Rusticated UNIBEN students reject Vice Chancellor's offer (Details, pics)

THE rustication of five students  by the  management of University of Benin, UNIBEN,  has taken a new twist as the affected students have rejected the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Farade Orumwense’s conditional offer to lift their suspension.

It will be recalled that the students who are members of the university’s Student Union Government, SUG, were rusticated for allegedly leading a protest against increase in school/hostel fees. The embattled students had staged a demonstration on November 24, 2017, over the hike, an action the school's management said was allegedly meant to disrupt its 47th Founders’ Day lecture and 43rd convocation ceremony.

Those affected  included  the SUG President, Osamudiamen Ogbidi, Justus Aidenagnon, Innocent Momodu, Goodnews Ehiabhi and Patrick Majekodumi.

It was gathered that a meeting aimed at resolving the issue between the University’s management and a factional leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, early in the week  was said to have ended in a stalemate after the affected students rejected the school’s condition that they should  tender apology letters to the school authorities before they can be recalled.

Meanwhile, the  Edo Forum of Patriots, a Benin socio-cultural organisation, has appealed to the authorities of UNIBEN to reinstate the five rusticated students, saying that the action of the authorities was capable of destroying the future of the students.