BY FAITH OLANIRAN

The campus of the Federal University of Technology  Akure (FUTA), was thrown into confusion, Friday, as students trooped out in large numbers to protest the sudden death of their union president, Comrade Oladapo Awopegba (aka D.P.O), who lost his life alongside two other SUG presidents – Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Akure and School of Nursing and Midwifery, Akure, in a ghastly motor accident that occurred along Emure-Ile on Owo-Akure Road, Friday.

According to investigation, the union leaders were on their way to Akure from Abuja where they had gone to attend an award ceremony organised by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to eminent Nigerians, including Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State.

According to the students, Comrade Awopegba’s death makes it the ninth death the school will record in the last three weeks. Other students who lost their lives within the university community were said to have died mysteriously.

The students want the school authorities to do something about the recurring death within the school premises and also want the Federal Government in conjunction with the state government to find a lasting solution to the bad Akure-Owo Road to avoid future recurrence.

The protesting students

Reacting to the incident, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof.  Biyi Daramola, said that plans are ongoing by the management of the school to give a befitting commendation service and a candle light procession to the late comrade.

He, however, appealed to the students to go back to their various hostels and continue to pray for the well-being of the school. He prayed for the school and students that such calamity will not befall them again.

Prof. Daramola also joined the students in their walk from FUTA  junction to FUTA south gate singing solidarity songs in honour of the late comrades.

Meanwhile, the Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko has commiserated with the school authorities, staff and students on the sudden demise of the number one student citizen of the school, noting that he died in active service and must not be forgotten.

Mimiko said his plans will be communicated to the students in a short while. He said necessary measures will be taken on the issue of Akure-Owo Road to avoid such recurrence.

The Governor who had earlier visited the Federal Medical Centre, Owo to see the injured students receiving treatment, prayed for the families of the deceased that God in his mercy will give them the fortitude to bear the irreparable losses.