Oyo Students Shut Down Expressway, Vow To Occupy Major Roads Until ASUU Demands Are Met

Protest rocked Ibadan on Friday as Students in Oyo State blocked the Oyo-Ojoo expressway in front of the first gate of the University of Ibadan, leading to traffic snarl in the adjoining streets and communities.

The students who organized themselves under the Concerned Students in All Higher Institutions in Oyo State, vowed that they would keep on occupying the streets in Ibadan until demands of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) are met.

Recalled that the university lecturers have been on strike for many months over non-fulfilment of the agreement and Memorandum of Action signed with them by the Federal Government.

The leader of the protesting students, Solomon Emiola, said the nation’s leaders are playing politics with their future.

Emiola vowed that they would keep on shutting down streets until the university lecturers’ demands are met.

The student leader said: “Our leaders have continued to play politics with our future. We must not allow them to jeopardize our future. We are shutting down the whole of Ibadan.

“The Federal Government must meet the demands of ASUU now. We will continue to stay on the streets until the lecturers’ demands are met. This struggle will not be hindered”.

A human rights activist and labour leader, Andrew Emelieze, who joined the students, lamented that the situation looked like the government is not ready to address the myriad of challenges plaguing the country especially the educational sector.

Emelieze said: “This protest is to awaken the spirit of the students. They have slept too much. Being on the Internet will not solve the problem. The government has neglected education. The demands can be met by one big politician.

“It seems the government is not ready to solve the education quagmire. But Labour and Education Ministers collected nomination forms to vie for the presidency”.