Protest Rocks Ekiti Federal Varsity Over Alleged Extortion

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti
Protest on MOday rocked  the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, (FUOYE)
as students barricaded the main gate of the institution  to protest
over  alleged extortion by  a member of the management and
Acting-Dean, Students’ Affairs.

The students alleged that the sum of N500 was collected from some
students in the name of organising tutorials for them without issuing
receipts.

The  protesters  prevented members of staff who were coming to the
office for normal business of the day from gaining access to their
offices.

Though the protest was peaceful, but the students demanded the
immediate removal of the Acting-Dean Students’ Affairs.
They demanded that  for the  extension of the  tenure of the out-going Dean, Students’ Affairs, Dr. Olugbenga Adeyemi,  as a reward for his good performances.

Other demands made by the students  included: immediate commencement of the process for the conduct of the election of the institution’s Students’ Government Union and the removal of external security personnel now that the school had fully resumed after the strike occasioned by the Non Academic Staff Union (NASU).

It was gathered  that the students who had preferred the out-going
Dean Students Affairs style of leadership against the acting dean, had to protest in order to have the former’s  tenure extended.

The Speaker, Students’ Representative Council, Victor Akinnibosun, who spoke on behalf of the students said “No inauguration of elected members of students’ union government, no 2016/ 2017 second semester examinations.”

The protesters later removed  the barricade after the resolutions
reached by the Students Representative Council in a swift meeting with the management of the university.

Other resolutions reached with the management were: The refund of the
alleged N500 collected from students for tutorials to affected
students from Tuesday, July 25, the conduct of SUG election in the
next three weeks.

Adeyemi who later advised the protesters to go back to the various
hostels and homes in peace and return for normal lectures today,
said he has no issues with the Vice-Chancellor of the university,
Prof., Kayode Soremekun.

“Let me tell you (students) that in the last one and half years that
I have occupy the position of the Dean Students’ Affairs, I have been
carrying out my legitimate duties as directed by the VC.

“I have no issues with Prof. Kayode Soremekun.  The VC has right to
appoint anybody, any time into any position.
In an interview the university’s Public Relations Officer, (PRO), Mr.
Godfrey Bakji, said the management was ready to meet with the demands
of the protesters.

The gate to the institution was later opened for business of the day
around 12: noon yesterday after the Speaker of the Students
Representative Council and the Dean Students Affairs confirmed to the protesters that most of their demands had been agreed on by the
management.