individuals assert that our suspension is a ruse, some say it is a collaboration with the University management (laughable). The proponent of this assertion to our surprise are people that we have either shown our suspension letters or could have simply requested for it. We are not surprised as there have been no time we did not stop getting our own share of political propaganda.
We don’t want to believe that this is another tactics to dissuade the students from the reinstatement campaign. May we state categorically that we have no regret for taking up a course for the betterment of the decaying Nigerian education sector. We also will not regret our stance to champion the struggle since the cause is a moral one. Education will be of no essence if we cannot take initiatives to societal problem even if it takes challenging the status quo.
Our suspension has generated serious concern among the student populace, nonetheless some are still in doubt. WE MAKE BOLD TO SAY THAT WE WILL NEVER BE A PARTY TO SUCH CONNIVANCE OR BETRAYAL OF STUDENTS’ COURSE TO ORCHESTRATE AN UNREAL SUSPENSION. Our suspension letters are available for all to see.


WHY IT TOOK THIS LONG
Our letter came twice, first it was withdrawn and later re-issued. Our deepest concern and love for a stable Academic calendar endeared us to toeing diplomatic and political solution. The diplomatic steps even as advised by our legal Adviser, Barr. Gani Mohammed Fawehinmi made us consult the Professor Y.K Yusuf who out of his fatherly care and concern issued letters of forgiveness to us individually and copied the appropriate authorities. Same steps were taken at the ASUU level as we wrote to her congress and her congress pleaded our course
This took a while as we would have been guilty to have raised hopes of students on a vainglorious ground. However, if this delay has been seen as a misgiving on our part. We sincerely apologise to the entire student body




DIPLOMACY SO FAR- ONLY HOPES AND NO RESULT
The route to reinstatement is not uncommon to us as Union leaders. Great Ife will remember our unrelenting roles played in the reinstatement of the last OAU5. After resuming in January, it was first necessary to make wide consultation. Our commitments to ensure a stable academic calendar have endeared us to resolving issues diplomatically, sought external intervention and make appeal to sister unions.
Numerous trips and solicitations have been made to wade into the issue, this is not out of place in any struggle since the barricade is always the last resort. Personalities like The Ooni of Ife, Alaafin of Oyo. You would also remember the intervention of the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Members of the National Assembly and other eminent Nigerians in diverse works of life have intervened and with less than a week to exams, our status remains the same.
The NANS intervention was shelved in a good faith to press home more diplomatic channels not out of fear but assurances from intervening bodies.
This optimism explains the reasons for ensuring our continued participation in our FYB activities which some people claim are creating the doubt of our suspension
As we write, WE HAVE NOT BEEN REINSTATED, if the diplomatic approach fails we won’t be surprised as it is a characteristic of the University management, however diplomacy is in tandem with the scientific approach of our struggle, we have to first imbibe dialogue.


THE FRUIT OF OUR STRUGGLE- THE 7.6BN ALUMNI STUDENTS’ VILLAGE
An overnight struggle cannot turn the education sector around but a Students’ Union must not fail to exercise her positions and the demands of her members at all time. Apart from the media campaign which properly registered the plight of OAU students during the struggle. Recently the OAU Alumni, recognizing our plight and in a bid to alleviate the welfare challenges, launched a phenomenal agenda to build a students’ village running to about 7.8Billion Naira. The project which will commence execution in few months we hope will address the challenges of hostel accommodation, poor welfare and security over time.
We are no doubt in the dark phase of our Union. This is not new as progressive Union leaders have had cause to go through this.
We want to reiterate our commitment to ensure that we continue to champion a collective course of a befitting education sector.

ALUTA CONTINUA VICTORIA ASCERTA

Emmanuel Ojedokun
PRO Great Ife Students’ Union
Oketooto Oluwaseun
Secretary General Great Ife Students’ Union
Omotayo Akande
President Great Ife Students’ Union

I know you guys would be reinstated soon.

Dnt worry great ppl wit bold heart,God will make a way

Is that the same SUG that budgeted millions of Naira as telephone call allowance You guys should bury your head in shame for letting other great minds down with the BLUR projections and forecasting you had.

A week To Exams:OAU VC fails To Reinstate suspended Students after several Interventions