All gates leading to the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, were on Monday blocked by protesting Ife indigenes over the appointment of the new Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Adebayo Bamire.

There was total vehicular obstruction as all entrances to the university, such as Sabo, Lagere, Enuwa, Sabo and Mayfair, were blocked.

Ife indigenes expressed their displeasure over the new appointment, saying that an indigene of the ancient town could have been appointed instead.

They argued that it was unfair that none of their sons had been a substantive head of the institution for over 60 years of its establishment.

The protests broke out on March 17, when the institution’s governing council announced Mr Bamire’s appointment.

Speaking on the issue, the president, Ife Development Board (IDB), Lawrence Awowoyin, appealed to the federal government to intervene on the appointment of the new vice-chancellor.

Mr Awowoyin said that appointing another non-indigene as the VC was an unfair act against the ancient town and its adjourning communities.

“Ife has competent and qualified candidates that can be appointed for the post, so we Ife community do not agree with the announcement.

“It is an insult on us that after 61 years of OAU, they dimmed it unfit to appoint or to elect any of our sons.

“So, what I believe is that the selection was manipulated, it’s not the actual performance of the candidates they use to choose the right person.’’

The protesters stormed Enuwa, Sabo, Lagere, Mayfair and stopped at Campus gate with their placards inscribed as “No Ife, No VC in OAU’’, “Ife candidate merits it’’, “Give us OAU VC’’, among others.

A spokesperson for the institution, Abiodun Olarewaju, had declined to comment on the protest.

(NAN)