President, Ife Development Board (IDB), Mr Lawrence Awowoyin, has appealed to youths of the ancient city, to suspend their planned protest scheduled for Tuesday.
A group, Ife Youths Organisation, had threatened to protest against the inauguration of Prof. Adebayo Bamire, as the 12th Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, scheduled for Tuesday, June 7.
The announcement of Bamire as the Vice Chancellor-elect had sparked off protest by some indigenes, who accused the institution’s management of manipulating the selection process against a candidate backed by the Ife community.
Awowoyin in a statement on Monday, called on all youth organisations in Ile-Ife to allow peace to reign by suspending any form of protest.
Awowoyin, however, commended the youths for heeding to the intervention of the board, which led to the suspension of the previous protest against the Bamire’s appointment.
According to him, “for giving peace a chance, the youths had shown clearly that the protest was not meant to bring down the high reputation of OAU, but to ensure that things are done rightly.”
He commended Ife youths and other stakeholders for coming out to be counted in the defence of Ile-Ife, especially in ensuring that the indigenes were not deprived of their rights and entitlements under any guise.
Awowoyin said that maintaining peaceful coexistence would allow transparency, devoid of prejudice in any form, adding that this would sustain the good reputation of the “citadel of learning and character molding.”
“Let us be assured that the focus of the struggle is to get things done rightly in OAU, transcending appointment of Prof. Bamire.
“Therefore, efforts to correct areas of marginalisation, manipulation and injustice shall continue even after the inauguration of the VC,” he stated.
While welcoming invited personalities to the inauguration of the 12th substantive vice-chancellor of the university, Awowoyin assured them of a peaceful environment before, during and after the ceremony.
“There are ongoing meetings and consultations to get all issues relating to the symbolic relationship of Ife community and OAU resolved holistically,” he added. (NAN)
