Sodiq Oyeleke
17 March 2022
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Some indigenes of Ile-Ife, Osun State protested, on Wednesday, against the appointment of a Professor of Agricultural Economics, Adebayo Bamire, as the 12th Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
The PUNCH had reported that the Governing Council of OAU announced Bamire would be taking over from Prof. Eyitope Ogunbodede as the VC of the university.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Chief Owelle Udoji, who made the announcement, said Bamire’s appointment is effective from June 7.
According to him, 16 candidates jostled for the position and the selection was witnessed by the representatives of the Federal Character Commission.
However, the protesters argued that an indigene of Ile-Ife should have been appointed.
The protesters had gathered near the Centre of Excellence, venue of the press conference before the announcement.
After Bamire was announced as the VC-elect, they began to protest and shut down the campus main gate.
The shutdown left workers and other visitors sranded, The PUNCH lear
Bimbo Afolabi, who spoke on behalf of the protesters, described the appoinment of a non-Ife indigene as the VC as “unfair”.
He said, “It is an insult on us that after 61 years, they deemed it unfit to appoint or to elect any of our sons. We are not particular about Ife. Ipetumodu, Lorigbo, Modakeke, and anywhere in the land.
“We are telling you (workers and students) today, don’t come to work tomorrow (Friday). We won’t agree to anything. We will be here with charms, we will be here with masquerades, we will be here with deities.
“We are appealing to you, don’t come to work tomorrow. We will allow you to go now but don’t come to work tomorrow.”