The Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, has inaugurated a tribunal of enquiry into the students’ riot at the Michael Otedola College of Primary Education, Noforija, Epe, which occurred on June 17, 2013, with a charge to the tribunal to determine the immediate, remote or other contributory causes of the protest.
Fashola, who was represented by his Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye, also urged the tribunal to assess the roles or degree of culpability of any staff, students, police and or anybody in the incident, evaluate the extent of damage and casualties in the riot and recommend appropriate amount to surcharge the students for the damages.
The governor also called on the tribunal to examine the internal control system of the management of the college vis-a-vis its general mode of operation, examine any other matters, which may be incidental to any of the terms of reference, as well as make any recommendation that may be considered necessary to guide against students’ riots in the state.
He thanked members of the tribunal for accepting to serve the state and further enrich the cause of educational development in the state, adding that they should discharge the task without fear or favour but rather with the fear of God.
The governor assured the tribunal of government’s support that will aid and further the discharge of its responsibilities.
He gave the tribunal three months to submit its report to government.
Fashola stressed the need for students and indeed Nigerians to always undertake protests in a peaceful way rather than resorting to violence noting that development can only be attained under a peaceful atmosphere.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Education, Olayinka Oladunjoye, explained that preliminary investigation into the crisis revealed that the violence was caused by the insistence of the management of the College on disallowing degree students of the Ekiti State University, who had not fulfilled their financial obligations to the College, from writing the first semester examination.
Oladunjoye however noted that the level of attendant destruction of properties suffered by the College and individual left no one in doubt that there were more to the violence than what was initially adduced as its cause.
She said: “The wanton destruction at MOCPED was monumental and no doubt inimical to the realization of the set goals of the College.
“Public funds that will now be committed to the repairs or replacement of the damaged and vandalized properties could have been utilized for other beneficial projects.
“This is not acceptable to the state government and government is determined to unravel the remote causes of the mayhem.”
The commissioner opined that tertiary institutions as citadels of learning should not be the dens of hooligan, hence she urged the tribunal to discharge its duties dutifully as well as undertake the widest possible consultations with all those who may have meaningful contributions to make to its assignments.
She added: “The task before the tribunal is formidable but with your wide experience in the area of tertiary education, I am confident that the tribunal will do a very good job.
“I trust that in making its recommendations, the tribunal will be guided by the overriding public interest.”
The tribunal will be chaired by Prof. Idowu Sobowale, a one-time Commissioner for Education in Lagos State and an accomplished educationalist, journalist and versatile human resource manager.
Members of the tribunal include include Prof. Funke Lawal, a scholar of Distance Learning; Dr. Moshood Babatunde Lawal, an academics; Tajedeen Oshikoya, a legal practitioner; and Ayodeji Adenekan.
Sulaimon Ajayi will serve as its Secretary.
Responding, Sobowale thanked the state government for reposing such confidence in them and promised to discharge the duties without fear or favour.
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