Protest as UNIBEN rusticates SUG President, 4 others

There was massive protest at the University of Benin (UNIBEN), as the  management of the institution decided to rusticated the president of the students’ union government and four others for allegedly leading a protest against increment of different fees in the institution.

Two of the students were rusticated for two academic sessions while three others were rusticated for one academic session.

The affected are the Students Union President, Osamudiamen Ogbidi, Justus Aidenagbon, Innocent Momodu, Goodnews Ehiabhi and Benjamin Majekodumi.

They were said to have led other students on a peaceful protest on November 24, 2017, after the institution’s authority had increased the said fees.

Michael Osasuyi, the institution’s spokesman, confirmed the incident, saying the students were rusticated for misconduct.

“From there, the findings was reported to the Senate, which took the decision of rusticating them. Two were rusticated for two academic session while three were rusticated for one sessions,” Osasuyi said.

He also denied allegations that the University engaged some security agencies to clampdown on the protesting students, adding that the only increment that affected the returning students, was that of the hostel space which he said was optional.

According to him, “The whole thing that happened was that during the convocation, the affected students said there was a hike in the fees. In the first place, the fees of the returning students were not increased.”

“They wrote to the university for a review on a Wednesday afternoon, the day we had our convocation lecture. On Thursday morning, as early as 6:30 am, information got to us that they were mobilising the students for a protest. They could not wait for a feedback.

“The school is not against protests, what the school is against is when you say you are the leaders of tomorrow and you are not learning well.”