The students of the recently renamed Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, formerly The Polytechnic, Ibadan, have continued to express displeasure over the change of name, as the school management has warned against a fresh protest planned for Tuesday (today).
Afrocover reports that the state governor, Seyi Makinde, renamed the institution in honour of the late former governor of the state, Omololu Olunloyo, who died at the age of 89.
This decision had earlier triggered a protest by the students last Tuesday, during which academic and other activities were disrupted within the institution.
The protesting students also marched to the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, demanding that the institution’s former name be reinstated.
Chanting solidarity songs and holding placards with different inscriptions such as “Revert The Name Now,” “We Are Not Consulted,” and “Our Identity, Our Pride,” the students called for an immediate reversal of the renaming, citing a lack of consultation and a disregard for the institution’s longstanding identity.
Read also: Commuters stranded as Ibadan Poly students protest renaming of institution
However, in a fresh warning issued on Monday, the management, through a statement released by the Acting Registrar/Secretary to the Council of the institution, Joseph Ogunjimi, cautioned the Students’ Union and the entire students’ body against staging any protest or shutting the gates of the institution.
The statement, titled “Poly Management Cautions Students’ Union On Planned Protest, Advises Parents To Call Them To Order”.
The statement read in part: “The management advises the Students’ Union and the entire students’ body not to be involved in any protest or closure of the gates leading to the institution.
“The management warns the students against any protest that will be inimical to the interest of the institution and the government, as such action will not be tolerated.
“Any action against the interest of the institution or government will be considered as an affront by the authorities.
“Appropriate security agencies, who would work in conjunction with the institution’s security, have been mobilised to maintain peace and order within the institution.”
The management further advised parents and guardians to call their children or wards to order and warn them against activities that could disturb the peace of the institution.
