Scores of students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, today converged on the entrance of the University to protest the extension of Academic Staff Union of Universities ASUU’s strike by three-month.
The students who trooped out in their large numbers marched along the Ife-Ibadan express way, a development which caused gridlock and hindered vehicular movement in the area.
The students who are under the aegis of Fund Education Coalition, chanted various 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.
As the protesting students increased in numbers, moving towards the Ipetumodu roundabout, they were joined by some concerned members of the public.
One of the protesting Students, Olugbade Majeed said they would continue to stage protests until government honour the initial agreement it had with the ASUU.
Majeed said: ” 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 can not 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 break down of law and order.
Mr Olokode appealed to the students to allow government and ASUU reach compromise,noting that their protest would affect the livelihood of other people.
Adenitan Akinola
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