In what seems a wild reaction to the polity ailed with hopelessness and frustration, the students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Friday took their anger to the Oduduw a Hall of the university where they unleashed a dose of despondency on President Goodluck Jonathan.
A group calling themselves Concerned Yoruba Leaders, within PDP in the South West, had planned a one-day conference to drum support for President Jonathan’s second term. Venue was the Oduduwa Hall.
As the President arrived for the programme, the students, who had planned very well to unleash their anger against Jonathan, had laid siege to the premises of the hall. As he alighted from his vehicle, hail of stones greeted the President.
The authorities of the school calmed down the restive students temporarily to “cool their temper” until Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State arrived the campus followed by two 52-seater Ashok Leyland school buses loaded with Ekiti Obas.
Fayose was so confident that the students would receive him with open hands. But as he arrived the campus with a horde of his boys in another bus shouting “oshoko oshoko”, the enraged students of Ife in large numbers rushed towards his entourage and dealt a vicious assault on them.
He was lucky to run for his life, as his security aides shielded and ferried him to the hall. But the Obas, some of whom had already disembarked from the buses, were not so lucky, as the students descended on them. lnstantly, one of the buses made a detour and immediately took some of the Obas out of Ile-Ife, but Oba Adamo Babalola of Itaji Ekiti and Alara of Aramoko Ekiti were not lucky, as the vehicle with which they came drove off in a high speed, leaving the duo behind.
One of the Obas quickly removed his beads and gave his horse tail to his security guard to disguise his identity, and Dipo Anisulowo came to the rescue of one of the Obas, as he helped to carry his crown inside a nylon bag back to Ekiti State. Eventually, one of the stranded Obas was later seen in the town by the road side trying to catch Ado Ekiti-bound bus.
However, the students that had earlier mellowed down, regrouped and waited for the President for Part 2 of anti-Jonathan drama. Within minutes, the students had taken over the long stretch of road leading to the town from their campus., and the programme was abruptly brought to a close as Jonathan and his handlers hurried into waiting helicopters that ferried Jonathan, Fayose and other leaders and supporters out of the campus amid shouts of “ole ole ole”
OAU Ile-Ife students today displayed what they are noted for: to humiliate corrupt and inept leaders who are making life uncomfortable for them and who care less about what future holds for young Nigerians.
Great Ife !!!.
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