Students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), yesterday, staged a protest against what they described as a deliberate attempt by some external forces to destabilize their university.
The students accused the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) National Women’s Committee of being allegedly sponsored to disrupt the peace and smooth academic calendar through unending agitation for a change of leadership of Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina, reports The Guardian.
Some of the inscriptions on the placard read: “Stop spreading lies against our VC, stop cyberbullying of Prof. Fasina, Our VC is an ln honourable man, Prof. Fasina is a wonderful leader, SSANU national women Committee leave our University alone, among others.”
SSANU Women’s Committee recently demanded the suspension of the Vice-Chancellor over an allegation of allegedly sexual harassment made by a staff of FUOYE, Mrs. Folasade Adebayo
Following a petition by the staff, the University Governing Council led by Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba had constituted a committee to investigate the allegation. The committee has yet to submit its reports.
However, scores of the students protested at the university campus, followed by what they described as a politically motivated attack on the Vice Chancellor while accusing the SSANU women’s committee of attempting to disrupt the university’s progress through baseless claims.
Speaking during the protest, some student leaders, identified as Comrade Olaniyan Israel Eniola, Vice-President of the Students Union, Justice Victor Ajisafe Olaseni, Chief Justice of the Student Union Judicial Council, Idowu Andrew Odunayo, Senator representing Faculty of Law, who represented the student union Senate President, expressed displeasure of the students to alleged plots by SSANU which they claimed dated back to November 2024.
The students said: “We are appalled by the disgraceful actions of a so-called union body, the SSANU National Women’s Committee, led by Mrs Ijeoma Kalu, which is demanding the suspension of our Vice-Chancellor over a completely unfounded allegation.
“It is disappointing that these women, who should be expected to uphold truth and integrity, have chosen instead to spread falsehoods and engage in media blackmail. We were shocked to read how they publicly disgraced themselves, calling for the removal of our VC without any factual basis.”
