A Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Atiba University, Oyo State, has sparked outrage after describing some protesting students as “intellectually bankrupt” during a demonstration over the institution’s Law programme.
The official made the remarks while addressing students who protested outside the university on Monday over the Council of Legal Education’s decision to impose a 10-year moratorium on the university’s Law programme.
The decision was reportedly linked to deficiencies in the programme’s facilities and alleged violations of regulations governing legal education.
In a viral video on Tuesday, the DVC urged the students to remain calm and warned them against making statements about matters they allegedly did not understand.
“Let’s calm down. We’re all intellectual beings, so one day you might even find yourself in my shoes. So, don’t talk rubbish because you don’t know what your future will be.”
When a student urged the official to focus on the immediate concerns surrounding the Law programme, the DVC responded, “Listen, listen! Many of you are intellectually bankrupt. When I say you don’t know what your future holds and you are replying to me, I’m a successful man! If you are able to be like me in life, thank your Almighty God! What are you talking about?”
The students had challenged the university management over the regulatory decision, with one student displaying a document on a mobile phone and referring to the date of the Council of Legal Education’s decision.
“August 19th, signed by the Secretary of Council of Legal Education, August 19th…”
The DVC dismissed the relevance of the date and asked the students to listen to his explanation.
“Doesn’t matter! Just listen! Just listen! Whatever… noise will not help you. I’ve been shouting it. Noise will not help you! Crisis will not help you! There are some fundamental issues that you must understand. I showed a letter to one of you the other day,” he said.
The official further claimed that the issues surrounding the university’s Law programme predated its accreditation.
“This thing is not just there online. It was there before our accreditation,” he said, a comment that was met with boos from the protesting students.
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