Proudly Ladokite

One week after Ladokites took to the streets of Ibadan to protest the closure of LAUTECH for the past seven months, the effects continue pouring in. The effect, this time, is not the handwork of Ladokites but Ajimobi himself. After a video of him making such derogatory comments that undermine the value of education went viral, major backlash has started pouring in, condemning his act and asking for an apology. Here are a few: Bella Naija :  Must Watch! Gov. Ajimobi of Oyo tells LAUTECH Protesting Students, “Go and do your worst!” Premium Times :  VIDEO: Gov. Ajimobi taunts protesting LAUTECH students, says ‘Do your worst’ Pulse :  Oyo Governor is a disgrace YNaija :  YNaija Says: Shame On You, Governor Ajimobi. Shame On You

Here are the top mentions of LAUTECH in the news today: Premium Times :  LAUTECH student leaders in free-for-all over governor’s ‘N500,000 largesse’ Naij.com :  LAUTECH students fight over N500,000 gift from governor Pulse.ng : LAUTECH Students have rejected a school fees hike proposed by the authorities YNaija :  Will LAUTECH be reopened soon? Pulse.ng :  Protesting students ditch solidarity over cash gift

LAUTECH students have taken to the streets of Ibadan today to protest the closure of the institution for the past 7 months. News reaching us now is that there over 300 students currently at the Government secretariat waiting for the audience of the Governor. The students have been there since 10 AM and have not been allowed entrance. So far, only the SA to the Governor on Youth and Sports, Afeez Repete, has come out to address the students. Here are some photos from the scene of the protest:

This rumor is not entirely true. Read the analysis below. A report surfaced on WhatsApp Friday evening claiming that Oyo state Governor, Ajimobi, declared that LAUTECH will resume on the 15th of January after a meeting with some ‘LAUTECH representatives’ in Ibadan. The report which was supposedly written by the senior assistant to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on youth and student affairs, Afeez Bolaji Repete, went further to claim that Governor Ajimobi called Osun state governor, Aregbesola, on the phone, and they agreed to pay N200 million each into LAUTECH account for outstanding allowances and salaries. One reason why this is statement seemed unrealistic is because on Thursday, prior to the report, both Oyo and Osun state governors made a joint statement  appealing to student of LAUTECH and their parents to bear with them as they were still awaiting the final report and recommendation from the Visiting Panel headed by Chief Wole Olanipeku (SAN) .

Update: A correction was made to this post. The organizer of the mass action was corrected to 'Save Education and Reopen Lautech Coalition (SERAL-C)' from 'Alliance of Nigerian Students against Neoliberal Attack (ANSA).' ---------------- While Lautech students have been making plans to embark on a mass protest on Monday 9th against the closure of the institution for the past 7 months, Oyo and Osun state government seem to have been making other plans. Yesterday, they presented a jointly signed statement to journalists advising students, parents and guardians to “ resist the temptation to resort to self-help and/or any action that may precipitate disruption of law and order ,” in other words telling them to avoid protests. Although it is unclear if this statement means measures will be taken to counter the protest, many students are hesitant to participate due to fear of a recurrence of what happened during the last protest where Police fired shots and tear ...