President of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union, UI-SU, Ojo Aderemi, has said that his colleagues would kill him if he had done what Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State asked him to do.
The governor, it was gathered, had invited him for talk over the lingering welfare issues between the students and the management which has led to to the closure of the institution.
Aderemi, who posted on the official facebook page of the students’ union, described the meeting as “a step in the wrong direction at the wrong time to have honoured the invitation of the Governor. He, however, tendered his apology, promising to discuss any issue with them before taking action.
According to him, “I spoke gently and calmly to the Governor but without compromising the fundamentals. I dwelt more on the issue of LAUTECH and the education sector than UI.”
Quoting what he said, he wrote: “I implore you to take education very seriously in the State. It is shameful that the percentage of the budget that goes into the Education sector is 6.4 percent instead of the 26 percent that has been recommended. The crisis can be solved from here.” … “You can intervene Sir, it will be appreciated.”, adding that “The Governor first rebutted all my points. He was not so pleased with the points I raised. He then asked me to write a letter to ask for his support. I’m sure UItes will almost kill me if I send such a letter.”
He said that he was happy with the support the struggle has enjoyed, explaining that: “We have all the support we need already: The greatest of this support is the large one rooted among students. Without students I am nothing. The Labour Unions are the best of allies any Students’ Union can get. The NLC gladly supported us. The Alumni, ASUU, NASU, and SSANU. We appreciate their intervention so far. The Independent Press. Ordinary Nigerians and comrades around the world.”
Saying that he did not request nor collect any money from the governor, he wrote: ”I wish to state for the sake of records, that up till the point when I left the venue of the ill-fated meeting, and in contrast to the long-standing tradition of student leaders collecting money from people in government to compromise the interest of students, I neither requested for, nor collected money from the Governor.
He continued: “Our leadership has decided to chart a new frontier in the rule of engagement with high officeholders. We have resolved that the era of student leaders behaving like merchants must give way. We have decided to set a standard, because in the words of Leon Trotsky, “… Where tradition is lacking, a striking example becomes necessary.”
