Students protest as Jonathan visits Yoruba leaders

Posted by admin Goodluck Jonathan (2010-present), Presidency Friday, November 28th, 2014

Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Friday protested alleged interruption of their examination by President Goodluck Jonathan’s visit to the institution.

The students claimed that the President’s visit subjected them to unfavourable condition as commercial buses were not allowed to convey them to the campus by security agents.

The students had to trek long distance to their various examination halls.

Jonathan was at the university to attend a summit of Yoruba leaders convened by a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, Chief Olabode George.

The summit was held at the Oduduwa Hall of the university.

The students claimed that the summit was ill-timed because it was scheduled to hold during the period of their examinations.

The protesters gathered at the front of Oduduwa Hall with their placards shouting “thief” on all the politicians that thronged the venue.

Among the inscriptions on their placards were “Education is our right,” “give us credible leadership” and “All we want is standard education.”

Some of the students also alleged that the buses provided by their union to ease movement were prevented from entering the campus.

One of the students identified as Isreal, said, “This is rubbish. Is the President or politics more important than our lives? How will the President and the organiser of the summit subject us to this kind of suffering?

“Buses were denied entrance and we have to start trekking.”

Another student added, “All in the name of the President’s visit, all activities were interrupted or paralysed. We can’t do anything as a result of the visit.

“The organisers should not have brought this summit here at this period. The organisers should have known OAU students don’t like their examinations disrupted.”

A post-graduate diploma student was, however, seen arguing with some security personnel when she was asked to turn back.

Though she explained that she had examination, the security officials refused to listen to her.

The President’s visit also paralysed economic activities in the university.

-Punchwp_posts