The Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Professor Temitope Ogunbodede has announced lifting of ban on the suspended students’ union activities in the campus.
The Vice Chancellor made the remark yesterday while speaking at a programme organized to honour late Afenifere spokesman who was also an alumnus of the institution, Yinka Odumakin.
The VC showered encomium on the deceased for the life well spent, he likened the late Afenifere Spokesman to a dogged fighter that could not be replaced.
“Great Ife, I am here today to honour our late brother, an alumnus of our great institution, traditionally I shouldn’t have been here because I am older than him but culturally I am here to honour him as we do in Great Ife, we don’t mourn but to honour our late hero.
“I must say at this point, that Odumakin contributed immensely to the growth of Obafemi Awolowo University and it will not be out of point if we celebrate him for the indelible mark laid before his departure.
“Odumakin who was a union leader and served in the capacity of Public Relations Officer PRO of Great Ife Students’ Union, fought gallantly for the rights of his colleagues while on campus, he was rusticated for what he believed in and it took the intervention of Femi Falana SAN, an alumnus and several human rights’ activists before he was reinstated.
This life of activism prepared and propelled him to be the vocal voice of Afenifere, a Yoruba Social Cultural group. I was a member of students’ union while on campus and the decision I took to partially ban students’ union was painful but we had no option than to take it to prevent breaking down of laws and orders”.
He further stated that Great Ife graduates are known for excellence and they always take the lead in anywhere they find themselves. You will recall that the students’ union has been a solid training ground for so many leaders in all facets of life in Nigeria. Many renowned journalists in Nigeria like the Odumakin, Sam Omatseye and others excelled in journalism despite the fact that OAU does not have a course in journalism but this has been so because students’ union served as a training ground for them.
It is on this note, on the occasion of today that we are celebrating a rare gem whose death is a collosal loss to Great Ife community and Nigeria at large that I announce the lifting of ban on students’ union activities”, said Ogunbodede.
The students at the event that took place at Oduduwa Hall had their joy to know no bounds as they were seen chanting different solidarity songs.