APC students vow to resist Nigerian planned increase in tuition fees

The students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, arm of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have frowned at the state of education in the country, and vowed to fight any hike in tuition fees.

APC National Chairman, Odigie Oyegun

In a statement issued, Friday, the students said they plan to mobilise over 47 million students to ensure maximum youth’s participation beyond next year’s elections.

“Our attention has been drawn (to) plans by the federal government to increase tuition across all federal institutions, we will resist any attempt to make education unaffordable to the masses,” said the statement signed by Emmanuel Damilare, Interim Publicity Secretary, APC-Campus Connect at the university.

The students expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing distribution of Permanent Voter’s Cards, PVCs, by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, describing it as a strategy to disenfranchise the populace.

“It could be recalled that the PVCs distribution has been postponed in nine local government areas in Lagos from November 7-9 according to a press statement released by Adekunle Ogunmola, the resident electoral commissioner of INEC in Lagos State who claimed that they had to cancel the distribution in those areas because they are yet to take delivery of their PVCs,” said Mr. Damilare.

“In Rivers State, the distribution of PVCs was also postponed in seven local government areas, though no specific reasons was given but we foresaw the same technical manoeuvre by the commission.

The students called on Attahiru Jega, the INEC Chairman, to resign if he is incapable discharging his duties at the commission.

“We can’t imagine if this are roadmaps to 2015, but we are prepared to resist any forces that propagates peaceful, free and fair election, as we will just not vote but protect our votes,” said Mr. Damilare.

The students blamed the insecurity in the country’s North-East on the indifference of President Goodluck Jonathan.

They also condemned the withdrawal of the police officers attached to Aminu Tambuwal, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“As students of history, we clearly know that all arms of government (has) their functions and it wouldn’t be fair on democracy if we can’t distinguish between the military era and the former, the misuse of power on the instruction of the Presidency… Of what business does the police have to interpret the law?

“At the alarming state of the nation marred by insecurity, the main reason of withdrawing the security operative attached to the number four citizen of the federal republic of Nigeria is to expose him to risk which outcome can be dangerous, we will definitely hold the IG (Inspector General) for any risk on the Speaker at the House of Representatives.”

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APC students vow to resist Nigerian planned increase in tuition fees

Suspected OAU student tests negative to Ebola

The female student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU)who was suspected to have the Ebola virus and moved to Lagos State has tested negative to the virus for the second time.

Ebola

The result of the second Ebola virus test carried out on the blood of the female student on Thursday was said to come out negative again.

The female student have been tested two times since she was moved to Lagos and the two results were negative according to the Public Relations Officer of the OAU, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju.

The PRO said that the result of the third test would be out today and doctors from the school were optimistic that it would be negative.

He said, ” The result of the second test has come out and we were told it is negative.

“It remains the third test which is the final. We hope and pray that also will be negative. Expert said that the third test is just to fulfill all righteousness since the first and second tests are negative.”

A government source told our correspondent that Governor Rauf Aregbesola was very happy on hearing that the second test was negative.

The source who pleaded anonymity said the governor had expressed concerned that the state did not have the resources at this time to battle the virus.

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Suspected OAU student tests negative to Ebola

Ebola scare: OAU student taken to Lagos for screening

OSOGBO— Academic and social activities at Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, were yesterday paralysed following a report that one of the students, who had been on admission at the university’s teaching hospital, manifested signs of Ebola Virus Disease, EVD.

Ebola

The management of the institution, however, said the student had been evacuated to Lagos, where she would undergo thorough screening to verify if she had actually contracted the dreaded disease.

There were rumours in most parts of Osun State, yesterday, that a student of the OAU, Ile-Ife contracted the virus and had been admitted at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital OAUTH, Ile-Ife.

A student of the university who preferred anonymity said a student who recently returned from Port Harcourt was in the early hours of yesterday rushed to the university’s health centre from where she was referred to the OAUTH after showing symptoms of EVD.

The “rumour” however spread quickly as parents and guardians of students were said to be making contacts with their wards and children over the development.

A source at the OAUTH told Vanguard that a patient who claimed to be student of OAU was admitted at the hospital yesterday.

The source, however, failed to explain whether the patient was diagnosed of EVD or not as she was silent on the result of the diagnosis carried out on the patient.

But the institution’s Public Relations Officer, PRO, Mr. Abiodun Olanrewaju, said the rumoured outbreak of EVD in the university was false as it was yet to be clinically proved.

Giving detail, Olanrewaju said the female student was discovered to have had primary contact with an EVD victim in Port Harcourt, stressing that she fell sick when she arrived the university and was rushed to OAUTHC.

According to him, the student had been evacuated to Lagos, where she would undergo thorough screening to verify if she had actually contracted the disease.

While assuring that there was no established case of EVD in OAU until the result of the diagnosis to be carried out on the suspected student was released, Olanrewaju said the university community and the entire Ife town should not entertain any fear over the development.

 

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Ebola scare: OAU student taken to Lagos for screening

Fear grips OAU students over suspected Ebola

Fear gripped students, parents and staff of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, on Tuesday over report that a patient admitted at OAU Health Center is suspected to have Ebola Virus Disease.

The patient, our correspondent gathered from unconfirmed sources, is a female student of the university.

When our correspondent visited the hospital, it was observed that health officials were disinfecting the surroundings of the medical center.

Our correspondent reported that more concentration was paid on areas where patients sit before being attended to.

It was also gathered that top officials of the hospital held an emergency meeting after testing the patient.

It was learnt that the suspected patient had been admitted since Monday.

Though, medical officials in the hospital denied that the suspected student tested positive to EVD, they said the Federal Government Emergency Ebola Team has been contacted.

One of the officials, who preferred to be anonymous because he was not authorised to speak, said the suspected patient would be picked up tomorrow for an intensive examination by the EVD team from Lagos.

Another official claimed that the suspected student tested positive for fever.

The official said there was panic because the patient told them that she came from Port-Harcourt.

It will be recalled that Ebola cases had recently been reported in the Rivers State capital.

The official said, “A patient was brought to the health centre and due to the fact that she hails from Port-Harcourt there were fears that it may be Ebola. We have carried out tests on the victim and found that she is suffering from fever. Not satisfied, we pressed further by holding an emergency meeting which finished five minutes ago.”

When asked why the hospital was disinfecting its surroundings, another staff said, “We are only taking preventive measures. To be 100 per cent satisfied, we have sent a letter to the Ebola Emergency Team in Lagos and the team should arrive by tomorrow.”

Efforts to reach officials of the institution proved abortive as they are currently at the 52nd Matriculation ceremony of the university.

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Fear grips OAU students over suspected Ebola

Jilted 400-level OAU Law student commits suicide

OSOGBO — A 400-level Law student of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife, Ige Dipo, has committed suicide at his residence outside the campus of the university few days after his lover broke up with him.

Suicide

It was authoritatively gathered that Dipo, said to be above average academically by his colleagues, was found dead in his apartment at Asherifa area, a stone’s throw from the campus, on Monday.

Dipo’s suicide note left for his father reads in part: “Father, while reading this message, I would have been gone” before he allegedly ingested some substance later discovered to be poison.

The deceased, a member of the Christ Apostolic Church Fellowship on campus before his death was said to have met the lady last year.

It was gathered that Dipo’s lover had been financing his education for over eight months of their relationship before calling it quits with him.

The lady, also a member of the same fellowship, was said to have broken up with Dipo because of his poor background and she could no longer cope with him.

This development, according to a source, was said to have subjected Dipo to emotional trauma.

He was said to have threatened that he would commit suicide should his lover remain adamant on her decision before he finally took his life.

Meanwhile, Dipo’s untimely death has been described as mystery by his fellow students, who urged the police to conduct thorough investigations to unravel the circumstances surrounding his mysterious death.

While the news of his death filtered into the campus, some students who knew Dipo expressed shock over the sudden death.

Describing the late student as a person who lived a lonely life, some students, who spoke with our correspondent on OAU campus, said his studious life should be emulated by fellow students.

Our correspondent further gathered that his lifeless body had been taken to Ibadan, his home town by his family members.

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Jilted 400-level OAU Law student commits suicide