Alleged Attack On Student Leaders: NAUS Retracts Statement On Exonerating Osun Deputy Governor

The National Association of University Students Osun Campus Monitoring Committee, NAUS CMC, has retracted statement on exonerating the Deputy Governor of Osun, Prince Kola Adewusi on his alleged involvement in the attack of student leaders by suspected political thugs while on thier way to Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife on Tuesday to solidarize with the OAU students on the tuition fee increment by the management of the university.

Recall that the NAUS had earlier in a statement exonerated the deputy governor on the attack of the student leaders.

According to the statement, “We of the National Association of University Students NAUS Osun chapter wishes to use this medium to clear the air on the attack on students leaders by some unscrupulous elements on thier way to Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife on Tuesday to solidarize with students of OAU on the unjust and inconsiderate school fees increament by the OAU management.

“The attack is not only wicked but babaric, in a society with law and order, such brazen lawlessness must not be tolerated, that is why we want to join all voices of reason to demand that justice must be done in this regard.

“We are aware of the report of the arrest of one of the attackers, we nonetheless demand the arrest of all the perpetrators of the babric attack, they must all be made to face justice so as to serve as deterrent to others planning on doing same thing.

“However, from our preliminary investigation following the arrest of one of the culprits, we want to unequivocally say that the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Prince Kola Adewusi, has no hand in the attack whatsoever contrary to news making the rounds. It is erroneous to suggest that the person of Prince Adewusi the Osun Deputy Governor who’s trackrecord as a fine gentle man, humble, amiable and accessible politician precede him can be a party to such barbaric conduct. It also stand logic on its head to assume that the Deputy Governor will oppose protest over school fees increment in a Federal University not under the purview of the state to the point of unleashing thugs on students leaders.

“The victims of the attack were clearly erroneously made to believe in the heat of the matter that Prince Adewusi sanctioned the attack and the statement that followed was made in error, this has been made clear after the arrest of one of the attackers. The Osun State Government to the appluae of many have demonstrated high level of interest in the welfare of students till date. If tomorrow the state Government is no longer concern about the students interest, we will be the first to make a loud noise about it.

“Finally, we equally want to reiterate that the management of Obafemi Awolowo University should listen to the voice of reason and reverse the school fees increment without further delay. ”

In a new development, the NAUS retracted the statement saying that they did not have enough evidence to nail him or absolve him of the allegation.

According to the statement, “The leadership of the National Association of University Students in Osun State NAUS has condemned the attack on our sister union OSUN NANS JCC who were on their way to Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife on a peaceful demonstration against the increment in school fees on October 3rd, 2023.

“Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mine worker can become the head of the mine, and that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation. It is what we make out of what we have, not what we are given, that separates one person from another.”

“The right-thinking person must condemn the attack on the students who chose to speak for their generation.

“While we entirely condemn the act against our students, we must state without equivocation that we did not authorise any publication exonerating the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Prince Kola Adewusi because we don’t have enough evidence to nail him or absolve him of the allegation. As an association that wants equity and justice, we would like to reinstate our commitment to thorough investigation and the people involved must be brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to others who enjoy humiliating others.

“The injured students know their attackers and we are not in a position to exonerate any individual who is fingered in the ugly incident.

We wish the injured students a speedy recovery.

“We also wish to caution those involved in this dastardly act to desist from releasing anything in the name of the association as we won’t take it lightly with any individual found wanting of such an act again.”