VARSITY STUDENTS REITERATE- OUR INSTITUTION REMAINS UNIOSUN, NOT BIU

The students’ leadership of the Osun State University,Osogbo, has reiterated that the name of the University is still intact, admonishing the state broadcasting corporation, OSBC, to stop spreading falsehood.

This was contained in the students’ letter to the station through its Director General. A copy of the letter
which was made available to pressmen in Osogbo, the state capital, was jointly signed by Com.

Abubakar Abdulbasit O., the coordinator of the students
committee on the subject matter as well as Com.

Adesina Jacob O. Com., Oyesiji Sheriff and Com. Ajilore
Sheriff.

The said letter was tilted:

RENAMING OF OSUN STATE
UNIVERSITY, OSOGBO AND OFFENSIVE BROADCAST: A
REJOINDER. It reads in part:
“On behalf of the entire students across the six
campuses of the Osun State University, Osogbo, we
use this medium, Sir, to register our great and
combined displeasure at the one-sided broadcast of
your station on the controversial renaming of our
university. This renaming in honour of Chief Bola Ige
and other politicians was announced by the state
Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola at the convocation
ceremony held at the institution’s main campus,
Osogbo on the 9th of March, 2016 and had since been
kicked against.
“Therefore, we consider series of your
contemporaneous transmits in which you referred to
our esteemed institution as Bola Ige University
unmerited and offensive. Because, without hesitation,
the change of name is not welcomed by us and many
others whose interest is the growth of our institution
and not it’s continued dilapidation.
“As an agent of socialization operating under stipulated
ethics built on fairness and objectivity, we believe that
your station should at least be fair to us, if it cannot be
objective on this matter and desist from spreading
offensive messages which are in totality provocative.
With a thunderous emphasis, the name of our
university remains Osun State University and as one of
the strong institutions in the state, we wish to inform
you herein that there is no going back on our
resistance to the needless change of name.
“While our annoyance is not directed at the individuals
whom the Governor intends to immortalize, we are
opposed not only to the renaming but also to the
disquieting manner in which the announcement was
made. Even though we understand the provisions of
the law that established Osun State University and the
power granted to Mr. Governor therein, we emphasize
here reasons for which we are perplexed by the
announcement: Lack of proper consultations with
stakeholders; gigantic cost of implementations; loss of
identity; flagrant disregard of due process of Law
amongst others.
“Sir, just as we had earlier pointed out in our letter
(dated 24th, of March 2016) to the State House of
Assembly, we wish to inform you that the arrangement
by the Governor if put into effect will drain the state of
much needed funds. The cost of effecting the change
of name is not only astronomical and enormous but
also cumbersome and burdensome. Virtually every
property of the school bearing the inscription of the
present name will be affected. This includes the
website, the school buildings in their various locations,
the students’ and staff identity cards, the signposts
and signboards, documents, vehicles, even to the
lecterns in the classes and the list is not exhaustive.
“Bear in mind too Sir, our University is a creation of
statute. The extant law is the Osun State University
Law 2006. The Act provides for the establishment,
incorporation and administration of the University
among others. It clearly states that the state shall have
a University with the name Osun State University and it
shall have six campuses spread within the state. The
names of the campuses are also provided for under the
law. With this, it is not difficult to understand that the
name announced by the Governor is unknown to the
laws of the land which is far-off above everyone in the
state including the governor himself.
“Just as we emphatically and unambiguously reject the
renaming of our institution and its campuses, we will
do everything possible within the armpit of the law to
have same reversed and it is our expectation that your
station will review its position and henceforth take
appropriate step to do things in less provocative
manner. While we thank you for your time and
anticipated understanding, we hope for a fair coverage
of the lingering issues. God bless you and God bless
the State of Osun. Osun a dara oo.”
Credit: Afolabi Ismail Marble