INVASION OF OAU BY IFE TRADITIONALISTS: UPHOLD THE IDEA OF UNIVERSITAS: THE UNIVERSITY IS GLOBAL

The news media is awash with the most disturbing display of ignorance currently being showcased in our alma mater, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. The appointment of the Vice Chancellor, an erstwhile rancour-free internal process, has now become a subject of not only intense politicking among the academics and their non-teaching counterparts. The process has, deplorably, been extended to the town with the attendant malcontents.

The latest news on the invasion of the campus by some Ife indigenes and traditionalists, allegedly, to protest the failure by the authorities to appoint “an Ife indigene”, showcases the extent to which the system has sunk, almost irretrievably.

This is, perhaps, symptomatic of the pervasive rot in the academia. This thoughtless, reckless and misguided step forebodes untoward occurrences in the future. A situation which sees totally extraneous elements to the university environment invade the serene ambience to offer support, presumably solicited and sponsored by those who may have lost out in the selection process, is lamentable. There can be no worse signs than these outward display of attitudes alien to the academia.

There is bound to be this creepy feeling from all of us who have partaken of the glorious moments at that Fount of deep intellection and effervescent cultural expressions. To assert that we are disappointed is an understatement. All those responsible for this disgrace should be ashamed of themselves, and this is assuming they possess any sense of shame. This act should elicit the most strident condemnation from all good people. I condemn it without equivocation.

Obafemi Awolowo University has been a pride of the South West Region since her foundation by the purposeful political leadership at that period. Her new status as a national institution notwithstanding, the people of this geo-political space possess this emotional attachment, traceable to the politics of her establishment, anchored on the vision for the redemption of a race from colonialism, its tendentious predilections and the attendant loss of identity.

The motto of this great citadel is “For Learning and Culture”. Any attitude which detracts from this mission must be jettisoned and discouraged. The state of university education reflects the level of development in a society. A citadel of learning turned to a theatre for the most absurd display of inanities cannot contribute meaningfully to the advancement of any country.

The collective pool of resources from the South West Region ensured the establishment of this beautiful university. The institution attracted the best from all over the world. Merit was the only yardstick necessary to undertake any venture and for inclusion in same. Capacity was pivotal in the building of the most beautiful campus on the Continent of Africa.

Our founding fathers had a vision. They had a mission. They picked the best to fulfill these lofty dreams. The current absurdity represents a hope betrayed. The disturbing facts emanating from Ife over an appointment which is internal, almost entirely, reveal the depth of rot in that system. The intensity of campaign for an office which serious scholars declined to take in the past for the fear of distraction, gives a glimpse on the quality of research purportedly undertaken in most places in recent times. It is disheartening!

This latest assault on intellection by elements who, ordinarily, should not have any business with that ambience is unsettling. The silence of the intellectuals in that university suggests complicity and connivance. The supervisory authorities should, as a matter of urgency, weigh in heavily on this strange phenomenon creeping into the university. A university should live up to its charter of establishment. Certificates are awarded on Character and Learning.

The events of the last few days depict, clearly, that our universities seem interested in issues too distant from teaching and research. The painful reality which comes with the knowledge that our Great Ife has joined other erstwhile centres of excellence which deal with the burden of rapidly receding glory, is sad indeed. The fact that the ancestral home of the Yoruba is where this desecration takes place should goad our people to act fast before permanent damage is brought to bear on our collective psyche.

If it is not enough to be a scholar and professor than to be a Vice Chancellor, then we should stop looking elsewhere for reasons for the pervasive decadence in the country. The age of innocence is long gone. The Gown appears too eager to learn from the Town in many ways. The battle seems lost, irredeemably.

The glory has departed.

ARAKUNRIN OLUWAROTIMI O. AKEREDOLU, SAN
GOVERNOR, ONDO STATE/ALUMNUS, GREAT IFE
https://punchng.com/oau-vc-akeredolu-expresses-disappointment-condemns-invasion-by-traditionalists/

Akeredolu, you are very right.

Those people spearheading this show of shame should be identified and shamed publicly.

Any Yoruba person is entitled to any position in Yoruba land as long as he/she is qualified.....this rubbish needs to stop....Akintola and Awolowo who were the visionners of OAU didn't bother to enforce that the school was located in their village, instead it was brought to Ife which has highly benefitted from the University being located in their town cus without OAU Ife would probably just be another town.

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I was shocked at the news when I first got it. It's a pity. Degradation is fast catching up with too many sectors in Nigeria. The glory is departed indeed!

Check my signature please.

Mofun:
I was shocked at the news when I first got it. It's a pity. Degradation is fast catching up with too many sectors in Nigeria. The glory is departed indeed!

Check my signature please.

I was recently at OAU for the first time in a few years, and the place looks eerily different. Lacking in any visible energy and vibrancy, it seems the students and academic staff are just going through the motion. They look beaten. May be it's a reflection of the dire state of the country. Most people are simply tired.

OAU is nothing like it used to be.

back in our days, Awo boys would've done serious justice to those barbaric traditionalists.
..maybe things have now changed on campus cos I haven't gone there since I graduated in 2009.

Lol.. ogboni dey fight for vc control

richiemcgold:
back in our days, Awo boys would've done serious justice to those barbaric traditionalists.
..maybe things have now changed on campus cos I haven't gone there since I graduated in 2009.

Take a look around bro most young men are spineless worms on drugs with nothing concrete within or without. This younger generation are just sissies.

killmods:

Take a look around bro most young men are spineless worms on drugs with nothing concrete within or without. This younger generation are just sissies.

After spoiling the country, you want the younger generation to fix it for you?

See the juju men on campus

The citizens alongside the country is degenerating at an alarming rate,
The older generation has shown time and again that they have little or no integrity, their lack of direction has clearly rubbed off on the younger generation, alas the next generation would be both heartless and thoughtless,

killmods:

Spoiling country How? Fix what? Lol.. I no be old man oo but majority of kids born in the late 90's /2000 are without heart is what I meant which was in answer to poster I quoted. U just don't jump on someone's mention because u want to quote me. Apply wisdom at all times. You sound very foolish btw

Wahala.

Some guys were expressing themselves and airing out their grievances in the best way they know how, according to their cultural beliefs, and everyone is bashing them because the white man's religion says otherwise. What is the difference between what the traditionalists did and what other activists and protesters do. Akeredolu is 100% wrong. You can't just shoot down another man's position simply because you don't like his dress sense or his language

Tribalism has eaten deep into the fabric of this country called Nigeria and It's unbelievable that people of Ile-Ife can be this primitive.

A further confirmation that we've not really made any progress as a nation. What a shame!!!!!

ganisucks:
Some guys were expressing themselves and airing out their grievances in the best way they know how, according to their cultural beliefs, and everyone is bashing them because the white man's religion says otherwise. What is the difference between what the traditionalists did and what other activists and protesters do. Akeredolu is 100% wrong. You can't just shoot down another man's position simply because you don't like his dress sense or his language

And what was their grievances ?

The candidate they endorsed came 9th and summarily want the Governing council to promote someone that came 9th to 1st. Crass madness!

What is wrong with that? Do you know what OGBONI means. Ordinary BIANCA OJUKWU would control anything in ANAMBRA.

STAY WHERE YOU ARE TILL FULANI CONFEDERATE STRATEGY CONSUMES YOU ALL.

NO.
ISN'T THERE A MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS FOR VC APPOINTMENT BEFORE YOU CONSIDER CULTURE AND TRADITION ADDITIONS?
DO THIS PLEASE AND STOP EMBARRASSING TRADITIONALISTS

PLEASE CONSIDER THIS AS A YORUBA NATION UPSTART.
THE NW EMIRS AND THE SULTAN STARTED FULANI CONFEDERATE WITHOUT CONSIDERING ITS EFFECTS ON THE CS, SW, SE AND THE SS AND THEIR TRADITIONALISTS.
RIFA-RUGA ISLAMISATION FULANISATION AND ANARCHY AND FC-FULANI CONFEDERATE ARE NOW CANCER TOO DIFFICULT TO HEAL OR CONTROL.

CULTURE AND TRADITIONS ARE BEYOND CONVENTIONS, LAWS AND LOGICS.
I IMPLORE AKEREDOLU TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE WITH BANJI AKINTOYE, AYO BANJO, FALAE AND OONI OF IFE.
IN VIEW OF THE ONGOING RIFA-RUGA ISLAMISATION FULANISATION AND ANARCHY POLICY OF BMF-BOKOISWA AND THEIR FC-FULANI CONFEDERATE STRATEGIES, LET US NOT TAKE ANYTHING FORGRANTED. GOD BLESS YORUBA NATION.

PROF. AKINKUGBE WAS ONCE THE VC OF AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA. ONE DAY, A GROUP OF SHARIA TERRORISTS FROM SAMARU EMERGED, CARRYING THEIR HANDS ON THEIR HEADS AND SHOUTING "ALLAH WAKBAR". BEFORE WE KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING, THE ALLAH WAKBAR TERRORISTS HAD DRIVEN PROF AKINKUGBE OUT OF ABU TO LAGOS THAT NIGHT AND REPLACED HIM WITH ANGO ABDULLAHI.