The Student Union Government (SUG) of The Polytechnic, Ibadan protesting the renaming of the institution after the late governor, Dr Victor Omololu Olunloyo, has agreed to stay action until Governor Seyi Makinde returns from his foreign trip.
The resolution was reached by student leaders and government officials, led by the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, after a closed door meeting yesterday at the Conference Room of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG).
The leaders were invited following the protest over the renaming of the institution by Makinde.
The protest also paralysed academic activities on campus. Both the South and North campus gates were locked, preventing access to the institution and causing significant inconvenience for commuters and motorists who were forced to walk long distances.
Sango-Junction and other nearby streets were also barricaded by the students earlier in the day as they marched on the state Secretariat, to express their grievances, demanding that the institution’s former name be reinstated.
At the Governor’s Office, security personnel barricaded the main entrance and deployed officers at strategic locations to prevent vehicular movement.
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Chanting solidarity songs and holding placards with inscriptions such as “Revert the name now,” “We are not consulted,” and “Our identity, our pride,” the students called for an immediate reversal of the renaming, citing a lack of consultation and a disregard for the institution’s longstanding identity.
Top government functionaries that accompanied the deputy governor include the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, Sunday Odukoya, Commissioner for Education, Segun Olayiwola, Chairman, Oyo State Youth Development Agency, Prince Falana Adebowale, and the Senior Special Assistant on student Affairs, Victor Olojede.
The SUG President, Comrade Oladipupo Olamide represents the students at the discussion.
Earlier, Lawal called for calm, assuring them that their grievances would be taken seriously.
The SSA Students Affairs, Comrade Victor Olojede said: “The students of the Polytechnic Ibadan have come to the Oyo State Secretariat on a peaceful protest and well this is not a protest, but a plea to the governor to let the status quo remain as The Polytechnic Ibadan.
“I have received their letter and we promised them that we’re going to transmit the letter to the governor for processing.
“We want to assure them that whatever the government is doing is in the best interest of the students and of the government.
“And the government of Seyi Makinde is key in making sure that the educational sector of Oyo State is the best and we have the best output, bringing out the best quality students from our institution.”
Also, the SUG President, Oladipupo Olamide, said: “We are not against honouring leaders, but not at the expense of our institution’s legacy. Sincerely, as bonafide students of the Polytechnic, Ibadan, we are not here to fight or revolt.This is not a protest; this is a way of channelLing our grievances.
“What we want is for the name of our school to remain The Polytechnic, Ibadan. This is a heritage of over 50 years with alumni all over the world. We can’t allow that heritage to be swept away. We want the name to remain The Polytechnic, Ibadan.
“We are here to plead with the governor; we are not here to fight. There is no placard that speaks against the governor. We want the governor to attend to us. There are other monuments that can be named after the late governor. We have ample land for the government to build on and name after him. We are open to discussions; we do not want the name to change.”