Some indigenes of Ife protesting the appointment of a non-native of the community as Vice Chancellor on Tuesday stormed the institution’s campus with two masqueraders bearing ”sacrifice’ which was placed in front of the Senate Building of the university.
The protesters, who had earlier taken over the main entrance to the university, prevented movement into and out of the campus.
In one of the video clips of the protest obtained by our correspondent, the two masqueraders could be seen offering sacrifice at the main gate to the university, as some people watched them.
Also in the clip, the masqueraders were flanked by some people, as one of them, carrying earthen pot containing the sacrifice, chanted incantation, while others watched.
In another video, a masquerader bearing a earthen pot containing sacrifice of solid pap sprinkled with red oil, accompanied by another masquerader and some people could be seen walking towards the front of VC’s car park where he put the sacrifice down.
Some staffers of the University, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the presence of the protesters grounded activities on campus, saying many staffers that could not gain access to the university because the entrance was locked, had to return home.
They also added that those that were already on campus could not go out for fear of attack by the protesters. The protest had on Monday stormed the University in protest, with some traditionalists, who dressed in all white attire.
Meanwhile, an aspirant for the post of Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Rufus Adedoyin, has called for investigation and review of the appointment of Professor Simeon Bamire, who was announced VC-elect by the Governing Council of the institution.
Adedoyin’s petition was addressed to Secretary/Chairman of Governing Council, was also copied to the President, Major General Mohammadu Buhari (retd), Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu and the Chancellor of the university.
In his petition, Adedoyin said the exercise lacked transparency and was riddled with manipulation, adding that the criteria were manipulated to favor Bamire through standards that were not anticipated and not in use for such exercise previously.
The petition further read in parts, “that some criteria were deliberately scored more than once for some candidates with a few to manipulating the process. “That I can boldly say that I hold excellent credentials than in terms of academic visibility, grant attraction, human capital development, doctoral and other supervisions, national and community services, and social responsibilities to the university community.
“That in spite of intimidation during the interview session in which issues and matters extraneous to Vice Chancellor’s responsibilities, were maliciously put to me, I believe I was able to rise up excellently to the occasion. “I hereby call for an investigation and review of the entire appointment process by the appropriate and independent authorities other than the compromised selection committee as presently constituted.
“This also serves as a pre action notice to approach a court of competent jurisdiction should appropriate administrative remedies and justice are denied.”
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