Why OAU declined venue for Peter Obi lecture — Management

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Sunday, explained why it declined approval of the proposed venue for an event, where the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Mr Peter Obi, was scheduled to deliver a lecture in the institution.

The clarification follows an alarm by Obi over what he described as a disturbing pattern of cancelled university engagements across Nigeria, warning that intellectual freedom in the country’s institutions of higher learning was increasingly under threat.

Providing details of the events that eventually led to the refusal to approve the request for the venue of the proposed event, OAU management, in a statement made available by the Public Relations Officer of the university, Abiodun Olarewaju, explained that the organisers of the lecture did not provide details of the calibre of the guest until Friday, just a day before the scheduled programme.

The OAU management further said the short notice made it impossible for it to carry out proper security and logistical arrangements necessary whenever high-calibre personalities are visiting the university.

“The general public is hereby informed that a particular group within the Students’ body extended an invitation to the former presidential candidate and two-term governor of Anambra State to deliver a lecture within the University premises.

“It is important to note that events involving high-profile personalities of such standing require adequate prior notification to the university authorities because it will enable the institution to make necessary logistical and security arrangements, including proper liaison with relevant security agencies such as the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS), to ensure the safety of the guests, members of the university community and the general public.

“Consequently, given the short notice and the attendant inability to complete these critical arrangements, the university authorities could not approve the use of Oduduwa Hall for the event as requested by the organisers,” the statement signed by Olarewaju read.

Insisting that the decision was taken purely in the interest of safety, orderliness and adherence to established protocols governing the use of university facilities, the management further said: “It is not, in any way, a reflection of disregard for the person or status of His Excellency, Peter Obi, whom the university holds in high esteem.”

The PUNCH reports that Obi, in a statement released on Saturday via X.com, said he was scheduled to deliver a keynote lecture at OAU, Ile-Ife, at 9 am, before proceeding to Ibadan for an opposition party’s political summit billed to commence at noon, when he received word that the event had been called off.

The former Anambra State governor said the development was far from an isolated occurrence, disclosing that similar cancellations had taken place on more than 10 separate occasions.

“While such occurrences may be dismissed in isolation, it is important to state clearly that this has now happened more than 10 times.

“This is no longer incidental; it points to a troubling pattern that should concern all well-meaning Nigerians,” he said.