Priscilla Ofunre, Ado-Ekiti
Following the recent violent protest that rocked the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), leading to the death of two students, Joseph Okonofua and Kehinde Dada, the school’s Students Union Government (SUG) has urged President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigeria’s chairman of Governor’s Forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi, of Ekiti State to ensure that their deceased colleagues get justice for extra-judicial killing by some security operatives who opened live fire on the students during their September 10 protest.
The students of FUOYE had in a protest, demanded for adequate power supply in the surrounding environment of the school and on the twin campuses of Oye and lkole.
The union, which frowned at the level of injustice in the country, said, the celebration of Nigeria’s 59th Independence anniversary should be for true freedom.
In a press release, on Monday, September 30, signed and made available to newsmen by the School’s President of the Students Union Government (SUG), Comr Awodola Oluwaseun Samuel, the statement was addressed to State government, Federal government and others unions.
It stated that Nigeria at 59 should be celebrating freedom, healthy livelihood, good security system, basic amenities for all levels of education as against what she is witnessing.
“As the 1st of October, 2019 approaches, many hope we will celebrate it as an independent day; the day we gain our freedom. It should be the day we celebrate our nation’s comfortable means of livelihood and secured sense of security, but what do we have here?
“Categorically, you will agree that what we practise cannot be called Independence as injustice in different forms continue to flow like an ocean across our nation. Where is the beauty of democracy if this tyranny persists?
“Where is our sense of security and assurance of safety if extra judicial killings of our innocent brothers and sisters continue to go unpunished?
“FUOYEites will never forget the evil perpetrated against us but we still appeal, because of our civility, to our government, both at the state and federal levels to apply the independence of justice as we celebrate October 1st in availing the deaths of our comrades”, he said.
Extending its request to other unions across the nation, he said: “We also use this medium to appeal to all Mother Unions (NANS, NAUS, NAPS, ASONIS, SSANU, ASUU, NASU, NHRC, UN, ASUP, TMG, NAAT, RC, ETC) and all security agencies of the Nation, in solidarity to bring justice in FUOYE.
“To provide basic amenities for the Nigerian Students both at the tertiary, secondary and primary levels which are rights of independence.
“To give Nigerian Students, a sense of belonging to the country, stop making us feel like slaves.
“We seek Peace, We want Justice.
“Our aim is to protect the beautiful image of the country and take the country (our father land) to glorious state”.