Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun in Southwest Nigeria has appealed to the Ile-Ife indigenes who are protesting the choice of the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University to stop the protest forthwith and give peace a chance.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Ismail Omipidan, Oyetola noted that Ivory Towers across the world are sacred institutions and everything must be done to accord them the deserved dignity.
While noting that the state has no major role to play in the choice of who becomes the Vice Chancellor, being a Federal institution, he stressed that, as the host governor, he has a responsibility to ensure safety and security of the institution as well as its workers.
“It is with a heavy heart and a deep sense of concern that I call on the good people of Ile-Ife, especially those protesting over the choice of a new Vice Chancellor for Obafemi Awolowo University, to stop further protest and give peace a chance.
“By their nature and functionality, universities are rules and convention-based conservative institutions premised on academic and governance autonomy, I therefore enjoined those who felt or have any reason to believe the rules have been circumvented to realise there are laid-down procedures to remedy such situations and endeavour to follow them, rather than resort to self-help”.
Oyetola said Osun residents are known for peace, saying they must therefore not do anything to tarnish their enviable reputation.
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