Ojo Aderemi, the University of Ibadan Students’ Union President has now made astonishing revelations around the crisis that rocked the institution since about two weeks ago. University of Ibadan was shutdown May 29 in spite of students’ protest on the Democracy’s Day.
While the union leader was giving narrative of what actually transpired leading to the institution’s closure, he clarified the allegation that has been beforehand posed at him demanding apology from the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abel Olayinka.
As extracted from Aderemi’s page, he said:
“We asked that other demands be attended to. Ibrahim (the SRC Speaker) asked the Vice Chancellor to “please in his fatherly affection come and address students” to quash the
crisis. Eventually, what we heard and read was that we asked the Honourable Vice Chancellor to apologize to us. That is not true. It is rather an empty demand. It wouldn’t even stop the
protest. So of what use will that be in all of these? None! I never asked Professor A. I Olayinka to apologize to me.”
Ojo Aderemi also explained how he was called to a personal meeting with the Vice Chancellor before the embarked protest and the deliberations in the meeting.
As extracted from the President’s Facebook page yesterday, read the rest below:
“LATER IN THE NIGHT 11PM-02AM
&
ABOUT 12 HOURS BEFORE THE PROTEST.
“Casper, a national executive of NANS facilitated a discussion
between the Vice Chancellor and me. I was in company of members of the Union’s Executive Committee when Casper invited me to NISER Pack (Opposite the Senate Chambers,
where we held a meeting earlier in the day) at about 11pm. I hope Casper will write his own side of the story too. He was seated with two other persons on the back seat of the Vice Chancellors’ car. The Vice Chancellor noticed my tiredness too. It was heart to heart discussion. He drove me to Oduduwa road and my friends protested. They thought I would be handed over to the
Police. Mr Vice Chancellor asked for my stand and especially on how we can avoid the impending imbroglio. I made a three-in-one submission: official declaration on use of hotplate as provided for by the law, the unjustly expelled, rusticated or suspended students should have their cases
reviewed and be allowed to write exams, and formal address of the Congress on the issue of I’D card. On this note, he requested that the planned protest should be delayed till 10am
and that I should put a call through to him in the morning for him to communicate the Registrar on the official release on use of hotplate. As for the unjustly treated students writing
exams, he said yes they can write exams provided they registered. All of these, he promised on his honour.
I felt the stress of having to coordinate a movement of thousands of students wouldn’t be necessary. I called the Vice Chancellor at about 6:45am while I was at Azikiwe Hall but he was not picking. I sent him a message.
Herein attached is a copy of that message;
Hello Sir
This is Ojo Aderemi, the Students’ Union President.
I wish to remind you of our discussion yesterday Sir. I plead with you Sir.
Good morning to you Sir
*******************************************
Till this very moment, the only time we communicated was when he affirmed the postponement of the exams and closure of halls of residence till July 17″
I had the Congress raise their hands while we move to the gate and made our presence outside the gate as earlier
resolved. I sued for peace in every way.
To those who alleged that we vandalized properties or assaulted one person or the other, I know they are able to say such a thing because we choose peace instead of violence though the latter would have been the case. Because he who makes peaceful revolution impossible, makes violent
revolution inevitable in the hands of the less intellectuals though. Of course, we are intellectuals and so we peacefully
demonstrated. I later read in a release from the University on newspaper that
a lecturer was assaulted in the Faculty of Science Department of Physics. I wonder why an incidence from the Faculty of Science would be linked with a protest that took place far far away. I was called that somebody had been apprehended at the Faculty of Science truly. Just like I receive calls from
female halls in the middle of the night that I need to take someone to the hospital. I went there in company of students and pleaded with Dr Ojuawo who can testify to that fact too. I called the CSO of the University and he asked the officer to release the boy. Then I saw it on a release on WhatsApp, then
on the Administration’s website and then Punch. Anyways, we pursue progress and not personal interest. That the University of Ibadan will be a world class institution where all forms of primitive demands will not fly. Where relationship between teachers and students will be based on mutual respect. Where democracy and tolerance will fly. Where innovative thinking will prevail. WHERE THE STUDENTS’ UNION WILL BE SEEN AS PARTNER IN PROGRESS AND NOT
ENEMIES OF ADMINISTRATION. Where the opinion of students will be respected and considered important before decisions are made. Where students welfare will be of a GREAT priority. Where education would be made available for all people across board including the poorest of the poor who wish to go to school.
That is the meaning of a University. Ask them in Scandinavia, ask them in America, ask them in Southern Europe… They will tell you the same thing. Our University must be global but our
culture here must change. To change it is a duty for all.
More will come.
Ojo Aderemi
President, University of Ibadan Students’ Union (2016/2017
session)”
