SPECIAL REPORT: AAUA SUG, Others Clear Air On Donated Relief Materials

Materials Set To Be Distributed on Tuesday- Director of Works and Services

Students' Union President, Comrade Olusegun Obagunwa

Friday Omosola, Clarion Oyeronke

Following the two fire accidents that affected some students of Adekunle Ajasin University on January 24, the lawmaker representing Akoko South-West and South-East, Hon Ade Adeogun reached out to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to seek relief materials for the victims.

On February 11, 2021, NEMA through Hon Adeogun donated relief materials to the affected students to cushion their pains as well as bring most of them back to their feets.

The relief materials which include 50 bags of 12.5kg rice, 50 bags of 12.5kg garri, 50 mattresses, 50 blankets, and 300 yards of Ankara textile, were received by the Students' Union Government led by Obagunwa Oluwasegun.

50 bags of 12.5kg garri

Allegation Leveled Against Students' Leaders For Diverting The Palliatives

On Thursday, Sahara Reporter, a news platform, in a story titled, "How Ondo State-owned University Students' Leaders Diverted Relief Materials Meant For Colleagues Affected By Fire Outbreak," accused the Students' Union President, Comrade Obagunwa, and the Senate President of the Students Representative Council, Senator Abiola Amodun, known as Eja-Nla, for diverting the relief materials meant for the affected students.

The report reads in part, " The Students’ Union President of Adekunle Ajasin University, Oluwasegun Obagunwa (SUPREME) and his Senate President, Abiola Amodu (EJA NLA) have been accused of diverting relief materials worth millions of naira meant for students of the institution affected by fire outbreak.

"The Nigerian government through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had in January 2021 approved the distribution of relief materials to persons affected by fire outbreaks in Iwaro Oka and Akungba Akoko, both in the Akoko South West Local Government Area.

"But four months after, it was learned the students’ leaders have yet to share the items.

"A source told Sahara Reporters that some of the items kept in the institution’s Works Department had been secretly taken away by Obagunwa and Amodu. 

"Some of the items kept in the institution’s Works Department had been secretly taken away by Obagunwa and Amodu."

50 bags of 12.5kg rice

Students' Union Debunks Allegation, Cites Reasons For Not Distributing The Material

However, the Students' Union has claimed the allegation is false in a circular signed by the President, Comrade Comrade Obagunwa Oluwasegun, yesterday.

According to the circular, the palliatives haven't been distributed to victims because only one of them has resumed school, and others are still recovering.

The circular reads, "The Students Union of the above-named institution, under the leadership of Comrade Obagunwa Oluwasegun, wishes to inform the general public and the students of Adekunle Ajasin University, that the allegation raised against the students union that the palliative given to the fire accident victimms have been diverted, is totally untrue."

"The reason why the Palliatives have not been shared was that the union want the affected Students to resume fully. As currently, only one of them is around while others are still recuperating at home. Which means many of those Students affected by fire accident are yet to resume".

Also, the President noted that the materials are still very intact at the Department of Works and Services of the University, adding that students are advised to ignore rumour peddlers as the Union shall protect the welfare of the students at all times.

50 blankets, and 300 yards of Ankara textile

Investigation Reveals...

To ascertain the state of the relief materials, ECHO MEDIA paid a visit to the Department of Works and Services to count the number of relief materials there.

Echo media gathered that the 50 bags of 12.5kg rice, 50 bags of 12.5kg garri, 50 mattresses, 50 blankets, and 300 yards of Ankara textile were complete.

Also, in an interview with the Director of Works and Service, Mr. Adejumo Ademola, he affirmed that none of the relief materials has been taken by any student.

He added that the union has been told to submit the names of the beneficiaries to the department, as the relief materials will be distributed next week Tuesday, following the approval of the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olugbenga Ige.

According to him, "The union executives were here yesterday to checked the relief materials and they are all intact. So, I do not know where people got fake news from."

In the same vein, the Dean of Students' Affairs, Dr. Olusegun Owolewa warned students from disseminating rumours to news outfits and verify stories before publication.

According to him, such act will only damage the image of the institution.

50 mattresses