Traditional Worshippers Dissociate Selves From Invasion Of OAU Campus

Members of the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association, Osun State (TRAWSO), have decried the dimension in which some Indigenes of Ile-Ife are taking the protest against the appointment of Prof. Adebayo Bamire as new and 12th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University.

New Telegraph reports that there have been pocket of protests since the announcement of Prof. Bamire as the VC by the institution’s Pro Chancellor and Chairman Council, Owelle Oscar Udoji.

Some Indigenes of Ile-Ife were reported to have invaded the campus in protest that a non Indigenes was appointed as VC against their wish, insisting that the position should be occupied by an Indigene of the town.

New Telegraph gathered that some Indigenes of Ile-Ife, on Monday, March 21, forcefully invaded the university campus with charms and other fetish objects, closing the two major entrance gates to the university and preventing staff, students and other stakeholders from either coming in or leaving the school.

In a statement signed by TRWASO President, Dr. Oluseyi Atanda and Secretary, Chief Ifasola Onifade, the traditional religion association dissociated themselves from the act, saying that the protesters were neither members of TRAWSO in Ile-Ife branch, nor belong to other branches around the Ile Ife community.

“The leadership and the entire members of the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association, State of Osun (TRAWSO), the umbrella body for all adherents of traditional religion, noted with displeasure the alleged invasion of the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun state by some people purporting to be traditionalists on Monday the 21st day of March, 2022.

“We were told that those involved were protesting against the appointment of a non indigene of Ife as Vice Chancellor of the Institution.

“While we recognise the inalienable right of whoever feels aggrieved to protest of any perceived injustice, we consider it strange that our sacred costumes, parapanelia and other items (except charms and strange objects as reported) synonymous with traditionalists were adorned by the protesters.

“After thorough checks, we discovered that the protesters were neither members of TRAWSO in our Ile-Ife branch, nor belong to our other branches around the Ile Ife community.

“As respected members of traditional institution, we were not involved in the running of the affairs of OAU and we were not involved in the processes that led to the appointment of the new Vice Chancellor for the University, hence, we have no justifiable reason to protest the appointment of the VC of the Institution, a Federal University for that matter.

“We hereby call on the security agencies to Investigate and uncover those that dressed like traditionalists and invaded OAU and prosecute those that are found wanting.

“Our members were not involved in the protest. The activities of those involved are self-serving and shameful.

“The worrisome aspect is the fact that the protesters tended to portray us in bad light as fetish and uncivilised and we warn against the use of our items by people that are not known to us.

“Those that are involved should be warned seriously as our members will not take kindly with the repeat of such show of shame which may attract stronger reaction, or even litigation from our end to protect our integrity.

“We also advise whoever wants to express displeasure through protest to take proper channel and desist from the conducts capable of destroying the integrity and honour of others.

“We want to place it on record that our members did not participate in such despicable acts and we dissociate ourselves from the protest and describe same as inexplicable to use anything belonging to us, when in the real sense of it, the cause of the protest has nothing to do with us.

“We believe in fairness and we oppose cutting corners. We did not participate in the protest within the Campus of OAU and we are not in anyway displeased with the management of the University regarding the running of the Institution. “