By The Students’ Union of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has pushed back against the institution’s management over its characterization of the protest that held today at the campus, insisting the demonstration was peaceful and orderly.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, the union clarified the circumstances surrounding the protest and criticized the university’s decision to enforce an immediate mid-semester break.
According to the union, the protest was held at the campus gate following a congress resolution reached yesterday, 27 April, 2026. The action, it said, was aimed at expressing growing dissatisfaction with the newly introduced transportation system, which students claim has negatively affected their welfare. The union emphasized that the demonstration was coordinated and remained confined within the university premises.
The statement directly challenged claims by the university management that the protest was “unruly and disruptive”. The union maintained that there was no obstruction of major roads or harassment of road users, describing such allegations as inaccurate and misleading. It stressed that union leaders were present throughout the protest to ensure discipline and adherence to peaceful conduct.
“The protest remained strictly within the Campus Gate axis and did not extend to any major road or disrupt public traffic beyond the immediate university vicinity,” the statement read.
Beyond the protest itself, the union strongly criticized the management’s directive ordering students to vacate the campus for a three-week mid-semester break. It described the move as disproportionate and punitive, arguing that it undermines students’ right to peaceful assembly and expression. The union further suggested that the decision could be interpreted as an attempt to silence legitimate concerns raised by students.
Despite the tensions, the union signaled its willingness to engage constructively with the university authorities. It called on stakeholders, including alumni, parents, and civil society groups, to support students’ demands for improved welfare while reaffirming its commitment to dialogue and a peaceful resolution of the crisis.
