Governor of Ogun state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has ordered the closure of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) with immediate effect, citing continuous student protest in an attempt to force a reduction of their tuition fees.
Earlier in August, the governor slashed fees across all its state-owned tertiary institutions, but while students of other institutions welcomed the development, those of OOU expressed dissatisfaction, engaging in series of protests.
On some occasions, the police resorted to using teargas canisters to disperse them. Reports even had it that some students were shot by the police.
The governor has now deemed the actions of the students as “threatening the peace of the state”, and has urged parents to call them to order, as his government would not condone intolerable acts.
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He said the decision to close the institution was arrived at after all attempts to pacify the aggrieved students, who were “acting under the influence of external parties”, proved abortive,
“Security reports have since confirmed that because the students are acting under external influence, no concession made by the government will be satisfactory to them,” read a statement signed by Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, secretary to the state government.
“OOU students staged a violent demonstration in the state capital, Abeokuta, on August 15 and it took the personal intervention of the governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to restore normalcy.
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“The governor thereafter set up an ad-hoc committee to discuss with the students with a view to resolving the situation. During discussions with the ad-hoc committee, OOU students maintained their stand that the fees must be further reduced and that the implementation must commence immediately.
“Consequently, we have no option than to order the immediate closure of all the campuses of Olabisi Onabanjo University to protect the students and other residents of the state and their property. We urge all parents to impress on their wards the need to maintain peace in the interest of all.”
Adeoluwa said the demand of the students that the new school fees regime should commence in the present academic session is unrealistic, as the government cannot afford to bear the N2 billion cost implication.
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