Students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, have maintained different stand-points over the donation of a bus to the Students’ Union by the governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
While some of the students welcomed the receipt of the bus by the Students Union, others negated it. One of the students, who negated the receipt of the bus, Sola Adebola, accused the SU government of selling the rights of the students.
He explained that it was not right for the executives of the SU, led by Isaac Ibikunle, to receive the bus during the period of election.
Another student, identified simply as Bimpe, lamented that political aspirants wanted to use students to achieve their ambition.
He said, “I am surprised the Students Union would collect such in our absence. We are not on campus and I see no reason why the SU will proceed to collect the bus despite the hike in fee challenges and the shutdown of the institution. It is wrong. We don’t need a bus. What will the bus do in the problems we are facing?
“We are on strike and OAU is a federal school, being governed by the Peoples Democratic Party. Why can’t he resolve our strike challenge first? The last time he (the President) promised to solve the problem, we later realised it was a lie. This is propaganda from him. It will not make us vote him in.”
But the Students Union, in a communiqué signed by its President, Ibikunle Isaac and Secretary-General, Shittu Olatayo, said it collected the bus to aid students’ movements during protests.
The communiqué read in part, “Since the inception of our administration, it is a known fact that the political gladiators from major political parties have been engaging us, seeking our support just, as it is being done all over the state. But our position has always been that they should do projects for OAU students, such as donation of buses and scholarships, among others. In particular, both the All Progressive Congress and the PDP have promised us a bus each.
“Meanwhile, on Thursday July 31, 2014, the PDP gubernatorial aspirant, Omisore, donated a brand new 18 seater bus to the Students’ Union. This indubitably will aid the mobility of the Union, especially in times of struggle, and make the Union enjoy mobility autonomy as against the constant seizure of the Union’s bus by the management whenever the Union has issues with the University.”
