Let’s resolve FUTA crisis

I would like to use this medium to appeal to the Governing Council, management and the Joint Action Council (JAC) of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, (FUTA) to consider the overall interest of the students and the progress of the institution and resolve the ongoing crisis amicably.

The current situation regarding resumption date, fate of the students, school fees schedule/payment and academic calendar had created fears in the minds of students.

It is unfortunate that the JAC could invite armed policemen to the campus, during which students who were on peaceful assembly were brutalised by these uniformed men. Most worrying was the public harassment meted to the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor B. K. Alese and the Students Union Government President, Comrade Olusegun Oladele and other student leaders.

How secure are we when those who should protect us turn out to be our predators? Why were the students attacked with guns and tear gas when all we have is our voice? This attack is barbaric, illogical and misplaced.

We appreciate the Governing Council for setting up a crisis resolution committee. But we are appealing to stakeholders in the FUTA project to kindly consider the plight of students and open the school on 3rd January, 2017 for resumption, so that we can meet up with 2016/2017 academic calendar.

Kindly update FUTA’s website, open lecture rooms, laboratories and halls of residence. All we want is a peaceful atmosphere where learning and success can be achieved.

Ifeanyi KOH

FUTA, Akure