Ogun State Government Shuts Olabisi Onabanjo University

Ogun State Government has directed the Governing Council of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, to shut the school so as to forestall another round of protest by the students of the institution over the recent reduction of school fees in state-owned tertiary institutions.

The closure was announced through a statement on Saturday signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa.

He advised parents and guardians to call their children and wards to order as government would not tolerate any act that would breach the peace being enjoyed by the people of the state.

It will be recalled that the OOU students had held a two-day protest, (Thursday and Friday) two weeks ago, asking the governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, to further review the school fees downwards.

This protest came a few days after the governor announced a reduction in school fees in all state-owned tertiary institutions, which was about 61 per cent across board.

In the protest, which turned violent on the second day, many vehicles had their windshields shattered, while other valuables were destroyed by the rampaging students who took over major streets leading to the governor's office at Oke Mosan.

The governor who later addressed the students and their leaders at MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, condemned their unruly behaviour but promised to reach the committee that worked on the fee reduction and would get back to the students.

The OOU Students' Union Government president, Olusegun Ifade, said he would 'visit' the governor a week after the promise to see what progress would have been made.

Adeoluwa said the decision to shut the institution was taken "in the overall interest of peace and order as the students of the university have continued to issue threats while rejecting all entreaties and concessions made by the government on their various demands concerning the recently announced reduction of school fees."

The police command in the state has also warned that it would not tolerate any action that would threaten peace from the students.

In a statement issued by the command's spokesperson, Mr. Muyiwa Adejobi, the commissioner of police, Mr. Ikemefuna Okoye, advised the students to leave the school premises as directed by the government and do away with any act that "will be unlawful and security-threatening.