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Why We Shut Down The Ogun State Governor's Office--Olabisi Onabanjo University Students

For more than 2 months now, OOU students have been asking Governor Amosun to effect a reduction in the astronomical fees being paid. Series of meetings have been held, but the Governor remained adamant.

Press Release, Committee for Defence of Human Right:

So many stories have permeated social media on the issues surrounding the protest of students of Olabisi Onabanjo University at the Office of the Ogun state governor today. Some have said it is a politically-motivated protest, others said opposition has paid students to protest. Others are even asking why students have to protest after the government announced a reduction; what is their problem, they ask? I will lay the issues bare now.

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For more than 2 months now, OOU students have been asking Governor Amosun to effect a reduction in the astronomical fees being paid. Series of meetings have been held, but the Governor remained adamant. Then suddenly out of the blue, he's interested in the reduction, but he said he would effect a general reduction. OOU student leaders said NO. How can you say you will effect a 60% reduction in the fees been paid in all tertiary institutions in Ogun state when they don't all pay the same fees? How can you treat schools that pay 70, 000 on the same pedestal as an OOU that pays more than 200, 000? We said NO. We aren't asking you not to effect a political reduction, but do not expect us to settle for anything that is above our demands. We made it clear we wanted to pay 50, 000 and not a dime more.

The Governor went on air to announce his own reduction and went further to say it would only take effect beginning from next session; after the 2015 elections? What does he take us for? Fools? In 2011, he promised a 50% reduction if he was elected, but only implemented a 10% reduction when he was elected? Does he think we will fall prey to his deceitful antics again?

This morning (Thursday), we mobilised en masse, more than 3000 students came out to be transported to Abeokuta for the protest. But transportation challenges meant only about 1500 students could go to abeokuta. Money was an issue too, but rather that visit any opposition politician, we stood in front of our school and pleaded with motorists to support our struggle. By collecting 100 naira, we successfully gathered more than 25, 000 to transport our students. We never took money from any politician; anyone that says otherwise is a liar and has ulterior motives.

Meanwhile, before we left Ago-Iwoye, we got wind that the S.A to Governor Amosun on Student Matters, Comeraid Clement Olusegun had mobilised cultists to attack us at the Governor's office. They nade true the threat few hours later when the cult boys attacked our students in front of the Governor's office. The mobile policemen were there but didn't intervene; they simply looked on laughing. They broke the head of the President Elect of the Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Omo akin and wonded others. Our students who were caught unawares mobilised back and fought the attackers who were trying to cart away their valuables too and siezed one of their Id cards. The clash and our self-defence left some of our students receiving treatment and one of theirs in a coma. Thereafter, they retreated.

As the day wore on, we were determined to sleep in front of the Governor's office until he answered us. But we got even more information that they were mobilising more cultists to strike us in the cover of the night. The policemen in front of the Governor's office had been directed to withdraw so that the cultists could strike. To avoid more casualties occuring in the night attack, we had an option of either moving back to Ago or risk spending the night there.

We tried to get the NLC compound and spend the night there, but we couldn't use the place. We had to move down to the State Secretariat of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Ogun state. More than 2000 students are in the place. Students contributed and those who have houses in abeokuta went to bring pots and coal pot for cooking. We are cooking rice now.

Tomorrow morning, we will resume at Governor Amosun's office. We are not here to play with him. Disregard the news circulating that we are in Abeokuta to thank Governor Amosun; we are not! We are here to ask for the real reduction we asked for and to tell him it must be implemented this session.

We are currently opposite CDHR secretariat at Rev. Kuti in Kuto where students have renamed ALUTA CAMP. Gyrations are ongoing. Students are in high spirits. It will take more than sponsored thugs and political propaganda to stop us! We set out early tomorrow.

Good night Nigeria! Remember us in your prayers!

James Ogunjimi
CDHR Coordinator