The Alliance of Nigerian Students Against Neo-liberal Attacks has kicked against what it described as “intimidation” following the invitation of three students of the University of Ibadan before the school’s disciplinary committee.
The invitation signed by T.I. Musa on behalf of the Students Affairs Division, was issued to the students over their involvement in a recent fee hike protest on the campus.
In the memo issued to Olamide Gbadegeshin of the Institute of African Studies; Aduwo Ayodele of History Department, 200 level, and another student, Nice Linus, dated June 21, 2024, the students are to face a panel on Tuesday over alleged insubordination and “unruly behaviour.”
It was reported on May 13, 2024, that the students, including an activist, Olorunfemi Adeyeye, were apprehended and bundled into a van by officers of the Nigerian Army during a protest against fee hike on the campus.
It was also reported on May 28 that, in a memo delivered to the students by the management on May 27, they were accused of disrupting the inauguration of the current Students’ Union administration by their protest, which the management described as “disrespectful” and “gross misconduct.”
However, in a statement released by the ANSA’s Coordinator, Oladepo Temitope, on Monday, the group expressed disappointment in the measures applied by the management to “intimidate and victimise the protesters, to frustrate their advocacy against the exorbitant hike.”
Temitope said the #FeesMustFall movement is a justifiable cause for accessible and equal educational opportunity. He also stated that ANSA would protest in solidarity with the affected students.
“We firmly believe in the right of students to peacefully protest and voice their concerns without fear of retaliation. The management’s actions undermine these fundamental rights and betray the trust that should exist between educational institutions and their student bodies.
The statement read, “We call upon the management to cease all forms of victimisation against the #FeesMustFall comrades. Universities must uphold values of inclusivity, respect for diversity, and the free exchange of ideas.
“Moreover, we sound it as a note of warning to the management that if our comrades are not vindicated as soon as possible and that the exorbitant hike in fees does not revert to normal within seven working days, which starts Monday, July 1, 2024, we shall come down en masse to the campus to stand in solidarity with our comrades until the above-mentioned are achieved.”
