OAU Students Protest Against Invitation of Prof Wale Omole To Freshers' Programme Over 1999 Killings
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October 28, 2024
In an interview with SaharaReporters, the institution Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that the Wale Omole foundation was the one that came to the orientation programme, not Wale Omole as a person.
The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has denied inviting Professor Wale Omole to the institution’s freshers orientation.
In an interview with SaharaReporters, the institution Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, stated that the Wale Omole foundation was the one that came to the orientation programme, not Wale Omole as a person.
“First of all, I should make it clear that we did not invite Wale Omole, instead the Wale Omole foundation came to speak at the programme. During the programme, the Students Union walked in and said they did not want Wale Omole, when this was going on, the Royal father representing the foundation left."
He also noted that the foundation had done some things for the students before now.
“There are things that the foundation has been doing for the students before now, so it is the name Wale Omole that students say they do not want to hear. However, you cannot throw a stone at a foundation just because of the name,” he noted.
SaharaReporters earlier reported protests by students against the invitation of Wale Omole which the school said is “Wale Omole Foundation”, to the orientation programme for new students, the students through the student union vowed to stand against such move.
Prof Wale Omole is allegedly linked to the death of George Iwilade also known as Afrika.
Iwilade popularly known as Afrika was killed on July 10, 1999.
George was a 21-year-old 400-Level law student and the then General Secretary of the Students Union Government before his death.
Others killed were Eviano Ekeimu, 400-Level Medicine; Yemi Ajiteru, an extra year student; Babatunde Oke, 100-Level Philosophy, and Godfrey Ekpede.
According to a survivor of the attack, Lanre Adeleke (Legacy), who was the then students’ union president, the then vice-chancellor, Wale Omole, was the alleged sponsor of the deadly attack.
They were said to have been killed by the Black Axe Confraternity.
Afrika was killed by criminals said to be members of the Black Axe confrraternity, although Wale Omole had denied involvement.
A panel of enquiry set up by the federal government through the Ministry of Education, then headed by Tunde Adeniran, a professor also absolved him of any wrongdoing.