Osun Students Block Deputy Governor From Entering State Secretariat (See Why)

Students of Osun State government-owned tertiary institutions, yesterday for over an hour, prevented the deputy governor, Mrs. Grace Laoye-Tomori from entering the Abeere Government Secretariat while protesting the continued closure of their campuses.

The students, mainly from the four tertiary institutions, Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Osun State College of Education, Ila and Ilesa, participated in the protest which lasted several hours.

The students demanded immediate re-opening of their schools shut nine months ago. The students had, as early as 9.00 am, converged on the popular Olaiya junction and held up traffic for about an hour before moving to the state secretariat. During the protest, the students blocked all roads leading to the secretariat and insisted that their campuses be immediately reopened.

Attempt by the permanent secretary of the state Ministry of Education Mr. Lawerence Oyeniran, to pacify the students failed as he was booed and later whiskered away by the police and men of the Directorate of State Services.

Leaders of the protesting students, Mr Adekunle Animasahun and Lukman Adekitan said their demands include immediate re-opening of their institutions, improvement of infrastructures in their institutions, recruitment of more lecturers and payment of salary arrears to workers.

The deputy Governor, Mrs Laoye Tomori, who was returning from vacation later arrived the scene and attempted to enter the Government Secretariat, but was prevented by the protesters.

Vanguard