Osun guber: Rancour among OAU Students over Omisore’s gift

A donation by the governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore, to the Students Union of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile Ife, has created a division among the students.


Omisore had donated a brand new 18-seater bus to the Students Union but while some of the students hailed the receipt of the bus by the Students Union, others condemned it, arguing that the union should not have accepted the gift during the period of election.

They argued that Omisore was simply trying to buy the students to his side for the purpose of winning the election.

One of the angry students, who spoke to PUNCH, said: “I am surprised the Students Union would collect such in our absence. We are not on campus and I see no reason why the SU will proceed to collect the bus despite the hike in fee challenges and the shutdown of the institution. It is wrong. We don’t need a bus. What will the bus do in the problems we are facing?

“We are on strike and OAU is a federal school, being governed by the Peoples Democratic Party. Why can’t he resolve our strike challenge first? The last time he (the President) promised to solve the problem, we later realised it was a lie. This is propaganda from him. It will not make us vote him(Omisore) in”.

But the Students Union, in a statement signed by its President, Isaac Ibikunle and Secretary-General, Shittu Olatayo, said it collected the bus to aid students’ movements during protests.

Part of the release reads: “Since the inception of our administration, it is a known fact that the political gladiators from major political parties have been engaging us, seeking our support just, as it is being done all over the state. But our position has always been that they should do projects for OAU students, such as donation of buses and scholarships, among others. In particular, both the All Progressive Congress and the PDP have promised us a bus each.

“Meanwhile, on Thursday July 31, 2014, the PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Omisore, donated a brand new 18 seater bus to the Students’ Union. This indubitably will aid the mobility of the Union, especially in times of struggle, and make the Union enjoy mobility autonomy as against the constant seizure of the Union’s bus by the management whenever the Union has issues with the University”.

Ibikunle added that: “It is pertinent to warn all those, comrades inclusive, who have collected money from the political gladiators and promised to "deliver" OAU campus by crook or by force to desist from such acts as rigging, violence, etc. Let both the APC and PDP comrades and apologists on campus be reminded that they must desist from violence. Only votes would count! Let it also be reiterated that the Union leadership has not and would not collect any money from anybody for purpose of supporting any candidate in the coming elections, our demand will always be for project without any support condition attached”