LAUTECH students cripple academic activities

STUDENTS of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso went on rampage Wednesday to protest the suspension of the former Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Moshood Lanrewaju Nassar and three other principal officials by the incumbent Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.
Based on a court judgment, the governor,in agreement with his Osun State counterpart,Mr. Rauf Aregbesola hadapproved of the appointment of a new VC, Prof. Niyi Gbadegesinto replace the former VC. The former Governors of Osun and Oyo, Olagunsoye Oyinlolaand Adebayo Alao-Akalaboth from the PDP had thrown the institution into confusion over the joint ownership of the institution.
As a result of the protest, staff and students of the institution were denied entry into the institution as all the gates were blocked.
The students, who are mainly Oyo State indigenes, insisted that all staff of the institution who are from Osun State should leave for their state.
As early as about 6.45 am, the students had made all the roads leading to the insti8tution impassable forcing motorists and staff of the institution to park their vehicles outside the gate.
The students armed with placards were calling for the removal of the incumbent VC and other staff who arefrom Osun State.
Some of the placards had the inscriptions like LAUTECH belongs to Oyo”, We don’t want Acting VC; Osun people should leave LAUTECH.
They were calling on theGovernors of both states to release the report of the committee set up by the National UniversitiesCommission which played a mediatory role when the crisis got to its peak during the tenure of the former governors.
The President of the Student Union Government of the institution, Mr. Idowu Adeniyi alleged that some staff of Osun State wounded him in one of the crises.
He said, “We even arrested two of the staff. The students asked that Mr Olagunju of Bursary department should leave and go to his state in Osun. They do not want the Acting Vice Chancellor but rather that Professor Nassar should be brought back”.