Justice For Heritage

 

GREAT IFE STUDENTS' UNION

OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE-IFE

Ken Saro-Wiwa Building, OAU

greatifestudentsunion@gmail.com

Friday, 11 February 2022

FOR HERITAGE AJIBOLA, A PURSUIT OF JUSTICE 

ON Wednesday, 9 February 2022, Heritage Ajibola, a Part 2 student of Department of Linguistics and African Languages, passed away after falling into a septic tank at her hostel, Bvers Suites. A painful death it is; the Union continues to mourn her while also demanding that justice is done, given that the circumstances of her death were unnatural and preventable.

Before the steps taken by the Union so far are recounted, it is important to state that, above all things, one disturbing reality about Heritage Ajibola's death is that the welfare of students of this University has been seriously undermined. One is compelled to ask what amount of money would be enough to secure a safe apartment where a student can sleep eyes closed in Ife. There are increased cases of theft, extortion, amongst others. It becomes intolerably more mind-boggling that maintaining a livable environment is a worry despite the unregulated, expensive and uneven amounts students are charged for rents in all but especially private hostels.

The Union has taken important steps, apart from the swift response from the Union when called upon and the Union's active involvement during the process of retrieving Heritage from the septic tank and taking her to the Accident and Emergency Unit of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital where she was confirmed dead. These are:

ON WEDNESDAY, 9 FEBRUARY 2022

1. Conducting immediate check across reported hostels in Maintenance Hostels.

Immediately the news of the unfortunate incident happened, the Union received numerous reports from occupants of different hostels in Maintenance. Some of the reports were given on the spot and visitations were done instantly. One of such visits was one made to Stella hostel, where a septic tank like the one Miss Ajibola fell into was reported to be.

ON THURSDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2022

2. Conducting a check across all hostels in Maintenance Hostels.

In an effort to better identify various lapses across hostels in Maintenance Hostels, the Union conducted a check across all hostels, documenting in videos and photographs evidences of septic tanks, hostels, rooms, in bad condition.

3. Demanding for immediate repairs of some places, especially septic tanks.

While the Union conducted checks, ultimatum were instantly issued to Managers, hostel workers to immediately fix places that were identified as death traps.

4. Checking the excess of one Mr Lanre who harassed a student for making complaint about a septic tank in bad condition.

Amidst several reports about welfarism of students, the Union got a report that a man identified as “Mr Lanre” asked an occupant of Stella Hostel to evacuate the hostel because she identified a septic tank in bad condition and complained about it.

The Union went there to intervene, confronting the man, maintaining that instead of the student, it is the hostel Management that would rather leave should they continue to be irresponsible to students who are the tenants they have failed to serve correctly by keeping the hostel facilities in good shape.

5. The Union engaged the Manager of Bvers Hostel.

The Students' Union visited Bvers Hostel again, engaging the Manager with series of questions. For the records, the Manager claimed that the septic tank was last evacuated in 2017 and that he covered it. The first aid box of the hostel (photographed on the spot) was filled with brushes and litters. He was unable to give convincing answers to most of the questions he was asked about how the Management of the hostel checks the condition of the hostel.

ON FRIDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2022

6. Visiting the State CID where the case was transferred from Moore Police Station.

Members of the Students' Union CEC visited the State CID, Osogbo, upon hearing that the case was being transferred to them. The case, the Union was told, was being handled at the Homicide Unit. A visit was paid to the officers in charge. There, the President-elect, Olayiwola Folahan Festus “Reform,” communicated the unwavering interest of the student community, as represented by the Union, to see that justice is gotten for late Miss Ajibola Heritage. There, the Union met again the Manager of Bvers who had been arrested on Thursday who was now kept in detention at State CID.

With the Union CEC were Class Reps from Miss Heritage Ajibola's class. The activities of the Union have thus far included an open communication between the Union and the Departmental association.

7. Participating in the Candlelight Procession for Miss Heritage Ajibola.

The Students' Union took active participation in the Candlelight Procession done for Miss Heritage Ajibola. The Union, through the Public Relations Officer-elect, consoled students at Aluta Square where the Procession ended. Assurances were also given not only about seeing justice done for Heritage but also comprehensively dealing with all issues regarding welfare of students.

Viva Aluta!

*Announcing 🎙️*

Ogunperi Taofeek Olalekan (Tao),

Public Relations Officer-elect,

Great Ife Students' Union

08169896317

*Signed ✍️*

Odewale Samuel Damilare (Great-Sam),

Secretary General-elect,

Great Ife Students' Union

08132583940

Olayiwola Folahan Festus (Reform),

President-elect,

Great Ife Students' Union

07039281006

© ICONS ORGANIZATION