Tension in Ibadan as Students Protest Renaming of The Polytechnic, Ibadan
Ibadan was thrown into gridlock on Tuesday morning as students of The Polytechnic, Ibadan staged a protest against the Oyo State Government’s decision to rename the institution. The protest caused major disruptions along the busy Sango-Eleyele Road, leaving hundreds of commuters and staff stranded. The unrest follows Governor Seyi Makinde’s announcement to rename the institution as Omololu Olunloyo Polytechnic, Ibadan, in honour of Dr. Omololu Olunloyo — the first Ibadan indigene to govern the old Oyo State, albeit briefly between October and December 1983. Students, expressing displeasure over the name change, blocked the school’s main gates and obstructed traffic on the major thoroughfare. Eyewitnesses report that staff members were also unable to access the campus as protesters maintained their blockade. As of press time, the demonstration remained peaceful but tense, with security personnel reportedly deployed to monitor the situation. The state government has yet to issue an official response to the protest. Ask ChatGPT