OAU reacts as protesting Ife indigenes storm campus with charms, fetish objects

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has reacted to the protest by Ife indigenes over the announcement of Prof. Adebayo Bamire as the 12th substantive Vice-Chancellor of OAU.

The protesters argued that an Ife indigene should have been appointed.

Determined to ensure the installation of an Ile-Ife indigene as the next OAU VC, some indigenes invaded the varsity’s campus with charms and other fetish objects on Monday.

They also closed the varsity’s two major gates, thereby preventing staff, students, and other stakeholders from either coming into or leaving the University.

The protests by the Ife indigenes started last Thursday, March 17, 2022, shortly after the University Governing Council, led by its Chairman, Owelle Oscar Udoji, announced a professor of Agricultural Economics, Bamire, as the 12th substantive VC.

The protesters, who initially blocked the main gate of the University on the first day and threatened staff and students to stay away from campus, allegedly became violent the second day as they beat up workers, particularly the staff of the Security Unit, and vandalised their office at the Main Gate.

Some of the security workers were reportedly be taken to the University’s Health Centre for treatment.

On Monday, March 21, 2022, the protest took another dimension as the protesting indigenes blocked the two major gates as early as 6: 00 am, entering the campus with charms, and other fetish items.

Videos that surfaced online showed the protesters assembled at the motion ground of the University Secretariat, dressed in all-white spiritual traditional attire, chanting incantations and performing rituals.