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| President of OOU at the press conference yesterday. |
The Olabisi Onabanjo University students, which was shut down last month have
warned Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, that he might lose the 2015 governorship election in the state if he doesn’t listen to them and rescind his decision on their increased school fees.
The student president in a press conference held yesterday in Lagos, said the increase in school fees will make thousands of students drop out, as most of them will be unable to pay the new fess. How logical is this, he asked.
He also demanded for the re-opening of the institution amongst others. His words;
“We are ever resolute to pursue this cause no matter what it takes, because the issue is very simple.
“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”.
“Let me also address the rumour that we are being motivated by politicians.
“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.
“They said it’s only 1 out of 9 tertiary institutions that is complaining.
“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.”
Education is a right of the students and not a privilege, he said. He also urged the public and media to support the students and disregard government’s propaganda against the students.