The Acting Rector of The Polytechnic Ibadan, Oyo State, Mr. Adebisi Adeniran, has been indicted by a human rights group over repeated attacks on popular lecturer and activist, Comrade Femi Aborisade, and his family.

In a statement released today and made available to News Express, the Labour, Health and Human Rights Development Centre raised questions over the attitude of Mr. Adeniran to the plight of Comrade Aborisade and his family. The statement signed by the group’s Executive Director, Ayodele Akele, appealed for the urgent intervention of the Oyo State Government and the Federal Government so as to safeguard the life of Aborisade and his family.

Entitled “Concern over Comrade Femi Aborisade’s and his family safety! A condemnation of the ignoble role of Ag. Rector, The Polytechnic Ibadan!!” the statement reads:

“We are constrained to call the attention of the Federal Government, particularly the Inspector General of Police, Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Governor Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the authority of Ibadan Polytechnic, Ibadan Oyo State, the generality of the Nigerian Public and the International community to the threat to the lives of Comrade Femi Aborisade, a Senior Lecturer, Department of Business Administration and Management Studies at The Polytechnic Ibadan and his family all residing within the Ibadan Polytechnic Senior Staff Official Quarters, No 69,Unity Road, The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

“Comrade Femi Aborisade and his family have been attacked twice – first on 22nd November 2012 at about 12.30am to 1.00am and secondly on 29th December 2012 at about 2.30am to 6.30am. On the occasion he was brutalized and his property and that of his wife were stolen. He was just lucky to still be a life at the second attempt in about a month in succession.

“After a thorough study of the case as revealed by the Radio interview granted Splash FM by the Acting Rector, Mr. Adebisi Adeniran, our take is on the attitude of the Polytechnic authority. We are very worried about the attitude of the Ibadan Polytechnic authority, particularly to the second attack, based on the statements of the Acting Rector to questions posed to him by the Splash FM Radio journalist, Edmund Obilo on Saturday, 5 January 2013. The attitude of the Management of the institution has left much to be desired. In fact, it smacks of conspiracy and accomplices. How do you explain the criminal silence or ambivalent position of the Ag. Rector Ibadan Polytechnic over this matter? Up till now the Polytechnic is yet to carry out any investigation on the two attacks on Aborisade. Why has the Polytechnic authority not set up an investigation into the attacks on the life of Aborisade and family?

“Why has the Ag. Rector gone to town, without any investigation, to trivialize such heinous crime, drawing conclusions that the attackers were mere ‘night marauders’? He further asserted that it was the Polytechnic security officers that were shooting in Femi’s house on the second attack and not the attackers and that if Aborisade were their target they would have gone for their target. These are strange conclusions by the Ag Rector over the last attack on Aborisade. At least that was his recorded position on Splash FM, Ibadan on Saturday, 5th January, 2013. How do you explain the inability to reach the Chief Security Officer of Ibadan Polytechnic when distress calls were put across to him?

“We believe the Ag. Rector owes the public an explanation as to how he came about all the above conclusions if he or the authorities were not the sponsors of the attacks. Has he set up any investigation committee and who are the members? The Rector should also let the public know the practical steps he has taken ever since this real threat to the life of Aborisade and his family. What is responsible for the Rector’s attitude or apathy?

“The nonchalant attitude, suspicious, insensitive or questionable role of the Ibadan Polytechnic authority compelled Aborisade to send an SOS to the IGP in the first place and secondly to relocate outside the official quarters with his family. This attitude of the Ibadan Polytechnic particularly the Rector is not only unpardonable but highly reprehensible

“In the circumstance, we are compelled to call on the President Commander-in-Chief, Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, The Inspector General of Police, Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Ag Rector of Ibadan Polytechnic, all well-meaning Nigerians, members of Civil Society and International Community to intervene decisively to safe Comrade Femi Aborisade and his family from being assassinated so that they can live their normal life instead of hibernating and living in hiding!

“In effect NOTHING untoward should happen to Comrade Femi Aborisade and his family members. Finally the Ag Rector of Ibadan Polytechnic, Mr. Adebisi Adeniran, for his demonstrated ignoble role thus far over this matter, insensitivity, failure to act decisively and his ambivalence in the entire episode is regarded as a suspect by us and the police are being called upon to extend their search light to him in the cause of investigating this matter. In the circumstance the Ag Rector Mr. Adebisi Adeniran must accept full responsibility if anything untoward should happen to Comrade Femi Aborisade and family.”

•Photo: There is apprehension over the fate of Comrade Femi Aborisade, who has been attacked twice in his official residence within a short period of time.

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