Students of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has openly rebuked the National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Olushola Oladoja, over a petition he submitted to the minister of education, Tunji Alausa, demanding the sack of the institution’s vice chancellor, Abayomi Fasina.

Oladoja, in a recent letter, accused Fasina and members of FUOYE’s governing council of misconduct and administrative failings. But FUOYE’s Students’ Union Government (SUG), in a detailed response on Saturday described the allegations as false and politically motivated.

Signed by SUG president Mary Abiodun and secretary general Lateef Ife, the students said Oladoja’s petition was “malicious, baseless and pure lies lacking any modicum of fact,” and that it does not represent the sentiments of FUOYE’s student population.

“As the local student union with firsthand experience of institutional engagements and administrative developments, we find the petition to be highly misleading, politically coloured, and grossly unrepresentative of actual events and dynamics within FUOYE,” the union stated.

The students defended Fasina, noting that he had already been cleared of past allegations, including sexual harassment claims, by both the Nigeria Police and the university’s governing council.

They also countered claims of student intimidation, asserting that the administration under Fasina has created a supportive academic environment.

“It is apparent that the current leadership of NANS has, regrettably, allowed itself to be entangled in external manipulation,” the students added.

“We view this as a deliberate attempt to malign the leadership of our great institution and to destabilise ongoing progress.”

They urged Tunji Alausa to disregard the petition and instead recognise the SUG as the authentic voice of FUOYE students, calling for protection against “media sensationalism aimed at undermining the university’s integrity.”