Nigerians Faults Governor Ajimobi Public Feud With Protesting University Students
Omooba Risawe
A group of public analysists under the umbrella of a social media known as penpushing have faulted Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi action against protesting students of Ladoke Akintola Univeristy of Technology,LAUTECH, Ogbomoso demanding re-opening of their school.
Governor Ajimobi in a video clip which adorned social media had engaged the students in an open confrontation, where he called them unprinted names and declared to deal with them, because he(Ajimobi) remained the constituted authority to do and undo.
In the video, Ajimobi was seen making inflammatory and inciting comments on the protesters, declaring that he was ready to go into ‘war’ with them, and even ordered the arrest of one of them, a development which almost turned sour.
However, in reaction to what was descriibed as show of shame,number of participants on penpushing platform, noted that, the actions and disposition of the governor was ridiculous to the exalted position.
Bola Okusanya in his own remark said,’this is a big disgrace from a ‘supposed’ cultured leader.Intimidating students and bullying them. Where are we heading to in Nigeria’
On her own part,Olaitan Bakare said I’ve watched this video more than 10 times since yesterday that it’s beenn in circulation. I’ve watched it over and over again looking for reason, trying to find a rationale behind this kind of ‘outburst’ from a sitting governor. I’ve tried to find an excuse for the governor, tried really hard, can’t find.This video disturbs me’.
‘If this is ‘constituted authority’, how then will the ‘loose’ behave? But I believe the governor could have shown the unruly an example of decorum. ‘Eldership’ should come with experience and expertise, youthfulness comes with exuberance as we all know’.
Another respondent, Tunde Adeyemo reacted thus, ‘that is a clear indication that our administrators are not super human. They are like me and you,even we are better most times’.
Also speakin Bolu Olu-Esho posited,’It’s ridiculous to me. The governor upheld government’s laxity as a norm, declaring incessant closure of schools as inconsequential. I think public office holders need reorientation to shed off the military psyche we imbibed during their regimes’.
However, Gbenga Onayiga in his submission reacted thus,’while I do not like the style/ impatience of the governor, I’m surprised that non of the critics has seen anything wrong with the rudeness and disorderliness of the students. The protesting students should have made their point without insulting the governor. We MUST respect our elders. That’s our culture. Thank God I was once a students union leader’.
Afolabi Sorrunmu reacted saying, ‘Nitori baba buruku ni Olorun se da Omo buruku’ Ajimobi has been a thorn in the flesh of Oyo state people, he’s so ruthless dealing with some issues in the state. Even in his dealing with the pensioners, serving civil servants and the students’.
Similarly, Dipo Kehinde said, ‘I think the Governor should have been more tactful. Sometimes you need to coax. He should have appeared with his iron fist in a velvet glove’.
‘Remember this lines from a James Hardley Chase Novel: ‘You can kick an old man; you know what he is. But, never kick a young man; you don’t know what he will become.’ Treat the youths right, instead of picking up a fight,’ says Jimmy Cliff in a song’,he added.
Akinyemi Alawiye has this to say,’ I am just watching this video and I want to say categorically here that the outburst of the governor is unnecessary, we all know students when it comes to protests and rally, students can say anything at the slightest provocation. Closing their school for eight months is outrageous and uncalled for.
‘Having said that, the student’s plight needs to be looked into and shouldn’t have been confrontational with them. During the days of real unionism, the governor won’t have the gut to stand in front of those students not to talk of saying all those things. I pity the future of those students’,Alawiye posited.
Dideolu Falobi in his own reaction said,’I wonder if the governor should brag about his authority to students who had been kept at home for 8 months. Nothing, not even the “Unruly” behaviour of the students justify his comments and reaction. By the way, the students were aggrieved and justifiably so. He should have managed them in a better way’.
‘Do you know what is happening to those boys and girls? Frustration, anger and desperation. Some of the girls are now pregnant. Some of them have gone into all sorts of crime cos an idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Yet the governor only recently flagged off new projects at huge prices, Falobi said.
He added, ‘We must be careful of the day these youths that we are treating with impunity will be old and angry enough to reciprocate not by being Unruly…no….but by being murderous’.
Also Funke Fadugba wrote,’The problem of the institution is mainly political. Oyo and Osun governments should bury their ego and remove all issues against the school’s smooth operations. If they need private sector assistance they should call for help’.
In the same vein, Tayo Adelaja reacted thus,’Surely the utterances of Governor Ajumobi showed his deficiencies as immature and a bad manager of crisis..His inability to pay salary and pension was more or less a pride to him. Most Governors do not understand the importance of the standard of living of the citizens in governance. May God help us’
