The leadership of the Students’ Union Government, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, has condemned alleged siege laid to the residence of the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Joshua Olalekan Ogunwole by some men of the Nigeria Police Force, describing the act as high-handedness.
It was gathered some officer of the Force laid siege to the private residence of the VC in Ado-Ekiti in the early hours of Wednesday. The officers later vacated the premises after some hours.
The SUG FUOYE, in a statement by its President, Olusegun Ajayi and Olaoluwa Oni, Public Relations Officer said the deployment of armed security operatives to lay siege to the private home of the Vice-Chancellor reflects an abuse of police power rather than legitimate law enforcement.
“Under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), due process, statutory summons, and civil administrative courtesy are sacrosanct tenets that must never be discarded for high-handed, Gestapo-style theatre,” the students said.
The SUG said Professor Ogunwole has not been invited by the police authority at any time.
“The Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti is a responsible, highly distinguished, and law-abiding citizen who holds established public institutions in the highest regard. If the Nigeria Police Force or any regulatory body requires clarification, official records, or an audience with his office, the law provides clear, civilised institutional channels for such requests. Resorting to an armed siege at a private domicile is an embarrassment to professional policing and an insult to the academic community.
“Since assuming office, the Vice-Chancellor has driven a comprehensive reform agenda centred on academic excellence, infrastructural growth, prudent financial management, and systemic transparency. The transformation across our campuses speaks for itself. It is evident to every objective mind that this calculated intimidation represents the frantic response of retrogressive forces unsettled by his uncompromising stance on institutional accountability.
The Students’ Union Government called on the police to ensure due diligence and stop abuse of fundamental human rights of every individuals.
“We caution the Police Command and rank-and-file officers never again to allow the sacred apparatus of state security to be procured or weaponised as an instrument for proxy administrative warfare, personal vendettas, or political harassment.
“The authorities must follow proper administrative procedures. Any legitimate inquiry concerning the university administration must be channelled through recognised, formal, and lawful routes, which our Vice-Chancellor has consistently respected.
“Let it be clearly understood that an attack on the head of our university is a direct assault on the peace, security, and collective dignity of over fifty thousand students. The Nigerian student movement will not fold its arms and tolerate any further attempt to intimidate, embarrass, or unlawfully harass our Vice-Chancellor. Any repeat of such reckless overreach will be met with lawful, widespread, and unyielding resistance from the entire student body.
“We draw the urgent attention of the Visitor to the University, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Federal Ministry of Education to this incident. National authorities must safeguard the autonomy and dignity of our universities from rogue elements determined to provoke needless crises within our tertiary institutions.” The SUG said.