CORRECTION! “We hailed Jonathan, we never stoned him” – OAU students

The Students Union president of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Mr. Isaac Ibikunle, has described as false, reports making the rounds that students of the university hurled stones and other missiles at President Goodluck Jonathan during his visit to the campus on Friday.

Jonathan had attended a Yoruba summit organized by some Yoruba traditional leaders at the Oduduwa Hall of the university. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade and other prominent obas and Yourua leaders were in attendance.

In an interview with Punch newspapers on Saturday, Ibikunle said that students of the university insisted on discussing with Jonathan on the increment of the fees charged by the school and the President obliged.

He said,

 “We read some reports that the President was stoned, booed and harassed when he came to our campus. This is not correct.

“Security personnel initially prevented us from seeing the president but we insisted that we wanted to discuss with him and we were allowed to see him.

“We told him that the increment was too high, and gave him a petition concerning the exorbitant fees and he assured us that he would act on it fast.

“I asked Mr. President to come down from the car and address us and he came down. He is our president, we did not harass him.”

According to Ibikunle, President Jonathan was even hailed by the students and those present when his helicopter was taking off at the university’s sports centre. 


Below is a press release signed by Ibikunle and posted on his facebook page

PRESS RELEASE (28/11/2014)
Revolutionary greetings to all and sundry in the South West Zone, Osun state, Ife community and the generality of Great Ife Students on the host of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR for a special meeting with the Council of Obas in South West.

The leadership of the Students’ Union is appreciative of the listening character of the President as well as the efforts of individuals who facilitated the meeting with the President. It is imperative at this point to relay the product of the discussion with the President. The Speaker of the SRC addressed the President and submitted the protest letter which he personally received and gave assurances that the major issue in the letter – increment in fees is going to be addressed holistically in no long time as there are other schools that are affected. He committed himself to address welfare issues that affect OAU specifically.

Although some self-centered and politically-sponsored individuals attempted to unleash their demonic resolutions to deter and dissuade the union leaders from making pressing demands that will enhance the welfare of Great Ife students on campus, to make necessary demands for the reversal of fees and the reinstatement of some of our suspended students from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. On his way out, the president stepped out to the cheers of the students, receiving a lot of applause from the entirety of Great Ife students and commuters having heard that he had committed himself on the increment.

Meanwhile, just as the Union President conveyed to His Excellency, we again implore the president to stick to his promise, as a man of honour and integrity, as Great Ife students are in great anticipation and expectancy. The cheers you received today at the time you were leaving were premised on the fact that we believed you will address the increment immediately. Mr President, the reversal of increased fees should also be extended to all Federal Universities and pump funds into education in the interest of the country.

However, we condemn the attitude of some individuals who portrayed themselves as elements of frustration and cheap political tools. Through this medium, we warn them to stay away from OAU campus as they are not unknown to the leadership of the union. We maintain our ground as Intellectual Fighters for Emancipation and not as uncoordinated confusionists and anarchists.

The leadership of the Union is very much undistracted in the maximization of this opportunity to solve the myriad of problems confronting Great IFE students. We also remain committed to the execution of our proposed projects and the completion of ongoing ones – Angola and Mozambique hall water projects, Great IFE app, Union website, and buses for campus shuttle, union hostel, among others.
 
La Lucha Sigue…

SIGNED:
IBIKUNLE ISAAC M.
President

BAMIDELE OLUDARE J.
P.R.O