Officials of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife have said that one group is recognised as Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria on the university campus.
In different interviews, they said that a group alleged to be operating like extremist was not recognised and have been warned to seize their activities.
The officials that spoke are the institution’s acting Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Grace Akinola; Chief Security Officer, Mr Babatunde Oyatokun, and Public Relations Officer, Mr. Biodun Olarewaju.
The officials made the clarification after the OAU Muslim Community and University of Ife Muslim Graduates had raised a disclaimer on a factional group of the MSSN.
Speaking at the sideline of a retreat organised for newly elected leaders of the OAU Students’ Union, the acting DSA explained that a disciplinary panel has been set up to look into the development.
Narrating her experience when she visited the students mosques, she said, “We first went to Awolowo Mosque , when we go there, we met some demarcation in the mosque. There was one that we told them to open, they refused. We told them that if they don’t open it, we are going to force it open. After 15 minutes, one of them just made a signal and the place was opened. We went there at exactly 11am.
“When it was opened, there were 12 girls locked there when others (their mates) are in the lecture room. Meanwhile, the MSSN national came and said that was how Boko Haram started in Nigeria. And they came to disown them that they don’t know about any evil they perpetuate. The Muslim Community also disowned them.”
She explained that efforts to lock down the mosque have not been successful because of alleged intervention by an alumnus of OAU currently serving in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari.
She added, “We made moves to lock the mosque at that time. Even recently, they held a programme without taking permission from the university. Despite that we called them and warned them not to continue with the programme.
“I think they have people supporting them and one of them is in the current cabinet of President Muhammad Buhari. The university has set up a disciplinary committee to look into the matter. The will have to face disciplinary action and whatever comes out of it will be the final.”
The CSO also debunked the rumour of Book Haram, but confirmed that a Muslim Student Society of Nigeria (MSSN) disclaimer on the campus.
He said that this ‘illegal group’ led by one AbdulRasheed Bakare neither registered nor recognised by DSA, adding that the group has no letter head logo and MSSN constitution.
The CSO expressed further that the only registered body of MSSN was the one headed by Akeem Idowu as recognised by the MSSN at all levels from the branch to the national.
He said, “Earlier, before the commencement of disclaimer illegal programme, they were invited on Feb 14, 2017 at the instance of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Anthony Elujoba and the riot act was read to them.
“And despite this, they still bold enough to held the programme, so in view of this, we have reported to the management for further reaction, in which we are waiting for their response.”
The CSO clarified that the university management was taking necessary decision, stating that the unrecognised group members were under surveillance.
“The way they flattered the matriculation oath means they were being indoctrinated and if university fails to expedite action on them, it might degenerate and turn to another thing entirely,” he added.
The OAU PRO reiterated the position of the DSA and CSO, saying that only the registered Muslim student group was recognised and permitted to operate within the university.
While attributing the blame on some parents for abandoning their children in schools without bothering to check on them, he insisted that “there is nothing like Boko Haram in OAU.”
