Students of the Lagos States University that has been protesting for
some time now over the hike in school fees yesterday took their protest
to the Governor’s office.
It was gathered that the students, arrived at the office of the Governor
at about 3pm in over 10 buses with mats, mosquito nets and cooking
pots, among others.
Some of the female students were seen, setting up fire woods to prepare beans near the entrance of the Governor’s Office.
According to the president of LASU Students Union Government Mr. Yusuf
Nurudeen, the students had resolved to fight their cause until their
demands were met by the government.
“Our school has been shut down. Students are dropping out of the
university on a daily basis. We decided not to engage the party leaders
because the people in government do not understand any language. The
only language they understand is protest.”
“We have resolved to fight this struggle by ourselves. We are a pressure
group in the country. We can do this alone. We do not want any person
to fight for us. We elected Governor Fashola. We elected all the members
of the House of Assembly. They must listen to us.
“Fashola promised us a ‘Better Rewarding Future’. How can we have a
rewarding future without education? He has denied us education by the
tuition hike. Section 3(1) of the law that established LASU stated that
the university should be made available for all people irrespective of
their socio-economic background and status. Now, the governor has made
LASU the University of the Rich.
“We will not leave until we hear something from the government. We have
gone everywhere and the police shot at us. That is why we decided to
come here today and tell the governor what is on our minds. Also, our
colleagues arrested by the police must be released unconditionally.
“If the governor refuses to come out, we will remain here until he comes
out. If the governor can respond to issues that are less important than
this, he should come out and respond to the students of the state he
governs.”
As at the time of filling this report, no official of the state
government had attended to the students as Fashola was said to be in
Port Harcourt for the Nigerian Governors Forum retreat holding at the
Rivers State.
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