A female journalist reporting for
the Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC), Abeokuta, was on Saturday
beaten blue and black by angry parents during the 11th convocation ceremony of
Crescent University.
Crisis ensued when the
journalist, Jumoke Onafowora, struggled with the parents to gain access into
the convocation hall to perform her official duty.
Onafowora, who was a member of
Ogun Deputy Governor’s Press Crew, was attacked as the unhappy parents tore her
clothes; protesting their inability to enter a hall where their children were
being convocated.
It was gathered that the
management of Crescent University had denied parents access into the hall where
graduands were seated; claiming the hall was mainly for graduating students and
invited guests.
Angered by their inability to be
with their children in the convocation hall, the parents, it was learnt, stood
at the entrance, manned by stern-looking security personnel, to protest what
they described as “poor arrangement” on the part of the university; they banged
on the door, yelled and rained curses on the university for refusing them
access into the convocation hall despite the huge amount of money they had been
paying as school fees.
Recounting her ordeal, Onafowora
said: “I was in the convoy of the Ogun Deputy Governor, Engr Naimot
Salako-Oyedele, who was in Crescent University Abeokuta to represent Gov Dapo
Abiodun at its convocation ceremony.
“I had initially entered the hall
with the Deputy Governor before I later went out to fetch my recorder from the
vehicle.
“When I was trying to go back
into the hall, a mammoth crowd of angry parents were at the door. They all
wanted to go into the hall by force. But the security men at the door told them
to stay away. They were so furious, raining curses on the management of the
university.
“Because of the nature of my job,
I struggled to go back into the hall. I squeezed myself that I managed to get
to the door. That was when they said who am I. They said they would not allow
me to enter that hall if they couldn’t do so.
“I told them I was a journalist.
I showed them my identity card, but they said ‘how will an ordinary journalist
enter the convocation hall when they who paid millions of naira on our children
are not allowed to go in?’
“The security men, who already
saw my face before, tried to open the door for me. That was when these irate
parents dragged my neck. They started beating me. They tore my clothes. I lost
my necklace. I was injured with their finger nails. There was nobody to rescue
me as my colleagues were all in the hall.
“I suffered. I was just so
unfortunate because those people vented their anger on me. I suffered for the
sins of Crescent University. Their security men didn’t do anything to assist
me. Nobody to protect me. It’s sad.”
Some of the dignitaries at the
convocation ceremony include the Proprietor/Founder of Crescent University,
Justice Bola Ajibola; the Chancellor and Convocation Chairman, Alafin of Oyo,
Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Pro-chancellor, Emir of Kazaure, Alhaji Najib Hussaini
Adamu; the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ibraheem Gbajabiamila among others.
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