15th July, 2016
Some Parents of students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, have appealed to the Federal Government to order the re-opening of the school.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ile-Ife, Osun on Friday, that the institution was closed on June 22, following the workers’ protest against the appointment of new Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ayobami Salami.
Mrs Bisi Falope, a primary school teacher, said that the closure had kept students at home for 95 days, while newly admitted students had been at home for over 10 months.
“Our old and new students are staying at home doing nothing. The idle hand is the devil’s workshop”, Falope said.
She added that the precious time of the young ones was being wasted as they were yet to begin academic activities.
Falope called on President Muhammadu Buhari to come to the aid of “these youngsters”, adding that since the governing council had been dissolved, a new one should emerge for the academic session to begin.
Mr AbdulBakri AbdulSemiu, a businessman, urged the Federal Government to expedite action in re-opening the university, as students and parents were tired of idleness.
AbdulSemiu called on the federal government to find a solution to the crisis on ground.
He also urged the government and other stakeholders to intervene to avoid the recurring closure of OAU. “Today is July 15. The 2015/2016 academic session has not started. I wonder when it would end.”
He pleaded with the OAU workers to allow the crisis to be settled amicably by giving give peace a chance in the interest of all.