BY TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
Some aggrieved indigenes of Ile-Ife, the host community of the Obafemi Awolowo University, on Friday resumed their protest against the emergence of Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire as the Vice-Chancellor elect of the institution.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, OAU Governing Council, Owelle Oscar Udoji while addressing journalists on Thursday, had announced Bamire, an indigene of Oyan in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State, the 12th VC of the university after defeating 15 others who contested the office.
Some concerned indigenes had shut the campus gate immediately Bamire was declared and threatened to resume demonstration on Friday if the management fails to rescind its decision and pick an indigene of the host community as VC.
As early as 9:00am on Friday, the protesters, while carrying placards with several inscriptions amid solidarity songs, blocked major roads, including the popular Sabo junction, Enuwa Square, and Lagere. They disrupted the movements of public transports in all the areas they passed before storming the campus gate.
There was commotion at the school gate as the protesters allegedly assaulted those manning the gates before shutting them. They closed the campus gates, both Road 1 and Road 7, leaving commuters stranded.
Some of the protesters were sighted beating commercial motorcycle riders said to be members of non-teaching staff of the school. They, however, allowed students and workers who could trek to and from the campus but restricted vehicular movements for some hours.
