OAU students protest extension of ASUU strike in Ife
By Ismail Azeez, Osogbo
Scores of students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Thursday converged in front of the entrance gate of the University, to protest the extension of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) three-month strike.
The students who trooped out in their large numbers marched along the Ife-Ibadan express way, a development which reportedly caused gridlock and hindered the free flow of vehicular movement in the area.
It would be recalled that ASUU announced an extension of its three-month old strike by an another three months.
The students, who converged under the aegis of Fund Education coalition were seen chanting solidarity songs.
Armed with placards with various inscriptions such as “Fund Education Now,” “Education is not a Scam” among others, as they chanted “End ASUU Strike,” the protesting students vowed to continue the protest till their demands were met by the Federal Government.
It was observed that the students were joined by some concerned members of the public.
One of the protesting Students, Olugbade Majeed said they would continue to stage protests until governemnt signed the initial agreement it had with the ASUU.
According to Majeed, “We are protesting because the Government has failed the educational system in Nigeria. And they have not met the demands of ASUU which they had been signed since 2009.
“We have been at home for three months.
“This particular Government has been showing nonchalant attitude towards education by engaging in Electoral Activities while students are at home idle. You will agree with me that an idle hand is the devil’s workshop.
“We don’t want to be turned to criminal elements, we don’t want to be turned to Yahoo Yahoo, we don’t want to be turned to prostitutes and that’s why we are agitating for our right.
“We are on the street to let our voices be heard because we cannot continue to suffer in silence. Nothing has worked out under this government, No security. We are all aware that nowhere is safe in this country. Yet, government does not seem it fit to respond positively to the challenges confronting the education sector in the country.
“If there is proper education in Nigeria, there won’t be security threats as we’re having now, because proper and well educated persons will shy away from criminal activities,” he said.
As of the time of filling this report, Osun State Commissioner of police, Mr Wale Olokode was in the midst of the protesters to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.
