After days of protest on the campus of the Obafemi Awolowo University over the appointment of a non-indigene of Ife as the Vice Chancellor of the institution, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has finally broken silence.
Oba Ogunwusi, in a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity, Ooni Palace, Moses Olafare, admitted that the protest is a legitimate right of the citizens but urged them to exercise caution.
The monarch also assured workers and students of the institution of safety of lives and property.
The statement read in part, “Over the years, the good people of Ife have been a superb host to the university even as they enrol their children and equally join qualified hands to work in the OAU, a citadel of learning.
“The Ife community is proud to have partnered and still partnering with the institution through the House of Oduduwa on viable programmes and projects capable of projecting Ile-Ife to the outside world as an ancient city ready for progress and development.
“While Oba Ogunwusi has rallied major stakeholders to address the issue at hand, the Kabiyesi appeals for calm, calling on all law-abiding citizens to go about their normal businesses without fear. The good relationship between the town and the gown remains as strong as ever, particularly to the benefit of the younger ones in and outside the university. OAU is Ife, Ife is OAU and we shall continue to cohabit in peace for progress.”
