OAU VC: Oyetola Appeals To Ife Indigenes Over Protest

Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, has appealed to the citizens of Ile-Ife who were protesting the choice of the new Vice Chancellor for the Obafemi Awolowo University to give peace a chance and stop the protest forthwith.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ismail Omipidan, on Tuesday evening, Oyetola noted that Ivory Towers anywhere in the world were sacred institutions and everything must be done to accord them that dignity.

Oyetola, who noted that although the state had no role in the choice of who became the Vice Chancellor of the university, being a federal institution, said he had responsibility for the safety and security of the institution and its workers as the host Governor.

“It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of concern that I call on the good people of Ile-Ife, especially those protesting over the choice of a new Vice Chancellor for Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, to stop further protest and give peace a chance.”

"By their nature and functionality, universities are rules- and convention-based conservative institutions premised on academic and governance autonomy.

“If we have any reason to believe that these rules are circumvented, there are laid-down procedures to remedy such situations rather than resorting to self-help. We are known for peace in Osun. We must therefore not do anything to tarnish that enviable reputation,” the statement read in part.

IFECITYBLOG had earlier reported that the indigenes of the host community had embarked on a protest at the University following the announcement of a new Vice-Chancellor of the institution by its Governing Council last Thursday.

The people had rejected the new appointment of Prof. A.S. Bamire, a professor of Agricultural Economics from the Faculty of Agriculture, arguing that the town deserved a substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution sixty years after its establishment.