Ondo students fight dirty over Deputy Gov's switch to APC

Two student bodies have locked horns in Ondo state following differences of opinion in the political crisis between the state governor Olusegun Mimiko and his Deputy Alhaji Ali Olanusi.

Olanusi had dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the All Progressives Congress (APC) two days before the March 28 elections.

Members of the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS) had last Monday attacked Olanusi's convoy in Akure, carrying placards with inscriptions like, ‘No way for Olanusi in government house,’ ‘Ali Must Go,’ ‘Olanusi is a traitor’ and 'Jasper Ali Must resign."

But the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Committee (JCC) Ondo Axis, described the protests as barbaric and motivated by some politicians in the state.

Chairman of the NANS JCC, Ondo Axis, Oladimeji Ayodele, called the attackers 'unscrupulous emelments' while lamenting the students' involvement in partisan politics.

“The purported protest held by some unscrupulous elements under the aegis National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS) in collaboration with a NANS careerist called Ayenuro Timileyin said to be the Vice President of the NANS, can be referred to as another step into the Ocean of Stupidity and Mediocrity,” he said.

But the National President of NAOSS, Afolayan Simeon, who also led the protests, said the Deputy Governor was no longer active in his position and should resign or face impeachment.

“We don’t want a dormant Deputy Governor, we want a younger person who will be active, so ‘Baba should resign within seven days and if he fails to do so we will appeal to the State House of Assembly to impeach him,” Simeon said.

Ayodele however believes that the claim of Olanusi being too old is a mere ruse meant to cover the political undertone.

"Alhaji Olanusi has been the Deputy Governor for 6 years and there has been no single protests from these bodies, but on the defection of the man to the opposition party, they suddenly remembered that he was a ‘Grandpa’ and too old to be in power," he argued.

"Those jobless miscreants are not students and have no right to speak for the student populace.

"They are either graduates or rented miscreants with a price tag."

Olanusi has blamed the attack on Mimiko, calling for protection from the police.

“It is very surprising and a rude shock that a sitting governor after conducting election is still going around with thugs to attack me in the State House," he said.

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Eni Akinsola, has denied the claims.

gathered that the Ondo Assembly has served a notice of impeachment for Olanusi.