Hundreds of Lagos State University students on Thursday stormed the office of Governor Babatunde Fashola at Alausa, Ikeja, and said they would not return home until their school fees were reduced and their arrested colleagues released unconditionally.
The students, who arrived at the office at about 3pm in over 10 buses, came along with mats, mosquito nets and cooking pots, among others.
To show their seriousness, the female students quickly swung into action, setting up firewoods to prepare beans near the entrance of the Governor's Office.
The students also defied a downpour that threatened their demonstration, as they danced to solidarity songs and held mid-day prayers to seek divine intervention.
In a letter to Fashola, titled, 'Save our future', the students alleged that the tuition hike had taken education beyond their reach.
President of the LASU Student Union Government, Mr. Yusuf Nurudeen, said the students had resolved to fight their cause until their demands were met by the government.
 |
| Students use plates to 'write' Fashola OLE (meaning, Fashola is a theif) |
"We have resolved to fight this struggle by ourselves. We are a pressure group in the country. We can do this alone. We do not want any person to fight for us. We elected Governor Fashola. We elected all the members of the House of Assembly. They must listen to us.
"Fashola promised us a 'Better Rewarding Future'. How can we have a rewarding future without education? He has denied us education by the tuition hike. Section 3(1) of the law that established LASU stated that the university should be made available for all people irrespective of their socio-economic background and status. Now, the governor has made LASU the university of the rich.
"We will not leave until we hear something from the government. We have gone everywhere and the police shot at us. That is why we decided to come here today and tell the governor what is on our minds. Also, our colleagues arrested by the police must be released unconditionally.
"If the governor refuses to come out, we will remain here until he comes out. If the governor can respond to issues that are less important than this, he should come out and respond to the students of the state he governs."
As of press time, no official of the state government had attended to the students.
Fashola was said to have left for Port Harcourt to join his colleagues for the Nigerian Governors Forum retreat holding at the Rivers State Governor's Lodge on Friday (today).
However, the commissioners for Information and Strategy, Aderemi Ibirogba, and Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, had on Wednesday, said the government would not be able to reach a conclusion on the tuition till June 9.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
(Weeping). You guys should continue to remain at his office until he rescind his decision. If it were to be like this in the past many of us would have remain uneducated. Note that you are not fighting for your generation alone but for many who are still coming after you. Keep on the struggle as nobody would for you. I want you all to know that the people in government do not feel for poor masses, but their selfish interest. 'Aluta Continua'
ReplyDeleteNice one there students. If we don't show our elected leaders that we know our rights, they'll continue to over ride us. CARRY ON, I know you can change the system. More grease to your elbows!
ReplyDelete.... apc would have mucked pdp to listen to the voice of the students without delay or said the president is simply incompetent.
ReplyDeleteHe fool is doing that and would not care because his tentur has expired stupid man.
ReplyDeleteAluta continua! Its saddens that our govt don't av d masses in mind and dey see and move d masses as been sponsored by d opposite party, wat a pity! The children of our leaders are flown abroad for standard education with d tax payers moni, contnue ooo dos children will neva be great cos u can't eat ur cake and av it.
ReplyDeleteThank God for value reorientation among Nigeria student. We were once distracted by trivialities on campus majoring on the minor and minoring on the major.
ReplyDeleteI love dis ginger, ur determination will salvage d situation. Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteEvil selfish breed of looters that have placed the masses in poverty and sent their own children abroad to study or at a pastor's expensive university even possibly at no charge.
ReplyDeleteAre this sets of people who want to take over the nation why increase in tuittion fee is rampard among Apc states na wa o
ReplyDeleteSome student em are cancanworm.
ReplyDelete100% in support. This how boko haram they start when u delibrately prevent people from getting access to education! Somebody should ask Fashola where the children they go school! With the current level of pay in Govt ser of Lagos nobody even a PS will have a had sending his Children to LASU if he only depend on his salary!... Odun Tutu
ReplyDeleteThe progressives i pity thid country APC wil take us back they are thieves and they are telling us they want to rebuild this country are they want to take the price of petrol back #12 or are they going to employe all the graduates in nigeria pls dont allow this people to deceive us they are thieves tell me how poor people wl survive #350 for school fee na private school? Na wa o
ReplyDeleteAlhaji LAI MOHAMMED pls say something
ReplyDeleteThis is a bold step and I love it. It is high time Nigeria students as a whole rise up against these selfish people in power. It is our battle, the earlier we start fighting the better.
ReplyDeleteWe need to save our generation and the generations yet to come.
Aluta continua!!!