ADC Condemns Reports of Use of Violence Against AAUA Students, Demands Immediate Dialogue to End Crisis

The African Democratic Congress, ADC, Ondo State chapter, has condemned the reported use of force against students of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, during their protest over the prolonged disruption to academic activities at the institution.

The party, in a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Hon. Remi Ofakunrin, expressed his concern over reports of confrontation between security forces and students at the Wednesday 2 September 2026 rally, and urged Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to engage in dialogue rather than confrontation in resolving the crisis.

According to the opposition party, the reported deployment of armed security personnel against protesting students is an inappropriate response to grievances that should be addressed through engagement and responsible leadership.

The ADC said students should not be treated as enemies of the government, stressing that they remained vital to the future development of Ondo State.

“Students are not enemies of the state. They are the sons and daughters of Ondo State and the professionals, entrepreneurs, academics and future leaders on whom the future of our state depends,” the party said.

They called on Governor Aiyedatiwa to immediately defuse the situation and demonstrate the leadership expected from the state’s chief executive.

The party questioned why the industrial crisis at universities was allowed to continue, so that students had to bear the consequences of disputes involving the government and workers at universities.

“The fundamental problem facing the government is clear: why was the crisis at AAUA allowed to persist for so long, and students suffered the consequences of a dispute between the government and university officials?” the statement asked.

The ADC noted that the prolonged industrial action has disrupted lectures, examinations and the academic calendar, creating uncertainty for students, especially those in their final years and those preparing for professional programmes.

“Rather than treating students demanding the restoration of their academic rights as a security issue, the government should treat this situation as an educational and governance problem that requires an urgent political solution,” the party said.

Calling for immediate engagement of all parties, the ADC stated that dialogue remains the appropriate response to peaceful protests.

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“GOVERNMENT SHOULD ENGAGE, NOT INTIMIDATE,” the statement stated.

“The appropriate response to peaceful protests is engagement.”

The party said the Education Commissioner and other relevant government officials should lead discussions involving students, university management and trade unions.

“If a dispute arises, the government has a responsibility to convene a meeting of all stakeholders, listen to their complaints and negotiate a sustainable resolution,” he added.

ADC also urged the state government to utilize the experience of Commissioner for Education, Prof. Igbekele Amos Ajibefun, who is described as a respected academic and former Vice Chancellor of AAUA.

“The ADC specifically calls on the state government to make full use of the experience of its Commissioner for Education, Prof. Igbekele Amos Ajibefun, a respected academic and former AAUA Vice Chancellor, whose knowledge of the university system places him in a strategic position to help resolve this crisis.

“This is a moment for leadership, not symbolism.”

The opposition party further called on Aiyedatiwa’s government to give greater priority to education and workers’ welfare, and stressed that the stability of higher education should not be allowed to be compromised.

“Government revenues and allocations are intended to serve the people. Therefore, education, worker welfare and the academic development of our young generation must receive serious and sustained attention,” the statement said.

While recognizing the competing demands on government resources, the ADC emphasized that students and higher education institutions in the state should not be sidelined.

“We also warn against presenting routine payments for legal obligations, including pension commitments and gratuities, as if they are a substitute for broader development achievements. Pensioners are entitled to their rights, but the government must also show measurable progress in the fields of education, health services, infrastructure, employment and economic development,” he said.

The party urged Governor Aiyedatiwa to use this crisis as an opportunity to push for reconciliation and education reform.

“Power is temporary; the consequences of governance are long-term,” ADC said.

“Governor Aiyedatiwa must remember that political power is temporary. Every government will eventually give way to another, but the decisions taken while in office will become part of the historical record.”

According to the party, the governor can change the narrative around the AAUA crisis by choosing “reconciliation over confrontation and dialogue over violence.”

Therefore, the ADC called on the state government to review the situation surrounding the confrontation with students, ensure that no student becomes a victim of peaceful protests, and convene an urgent meeting involving the government, university management, staff unions and student representatives.

It also demands a clear and publicly communicated timetable for resolving industrial disputes and restoring academic activity.

The party further urged the government to ensure that security agencies operate within the law and respect citizens’ constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and expression.

ADC said the restoration of academic activities at AAUA should be treated as an emergency priority.

“OUR CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER,” the statement added.

“Ondo State has a proud history of intellectual development and educational excellence. We cannot allow prolonged disputes, administrative inertia or inevitable confrontation to weaken that legacy.”

The party assured students that they would continue to support young people whose futures are affected by the prolonged crisis.

“ADC’s message to students is simple: remain peaceful, remain law-abiding and continue to demand accountability through legitimate democratic channels. And our message to the government is also clear: listen to students, resolve disputes and restore their classrooms.”

The ADC warned that responding to community complaints with force could exacerbate tensions, and emphasized that true leadership requires listening to the community.

“A government that listens to its people shows strength. A government that responds to every complaint with force will create unnecessary tension.”

He added that Governor Aiyedatiwa still has the opportunity to turn development into “an opportunity for reconciliation and education reform.”

“Ondo State needs classrooms filled with students, not streets full of tension and blood.

“The future of our children is too important to be sacrificed on the altar of administrative ineffectiveness and ineffectiveness.

“Enough of the crisis. Enough of the uncertainty. Let the dialogue begin. Let academics resume. Let our students return to their classrooms.”