Academic and commercial activities were grounded at the University of Ibadan Thursday as thousands of students staged a peaceful protest against non-availability of power supply on the campus.
As a result of the protest, workers in the institution and other motorists were not able to gain entry into the campus as the two main gates were firmly locked to prevent the students from marching out of their campus.
UI students protest over power outage
According to the Publicity Secretary of the Students Union Government, Mr. Frank Nnakwe, the students had been enduring the harsh situation for more than two weeks. They complained that they had not been able to study because they were always given power supply for three hours per day.
They issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government and other authorities concerned to ensure that they have at least power supply for 12 hours per day.
Explaining further the effects of erratic power supply, they said the three hours power supply was possible because of the two generating sets the school authorities provided.
Nnakwe said, “we shall resist all forms of oppression. Our rights must be protected. For the past two weeks, there is no light, we can’t eat because we cannot afford to buy kerosene”.
The President of the Academic Staff Union, Dr. Ademola Aremu said the students were not alone neither were they protesting for themselves but on behalf of all Nigerians. The problem of non-availability of light is not an internal problem. PHCN has failed us. The school spends N25-30million on diesel on monthly basis. We can understand the students. It is not a protest against the authorities but against the Nigeria nation”.
He explained further that the school pays N10-N12m to the PHCN but there is nothing to show for it. Nigeria is fast becoming a failed project. Nobody should pretend. The president has been given another four years, if he wants to do anything, let him do it quickly. Something tangible must be done. Some politicians go about wearing the cap of Chief Obafemi Awolowo but they are not following his principles. Some years ago, we had many Ghanaians here, where are they now?, he asked.
Despite the plea of Dr. Aremu that the students should not go out of the gate, the students still had their way as they all trooped out to the office of the PHCN.
They loaded themselves in some buses and headed for the office of the PHCN----Vanguard
They loaded themselves in some buses and headed for the office of the PHCN----Vanguard
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