CDHR, OOU SUG reject ban on student unionism

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Student Union Government (SUG) have condemned the proscription of student union activities by authorities of the institution.

The acting registrar made the announcement on Tuesday, citing violence from series of protests by students.

While CDHR described the act as “bizarre”, the SUG branded it an infringement on students’ constitutional right to the freedom of association.

“Today, the acting registrar of Olabisi Onabanjo University announced the proscription of the OOU Students Union,” coordinator of CDHR, James Ogunjimi, wrote in a press release.

“As bizarre as the announcement sounded, even more bizarre was the reason given for the proscription. They said the SUG was proscribed for ‘collaborating with unregistered group and external influences.'”

“As an organisation, we see this announcement as ‘the voice of Jacob but the hands of Esau’. We see this announcement as yet another anti-student move of the anti-student government of Ogun state carried out by the university management.

“We reiterate the fact that the neither the Ogun state government nor the university management voted in these executives; the students who empowered them are still very much behind them and as such the SUG retains its power and influence.”

CDHR warned the authorities against constituting a caretaker committee to preside over the welfare of the union and vowed to keep on agitating for their demands.

“We are also very much aware that following the announcement of scrapping the union, they want to follow it up with an announcement of a caretaker committee led by the ‘suspended’ OOU SUG welfare director, Awobotu Charles (aka Main Man), who has been pinpointed as government spy in our struggle thus far.

“We dare the government to make the announcement and to allow the caretaker committee to come to Ago-Iwoye; they will feel the wrath of OOU students, and if they escape lynching, they would never be able to enter Ago-Iwoye again.

“If Governor Amosun and his minions think the announcement has stopped anything, they have no idea how determined we are. It has escalated things and has only made us more determined. The fees will be reduced and implemented this session or there will be no peace. We will fight this with every strength we have and with the last drop of our blood.”

The union itself said the proscription did not take them unawares, describing the reason adduced to it as unjustifiable.

“The released news by the school management as regards the proscription of OOU SUG is not coming as a surprise, because we saw it coming before now, having informed the OOUites and the public yesterday with the plan to put in place caretaker committee that will be puppet to government,” it said in a press release jointly signed by comrade Ifade Olusegun, its president and comrade Bamgbopa Olawale, public relations officer.

“However, the union, without any reserved apology, vehemently and unequivocally rejects such illegal proscription, owing to the fact that the ground given by the management is baseless, unverifiable, fallacious and inconsequential.

“We therefore implore our students to disregard such information and be patient as the students union government will inform you all of the next step. We must be rugged, calm, lawful and be resolute as we move on collectively.”