In an open letter to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State, LASU’s student union accused him of engendering a grand conspiracy in collusion with the management of the university. The students accused the state government of ordering the closure of their school under the guise of “election recess,” adding that the hidden agenda had been revealed with the continued shutdown.
As the closure of the Lagos State University (LASU) continues into its 54th day, students of the institution have demanded the unlocking of the institution to permit for resumption of academic activities.
In an open letter to Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State, LASU’s student union accused him of engendering a grand conspiracy in collusion with the management of the university. The students accused the state government of ordering the closure of their school under the guise of “election recess,” adding that the hidden agenda had been revealed with the continued shutdown.
The union said it had written several protest letters to the governor, accusing Mr. Fashola of pretending not to have heard them even though they physically met him recently and delivered another letter requesting the re-opening of the school.
The students union also expressed opposition to the demand of members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) at the university who have called for the removal of LASU’s Vice Chancellor, John Obafunwa. The students described the suggestion by ASUU members as an “unjust” manipulative plot, adding that ASUU had forced the same method on the university’s management in the past, adding that such a position arose from ASUU’s pursuit of self-interest, but would not address the problems.
The students lamented that the university’s crises had elongated their time at the university.
The leader of the students union, Adeyemi Onikoro, recommended that Governor Fashola should send a visitation panel to LASU to work out a lasting solution with the management and lecturers. Mr. Onikoro also advised ASUU members to retreat from their demand for the VC’s removal. He also advised Vice Chancellor Obafunwa to restore the PhD he vindictively stripped off of four academic staff members due to their quest for justice.
In the open letter dated May 11, the student leader said students had resolved to trek from their school to the governor's office with their writing materials to begin receiving their lectures right there outside the governor’s office.