Reinstate Victimized UI Student Activists

UI: ERC Demands Immediate and Unconditional Reinstatement of Victimized Student Activists and an End to Attacks on Democratic Rights of Students Now!

We of the Education Rights Campaign (ERC) wish to express our stern opposition to the recent suspension of two students of the University of Ibadan – Aduwo Ayodele, a 400-level of History Department and Mide Badegbesin a 700-level postgraduate student. These students were unjustly suspended for 4 semesters over their leading role in opposing the exorbitant increment in students’ fees by the University management under the leadership of Vice-chancellor Kayode Adebowale. We demand for the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of these students.

This suspension order was issued by the Central Students Disciplinary Committee with desperate determination to victimize these students for daring to speak up. Also, there was no process for the students to properly present their case. A university community that is worth its salt must not clamp down on critical thinking and culture of holding divergent views. Since last year, Aduwo, Gbadegesin, and Linus Nice have been victims of arrest and harassment by the school for merely displaying placards calling for the reversal of  fee hike at the inauguration of a new students’ union leadership. In fact, the school had to cook up lies against them leading to being violently arrested and unjustly detained. This reprehensible conduct, unexpected in an academic setting, has never been apologized for by the school. Instead, they have intensified their attacks on these innocent students. For instance, Linus Nice was democratically elected into the students’ parliament and even got the highest number of votes, yet the school authorities unilaterally annulled her victory. This blatant disregard for students’ rights and basic democratic principles is what has placed Prof Kayode Adebowale high in the list of tyrants.

The reality is that the university management led by Kayode Adebowale is not tolerant of the voices of students, especially of student activists like Aduwo, Gbadegesin, Linus Nice, and many other activists resisting the tyranny of the school authorities and the attempt to price education out of the reach of the children of the working and toiling masses. For us, this is not attack on these students, it is an attack on all students who wish to have access to quality education and live in a better society. This is why we are calling on students, workers and civil society organizations to solidarise with these students and call for a halt to the attacks on democratic rights in University of Ibadan.

We also wish to urge the Students’ Union leadership to detach itself from the apron string of the university management and begin to lead students against the attacks on their rights as well as living and learning conditions. The sole responsibility of the union is to promote and protect the interests of members; the leadership must act now.

The ERC reiterates the demand for the immediate and unconditional reinstatement of Aduwo Ayodele and Gbadegesin. We also warn the school against any attempt to victimize Linus Nice, a 400-level law student who has already suffered multiply violation from the school authorities. We call for the immediate reversal of the exorbitantly hiked fees. We call on all Nigerian students to rise in defense of Aduwo Ayodele and Gbadegesin, and also join us in the campaign for a better, adequately funded and democratically managed public education sector.

OGUNJIMI ISAAC,

DEPUTY NATIONAL CORDINATOR.

ADARAMOYE MICHAEL LENIN,

NATIONAL MOBILIZATION OFFICER

Email: [email protected]