UNEASY calm presently pervades the 17 year old Adekunle Ajasin
University, Akungba Akoko, owned by the Ondo State
Government. In the last one month, all has not been well with the
institution following a disagreement among the university
management, students and the Akungba community, which hosts
the institution. Named after the former governor of the state, Chief
Adekunle Ajasin, the institution has been enmeshed in avoidable
crisis in the last one month.
Within the space of one month the institution had witnessed an
upheaval that led to its closure. As if that was enough, the
university authority has released names of students in various
levels that were expelled and suspended indefinitely for alleged
cult activities, exam malpractices and alleged destruction of the
institution's properties during a violent protest.
In all, 23 students who are in their third year, were suspended
indefinitely for their involvement in cult activities and destruction
of the university properties while six others were expelled for
examination misconduct and impersonation.
The students on April 9, went on rampage when a 200 level
student of the department of Economic Education in the
institution, Ojo Afolabi Daniel died during an accident involving
two commercial motorcycle operators popularly called Okada.
But the student union leaders have dissociated the students from
the rampage which destroyed the institution's properties and that
of individuals in their host community. They fingered miscreants,
who hijacked the students' peaceful protest to wreck havoc in the
community. Over 40 persons including students were arrested and
detained by police after the bloody protest.
Vanguard gathered that what infuriated the students, leading to
the eventual violent protest was the cause of death of their
colleague, who was conveyed in the university ambulance to the
Federal Medical Centre, Owo for medical attention.
STUDENTS PROTEST
The aggrieved students protest was however reportedly hijacked
by some miscreants and this led to the destruction of the
university health centre, the restaurant and shops. Properties
belonging to some individuals within the community, were either
looted or destroyed by the protesters.
It took the intervention of the regent of Akungba Akoko, Princess
Oluwatoyin Omosowon, who assured the school authorities that
the community would not launch reprisal attacks on the students
upon resumption at campus before the authorities of the
University announced that the student should resume next week
Monday. Reports had it that fear had gripped the University
authorities and the students that their host community may
transfer their aggression following the mayhem unleashed on the
people during the protest.
Dispelling the speculations of a reprisal attack, Princess
Omosowon told the University Management led by the Vice
Chancellor, Prof Igbekele Ajibefun who visited her that “I want to
state unequivocally that there is no truth in such a report. Though
some members of the community are aggrieved over the
unwarranted attack on them and the disruption of their lawful
trading and economic activities, no one is planning any attack
whatsoever. I want to assure the university community that my
people are not planning any attack on the students. They are our
children.”
Omosowon was quick to add that “I have appealed to my people
that what happened was one of the prices we have to pay for
hosting the university that has brought a lot of economic and
social changes to the town.” In his response, Prof Ajibefun
commended the people of Akungba community for showing
restraint in dealing with the protest which he said was hijacked by
miscreants.
DAMAGES LEVY
Another showdown seems to be brewing as the students are
poised to reject the imposition of N25,000 damages levy/
reparation fees on each of the over 15,000 students of the
institution. They have vowed to resist the extortion by the
institution arguing that the amount they are asked to pay as
reparation levy, was not commensurate with the properties
destroyed during the protest.
Speaking with Vanguard , the Student Union President in the
institution, Adegbola Oluyemi said the money was on the high
side and pleaded with the school management to review it
downwards. He said: “We are appealing to the school to look into
the money, it is too much, cutting the head is not the solution to
headache, we are also calling on the governor, Dr. Olusegun
Mimiko to wade into this matter, we don’t want to protest again
but the school should reduce the money.”
APC FEAST ON CRISIS
But the opposition All Progressive Congress, APC in the state
railed against the development in the institution. It’s Director of
Publicity and media Affair Steve Otaloro alleged that the
reparation fees by government was meant to “divert the attention
of the public from its negligence to provide adequate healthcare
facilities at the University and Akungba Communities that could
have saved the life of the student that was hit in the unfortunate
fatal accident that led to the closure of the institution after
students went on rampage. This levy is uncalled for at this time
when government is owing most of the parents of these students
five months salaries. Where does the government expect them to
get such money from at this tough time in the state where
workers are moaning and groaning in poverty?"
VC TALKS TOUGH
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Ajibefun has vowed
that criminal elements masquerading as students would not be
awarded the University’s certificate so that the name of the
university is not tarnished. According to him, “the Management of
the institution is committed to positioning the University among
the best globally.” Meanwhile, a statement issued by the
institution acting registrar, Sunday Ayeerun said that the
reparation fees has been slashed from N25,000 to N15,000.
Ayeerun said this was done by the Management after “due
consideration of passionate pleas by well-meaning Nigerians and,
most especially, the leadership of the Students’ Union of the
university, who demonstrated a high level of maturity and
responsibility. Management has decided to reduce the N25, 000
reparation fee earlier charged in respect of the April 9 students’
violent protest to N15, 000.”
He asked the students present evidence of payment and a copy
of sworn Affidavit to be of good behaviour at the Faculty Office to
obtain Clearance Certificate from Monday, May 16 to Friday, May
20, 2016. However some students spoken with insisted that the
N15,000 was still on the high side and appealed that it should be
reviewed downward to between N5,000 and N10, 000 per student.
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