▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬ FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES STUDENTS ASSOCIATION OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY ▬▬▬▬▬▬ஜ۩۞۩ஜ▬▬▬▬▬▬ Wednesday , June 18th, 2025 *ISSUED IN THE INTEREST OF TRUTH, JUSTICE, AND RESPONSIBLE STUDENT LEADERSHIP* We have read with grave concern the public statements issued by both the Electoral Commission and the Election Petitions Committee of the Great Ife Students' Union concerning a recent incident that occurred yesterday. While we firmly condemn any act of violence or intimidation, we are compelled to respond to the one-sided, misleading, and politically colored narratives being pushed into the public domain by bodies constitutionally bound to be neutral and impartial. *A COORDINATED ATTEMPT TO MISINFORM AND MANIPULATE* It is deeply disappointing that rather than conduct a fair and balanced investigation, both bodies rushed to conclusions, publishing statements that resemble propaganda rather than fact-finding. These institutional platforms are being weaponized to serve personal alliances and political interests. The result is a dangerous precedent, one where truth is sacrificed for theatrics, and neutrality is replaced by loyalty to individuals rather than justice. *THE TRUE AGGRESSORS MUST BE NAMED* The entire confrontation did not arise spontaneously. It was orchestrated and escalated by none other than Hon. Fatoyinbo Azeez, Chairman of the Transport Management Commission and a representative who has consistently betrayed the interests of the Faculty of Social Sciences. *For the record:* The Faculty Congress had passed a formal resolution banning Hon. Azeez from conducting tutorials within the faculty, citing his history of misrepresentation, divisive conduct, and alignment with interests hostile to the faculty’s unity and progress. In defiance of that resolution, Hon. Azeez entered SSLT 1 to hold a tutorial, and when respectfully approached by members of the faculty taskforce and asked to leave, he refused. Instead, he deliberately incited confusion by encouraging Part 1 students, many of whom were not even from the Faculty of Social Sciences, to resist the taskforce. Some of these freshers have since confessed that they had no idea there was any issue at all, and that their tutor - Hon. Azeez misled and used them to create a human shield to protect himself. In his desperation, Hon. Azeez exploited these freshers, individuals he should have protected as shields, placing them in the direct path of a confrontation he deliberately provoked. The girl who was reportedly assaulted got injured when she fell down while trying to run away from the scene. Despite the injury, Hon. Azeez showed zero concern for the welfare of the injured student. He did not lift a finger to assist or acknowledge her condition. Instead, he continued to act violently, further escalating the tension. It was a concerned lecturer and a member of the faculty who swiftly intervened and rushed the injured student to the Health Centre for urgent care. Even more disgracefully, Hon. Azeez physically assaulted two elected Presidents from the Faculty of Social Sciences, a fact that has been intentionally ignored by both bodies in their public releases. His associate and friend in crime, Adebayo Samuel Obaloluwa, a sitting Electoral Commission member, strangled another Honourable, who is the Public Relations Officer of the Transport Management Commission during the incident. The continued silence of the Commission on this violent act by its own member is a betrayal of the Commission’s mandate. To make matters worse, DEEJAY, a Union Security Committee member, slapped the Speaker of the Faculty of Social Sciences Legislative Council during the chaos. Yet again, this gross abuse of power has gone unaddressed. *COMPLICITY WITHIN THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION* The silence surrounding Adebayo Samuel’s role in the violence, despite overwhelming eyewitness accounts, points to a deep conflict of interest and internal compromise within the Electoral Commission. A body meant to be independent and fair cannot function credibly while shielding its own members from accountability. *OUR DEMANDS* In light of these troubling developments, we make the following non-negotiable demands: * Immediate withdrawal or correction of the false, incomplete, and biased press statements issued by both the Electoral Commission and the Election Petitions Committee. * The immediate suspension and investigation of Adebayo Samuel Obaloluwa, Electoral Commission member caught engaging in physical assault. * Immediate disciplinary action against DEEJAY, the Union Security Committee member who assaulted the Speaker of the Faculty of Social Sciences. * A public apology to the Faculty of Social Sciences and its student leaders for the manipulation, victim-blaming, and reckless misrepresentation of events. * That in light of his gross misconduct, deliberate endangerment of fresh students, and escalation of violence, Azeez is unfit to remain a Honourable of the Great Ife Students’ Union and should be immediately removed. *OUR UNSHAKEN COMMITMENT TO PEACE AND FAIR PLAY* Let it be clearly known: We do not support violence in any form. But we will also not allow falsehoods to go unchallenged, or allow instigators of chaos to be repackaged as victims. We remain committed to a democratic, peaceful, and respectful process. But we will not fold our arms while our truth is buried, our students are endangered, and our faculty is vilified. Great Ife is not for thuggery. Great Ife is not for deception. Great Ife is for truth, for justice, and for all. 🎙️Announcing: _Adekunle Adebayo (ADE-OBA 🤴🏼)_ Public Relations Officer (PRO) 08066150577 ✍️Signed: _Olatoye-Olutade Tolulope (William)_ General Secretary 08123918936 _Adedeji Badmus Babatunde (BABS)_ President 09152960628 *THE SAVANT COUNCIL'24*