Ooni cautions Ife indigenes against protest over VC’s appointment

Macabre dance over appointment must stop, says DAWN Commission

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi yesterday, cautioned indigenes and residents of the ancient town of Ile-Ife not to take laws into their hands over the selection of the substantive Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire.

Oba Ogunwusi gave the warning in a statement by his Director of Media and Public Affairs, Moses Olafare.

He assured workers and students of the institution of their safety as well as their property.

The monarch equally promised the protesters that their agitation would be given adequate and objective attention, saying that protests must not be made to jeopardise peace and security in society.

MEANWHILE, the university management has commended the peaceful manner in which workers and students tolerated the protests.

A statement, signed by the Registrar of the university, Mrs. M. I. Omosule, said: “The university management is not unaware of the hardship occasioned by the unwarranted invasion of the university campus by Ile-Ife indigenes. The situation is constantly being monitored and everything possible will continue to be done to bring things under control.

“Management empathises with members of staff and students who have been injured or traumatised in this unfortunate state of affairs.

“However, the management has noted the unfortunate and inimical roles of some individuals and wishes to remind everyone of the need to desist from acts that are capable of disrupting the peace of the university.”

ALSO, the Global Executive Council, Great Ife Alumni Association (GIAA), has sued for peace in the university.

A statement by Global Publicity Secretary of the alumni body, Akeem Amodu, appealed to both the traditional and political leadership of Ile-Ife to sue for peace and engage all critical stakeholders towards an enlightened and amicable understanding.

The association also asked the university authorities to keep the doors of dialogue open towards restoring normalcy.

HOWEVER, the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, yesterday, decried the invasion of the university by the Egunguns and Ogbonis.’

Director-General of DAWN Commission, Mr. Seye Oyeleye, while reacting in a write-up titled: “Macabre Dance Must Stop”, described the development as a display of crass impudence and dancing naked in the market square.

Oyeleye emphasised that the struggle to head a university, under normal circumstances, ought not to have degenerated to a situation where the ‘Egunguns and Ogbonis’ are invading a world-acclaimed citadel of learning.

He pointed out that OAU is now a federal institution and its leadership must always be open to anyone who is qualified and so selected by the committee saddled with that responsibility.