“ODUDUWA HALL SHUT”: OAU SAYS 24-HOUR NOTICE KILLED OBI LECTURE, NOT POLITICS
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–VARSITY insists Peter Obi “held in high regard” but DSS, police clearance “impossible” on short notice; ex-candidate cites 10+ campus bans.
Key Issues:
– One-Day Notice Triggered Refusal: _”Obafemi Awolowo University says it turned down a venue request for a Peter Obi lecture because organizers gave just one day’s notice.”_
– Insufficient Details Provided : _”In a statement, OAU PRO Abiodun Olarewaju said the school got ‘insufficient details about the event and its guest’ until 24 hours before the scheduled date.”_
– Security Protocol Not Met: _”High-profile visits need time for security and protocol, management said. That includes coordination with the Nigeria Police Force and DSS.”_ _”The short notice made it ‘impossible to complete necessary logistical and security arrangements’ for Oduduwa Hall.”_
– OAU: Decision Was Procedural, Not Political: _”OAU stressed the refusal was based on safety and protocol, not Obi’s status.”_ _”The university said he is ‘held in high regard.'”_
– Obi Claims Growing Pattern of Blocks: _”Despite the fact that Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of Labour Party in 2023 general election flagging of a continuous ‘growing pattern’ of cancelled campus engagements, saying he’s had over 10 such incidents at Nigerian universities.”_
– Academic Freedom at Risk, Says Obi: _”He warned the trend could threaten intellectual freedom in higher institutions.”_
– Hall Remained Closed: _”OAU insists the decision was procedural. With no time to clear security, Oduduwa Hall stayed shut.”_
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