Protest by members of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) in Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), halted vehicular movement in Ile-Ife, Osun State on Thursday.
The protesters, who stormed the streets of Ile-Ife about 09.00am, marched from OAU campus gate to May-fair roundabout and other places to demonstrate their disaffection over the recent hike in the price of petroleum.
The protesters who barricaded the major roads to prevent vehicular movement were seen singing revolutionary songs convey their displeasure over the increment in the price of the petroleum product.
The protesters were armed with placards of different inscriptions such as ‘Nigeria Labour will never surrender’, ‘ASUU says no to high electricity tariff ‘, and ‘We voted for change not chaos’ among others.
The protesters lamented that majority of the Federal Government’s policies were anti-masses, saying the time has come to revolt against what they described as “anti-people policies”.
According to them, the Federal Government needs to revert some of its policies especially hike in fuel price.
While addressing the crowd, Chairman of SUU, OAU Chapter, Dr. Caleb Aborisade, challenged the FG to demonstrate it’s care for the masses by reverting fuel price.
Aborisade, who was represented by Dr. Ayoka Abiodun, said, “If truly are for the masses, they should not make life unbearable for them.
“Everyone can see that the hike in Petrol has worsen their living condition as virtually every consumable items had skyrocketed in their prices.
“Right now, things are going out of hands for common people as their purchasing power is weakening every day”, he added.
On his part, Chairman of NASU, OAU Chapter, Mr. Wole Odewumi, said government was inflicting pains on the masses with increment in petroleum product.
Odewumi appealed to the Federal Government to make policies that are “masses-friendly”, saying until that is being championed, nothing would be regarded as signs of good governance.
