Expelled FUNAAB Student Clarifies His Intentions

Michael Ifemosu of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), who was expelled over his critical post of the institution on Facebook, has come out to say that he was only trying to bring the school’s attention to the students’ plight.

Michael, who is an active participant in social and political issues is the convener for the Youth In Good Governance Initiative (YIGGI) and an Ogun state secretary for African Action Congress (AAC), recently made the headlines after he received a letter of expulsion for criticizing the university authorities in an open letter addressed to the VC.

In a conversation with TheCable, he described the school’s move as a “collective slap on the face of Nigerian students” and an “infringement” on his rights.

In the interview, he stated his intentions behind writing the post, which was to bring the authority’s attention to the “lingering issues affecting” the students and not to fight the powers that be, “as the school interpreted it.”

Michael said that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the Student Union Government (SUG) in FUNAAB, plan to dialogue with the vice-chancellor of the institution, Felix Salako, but are uncertain of the outcome.

“The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) in line with the Student Union Government (SUG) of my school told me they would meet with the vice-chancellor today to solve the situation. But I’m not sure the result would be positive. It is the aftermath of the meeting that would determine the next line of action,” Ifemosu said.

“The picture they’re painting now is that I’m trying to fight the university authorities. I was only trying to bring their attention to what is happening. On the basis of all that I’ve done so far, I’m not convinced I should be expelled because I held an opinion on something that personally affected me and the rest of the students. I’m not happy.”