UNILAG students suspend protest to bury late VC

Students of the University of Lagos on Thursday suspended the protest they embarked upon to protest the renaming of their university by President Goodluck Jonathan. President, on Tuesday, had renamed the institution after the winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Abiola.

The students took the decision after deliberations on Thursday morning at a congress held in front of Jaja Hall of the institution.

Though they made it clear that the protest was suspended in honour of the late Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Tokunbo Sofoluwe, they vowed to continue the protest on Friday (today).

Consequently, the main gate was thrown wide open to enable dignitaries who came for last burial rites of Sofoluwe to enter the institution without let or hindrance.

Also the Third Mainland Bridge, which the protesting students had blocked on Tuesday, was open to traffic.

They also ensured that the burial programmes including the lying-in-state organised for Sofoluwe at the Sports Centre and the burial service at The All Saints Church, Montgomery Road, Yaba went without any untoward incident.

Some of the students including Abdulsalam Idowu, a 200-level Law student, who spoke with one of our correspondents, said that the decision was taken to honour the late VC.

“The government will be making a mistake to think that the protest is over. No, the protest is just starting, we only suspend it today (Thursday) just to honour our loving VC, Prof. Sofoluwe, and all principal officers of the institution so that the burial plan will not be disturbed. Tomorrow we will resume the protest,” he said.