Students Boo Governor Abiodun At Babcock University Convocation Over Anti-Protest Remarks

Graduates, parents and guests at the 22nd undergraduate and 13th postgraduate convocation ceremonies of Babcock University on Sunday booed Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State when he expressed anti-protest sentiments, opposing the proposed nationwide protest by Nigerian youths.

The governor was invited as a special guest, however, while addressing the graduands and guests, he chose to speak about the upcoming planned protest in the country. 

The governor’s speech was a reaction to the #EndBadGovernance planned nationwide protest that some youths across the country that youths are mobilising on social media against bad governance in the country.

He claimed the protest is being “sponsored by frustrated politicians who tried in the past and lost.” And asked the youths to dialogue with the government instead of protest, as the latter could lead to anarchy.

“I want to seize this opportunity to appeal to our youths to engage the government constructively toward finding lasting solutions to Nigeria’s problems rather than going into a protest that may start peacefully but usually gets hijacked, leading to anarchy,” Abiodun stated.

His speech, however, was met by murmurs and boos from graduating students and their parents, as well as other members of the audience, who disagreed with him. 

He defended the incumbent administration, saying it required more time to have its policies and promises fully underway. “The government has been in office just for a year. Cutting off the head is not a solution to a headache,” he said.

The governor highlighted some of the programmes the administration had put in place to cushion the harrowing impacts of inflation, ranging from increasing the minimum wage to empowering youths and the vulnerable, student loans, and making subsidised food items available as palliatives.

“This current wave of inflation is biting everywhere – UK, US, Ghana, and Egypt. So it’s not peculiar to Nigeria alone,” he stated emphatically.

In reaction to the address by Governor Abiodun, Micheal Ajala, a 63-year-old PhD graduate and the class president of the postgraduate class, charged the youth to refuse to be silenced but to demand accountability from their leaders at all levels, especially at the state level.

“This country is always shouting the name of our president, nobody is talking about the governors. We must query our governors and chairmen of councils, we must ask questions,” Ajala declared as he was given a standing ovation by the crowd.

“We voted for them, they are responsible for us. Don’t stand on the sideline, be a good Nigerian. When you elect somebody to serve you, that person is supposed to be a servant.”

Read More: 

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