Ogun State Boils As Student Protest Moves By Gov Amosun To Effect Reduction In School Fees After Election

…Banks, markets shut down, as armed police strive to quell strife

Students, particularly those of the Olabisi Onabanjo University are engaged in a street protest in Abeokuta, Ogun state capital.

The protest which say the students camp at the Oke – Mosan office of the Executive Governor of Ogun state, Ibikunle Amosun is now on for two days.

And each day has recorded violent skirmishes.

The students are protesting announcements by the Governor that ‘60% reduction’ in school fees across board will take effect next session, after the elections.

The embattled state head man is seeking re election. Moves to effect a reduction in school fees after election is termed attempt to back the students into a ‘deal with the devil you know than risk angel you don’t know’ corner for support.

The students agitation is to ensure an immediate reduction as perfected in neighbouring state with same political party, All Progressives Congress, in power- Lagos state.

The body spearheading the protests, OOU students had an added issue to iron out. They claim to pay far in excess of other higher institutions and demand school fees that put them at par with others.

The protesting students adopted a similar model employed by the their Lagos Counterparts. On thursday August 14, 2014- they stormed the office of the Ogun state Governor and camped at the frontage.

But unlike witnessed in Lagos, the affair turned bloody.

According to a source ‘ 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 wounded others. Our students who were caught unawares mobilised back and fought the attackers who were trying to cart away their valuables too and seized 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 occurring 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.’

Students sources alleged the attackers were mobilised by Pro Amosun agents.

The attack reportedly came after the students rejected attempts by Commissioner for Education, Segun Odubela and Deputy Speaker Ogun state House of Assemble, Tola Banjo to address them. The protesters insisted on speaking directly with Governor Amosun.

Witnesses asserted some of the protesters bore placards bearing ‘offensive messages’.

Findings revealed on Friday August 15 2014, the students resumed their agitation. As early as 6.30a.m they took over Presidential boulevard, a major road to the Governor’s office and that of the larger percentage of state’s civil servant.

The student planned to force an address from the Governor before he got ‘holed up’ in his office.

The effect was devastating to the traffic situation in the area and spiralled to other parts of the state capital.

Sources confirmed ‘an intimidating number’ of armed policemen were deployed to ‘bring the situation under control’.

An exchange that saw the protesters ‘charge’ the ‘security agents to find more useful engagements freeing the missing Chibok girls from the dreaded Boko Haram’ resulted in use of Tear Gas against the students.

The result was pandemonium as the policemen equally moved to arrest some of the students for public disorder and targets in turn tried to evade arrest in the mayhem.

According to a source ‘ force was employed to subdue some of the students, while the victims equally utilised same to secure freedom’

The fleeing protesters and non students sympathisers that joined the fray reportedly took to destruction of ‘properties’ in their trail.

Banks, markets in the state capital around the area and beyond quickly closed shop to safe guard life and valuables.

One of the leaders of the protesters, Falola O.A later disclosed on social media,
“We have been tear gassed by policemen. 5 of our boys have been arrested..I was also battered by policemen..our students have fled…we are restrategizing”

Findings by societynowng.com revealed the Governor refused to address the students on the conviction that political opponents are behind their actions.

He believed their actions are being sponsored by those who want to portrayed him as ‘unpopular’ and ‘incompetent’ ahead of coming election.

He opted to remain behind the scene and give the law enforcers go ahead to do their ‘job’ to show his government is still in charge of affairs in the state.

The protesting students however distance themselves from political liaison or hidden agenda.

A top level protester claim ‘rather than visit any opposition politician, we stood in front of our school and pleaded with motorists to support our struggle. By collecting N100, we successfully gathered more than N25, 000 to transport our students. We never took money from any politician; anyone that says otherwise is a liar and has ulterior motives’

Insiders confirmed at press time armoured tanks and security personnels patrol the state capital to ‘enforce peace’.

While resident remain unease on the manner of relaunch the students may employ.