Students rally for Aregbesola, despite security odds

Wednesday, August 6, 2014 7:33 pm

By Simon Ateba/Osogbo

Thousands of students on Wednesday defied the heavy security presence in Osun State to hold a rally in support of Rauf Aregbesola, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the 9 August governorship election.

The students also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to conduct a free, fair and credible poll, warning that nothing less would be accepted.

The students, under the aegis of Youths and Students Coalition for the re-election of Aregbesola, took to the Olaiya Junction and marched to Ogo-Oluwa axis of Osogbo before they converged at Fakunle area to address members.

Aregbesola with Labour unionists in the state- another endorsement

‎Security agents in Osogbo‎ had earlier laid siege to the Nelson Mandela Freedom Park venue of the scheduled adoption of Aregbesola by the students as their candidate for the August 9 election.

The coalition was made up of the National Association of Nigerian Students Joint Campus Committee‎, the National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS), among others.

Convener of the Youths and Students Coalition group, Comrade Abiola‎ Oludele, who addressed other students said:

“We want to use this medium to charge INEC to conduct an election that will be seen by all as free and fair. Youths in Osun will take no excuse for their failure and any attempt to go against the popular wish of our people will be resisted.

“Youths and students coalition wish to inform INEC and security agents deployed to the state that we bargain for nothing other than free and fair governorship election come August 9.

“People as the owners of votes, we do not need any clearance to monitor, safeguard and protect ‎our votes.

“We wish to state it clearly that we are fully aware that various security agents and others deployed for our protection and as such should not be turned to instrument of oppression and harassment before election.

“It is important for INEC to note that the duties of its officers are not expected to be carried out by any of the security agents in any of the polling units across the state,” The Youth association pointed out.

On Wednesday morning, mobile policemen and soldiers turned back people who had arrived the Mandela Freedom Park, venue of the event for the endorsement of the governor by the students.

The Bureau of Communications and Strategy in the Office of the Governor condemned the development.

“One is miffed by the audacity of the security agents who dared to stop members of the workforce of Osun and students who wanted to adopt the Governor today and tell the whole world that they are behind Aregbesola.

“But we are consoled by the fact that the people have shown them their power. People have demonstrated that even in the face of intimidation, they are peaceful but resolute on the decision to vote for Rauf Aregbesola,” said Semiu Okanlawon, Director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Office of the Government