The Oyo State Chapter of Progressive Students Vanguard has alleged governor of the state, Engr. Seyi Makinde for coercing students of tertiary institutions to stage Omituntun 2.0 Rally on their campuses.
According to a statement signed by the group’s coordinator, Com. Isaac Ajadi, political rallies on campuses and student areas will expose the students to dangers.
The statement reads in full:
LAUTECH: Makinde and his political horror movement, stop endangering LADOKITES’ life.
It has come to our notice that the Oyo State government under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde has been forcing the SUG president of various institutions in Oyo State to do a kind of walk cum rally for his reelection. A “Walk For Seyi” within the school environment is to be done on Monday, January 9, 2023. This is not only ridiculous, and embarrassing but also in one way or another exposing the life of students, especially in the LADOKE AKINTOLA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, OGBOMOSO students to danger and risks.
Oyo state has not been a state like this before. Using students as an instrument of the campaign is not what development-oriented governance would allow. There are many States in Nigeria, there is no other State you could hear of such. The present administration should stop using students in generality and especially also, LAUTECH as a ground to settle political matters. This is not what a student-centric government should do.
Oyo State under Engr. Seyi Makinde has been doing and stamping all such “Students-life-risking” programs using and forcing the student union Government president to do as he wants. This is not encouraging. Stop turning SUGs into political party tools. This is a period Students of LAUTECH need to focus on their education.
This is the period students just returned from an 8-month unwanted and unjustified ASUU strike. If the state government cared at all, they would never in any way give a go-ahead to such walk of a thing. Students that supposed to be in class are now the instrument of the campaign. This is a campaign period, Students life must not be exposed to the danger of political riots. This must stop to avoid unnecessary agitation at the end of the walk.
The Ogbomoso community must be on alert to avoid such of something like this in the period of the campaign we are currently at. LAUTECH is not a school of Oyo State people alone. People are from other states, North and South. And not every one of those the SUG president and SA on the students’ matters are arranging for this unwanted walk is capable or aware of the evils parading during a period of campaign and election like this.
These Students are supposed to be in class on Monday, receiving lectures. They are not on holiday or any break. If the SUG of LAUTECH wants to do the walk he has collected money for, he should go and do it at the State Government House, Ibadan. A school environment like this LAUTECH is not a political party stage or field to stage a walk to express anything whatsoever. Stop endangering LADOKITES’ life and exposing them to riots.
*Progressive students vanguard, Oyo state* ,
Coordinator
Ajadi Isaac
