ABEOKUTA: Students of tertiary institutions in Ogun State have appealed to traditional rulers and external entities in the State not to interfer in students’ leadership and electoral processes.
The Daily Crucible had on December 27 reported that concerned elders in Yewaland under the aegis of Yewa People Development Council(YPDC), warned a breakaway faction of the National Association of Yewa Students(NAYES) not to plunge Yewaland into chaos with their plot to organise an unauthorized convention last December 27, 2024 in Ebute Igbooro-Yewa.
The YPDC which has the backing of the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle also wrote the Police and Directorate of State Security(DSS) in Ogun State to thwart any planned meeting ostensibly by unauthorized persons to cause chaos in the Yewa enclave.
The group als urged the Kabiyesi of Ebute Igbooro-Yewa, His Royal Majesty, Alayeluwa Oba M. A Dosunmu, Elebute of Ebute-Igbooro-Yewa and all relevant authorities to take immediate action to prevent the unauthorized convention, saying allowing such gathering would disrupt the established order and create division within the Yewa student community with possible breach of security.
However, apparently reacting to the development on Tuesday, the students under the auspices of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) and National Association of Yewa Students (NAYES) appealed to the traditional rulers to steer clear of students matter.
Addressing newsmen in Abeokuta, the state capital, the Chairman of NAYES Convention/Electoral Committee, Asiwaju Abdulgafar Ajibowu, dismissed YPDC’s claims that the NAYES convention was unauthorised.
He described the allegations as baseless and a deliberate attempt to undermine the integrity of student unions.
Ajibowu, who was flanked by the national president of NAOSS, Thomas Kehinde and chairman of NANS, Ogun Joint Action Committee, Adeyanju Francis criticised the endorsement of Tella Faruq Abayomi, who was purportedly elected in a parallel process allegedly backed by the YPDC.
The association revealed that Tella Faruq did not meet the basic requirements to contest for any student leadership position, as he is not yet a bona fide student of any tertiary institution.
“An eligible student leader must have attended lectures, written exams, and obtained a GPA or CGPA from a completed academic session. Tella Faruq only recently secured an admission letter and does not qualify under these criteria.
“It is troubling that YPDC would parade someone unqualified as the president of a student body and our revered monarch will endorse him,” Ajibowu said.
The student leaders issued a stern warning to traditional rulers and elders, including the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, to refrain from interfering in student leadership.
“Student organisations like NAYES are independent entities created to represent student interests. External meddling undermines the principles of democracy and self-governance.
“We urge Oba Olugbenle and others to steer clear of student affairs and avoid being used to disrupt the unity of the student community,” Ajibowu said.
He noted that the election held on December 27, 2024, which produced Comrade Olabode Tayo, was legitimate and had the backing of NAOSS and declared the parallel election conducted by YPDC as null and void.
He urged all stakeholders to respect the autonomy of student organisations.
The association called on security agencies, including the police and DSS, to address the activities of individuals or groups attempting to destabilize student bodies in Ogun State.
