The management of Obafemi Awolowo University has explained that it declined approval for a proposed venue for a lecture to be delivered by Peter Obi due to short notice from organisers.
The university said organisers failed to provide full details about the event and the calibre of the guest until Friday, barely a day before the programme was scheduled to hold.
According to the institution, the late notice made it impossible to complete the necessary security and logistical arrangements required for hosting a high-profile personality such as Obi.
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The management stated that events involving prominent public figures require prior notification to enable coordination with security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services, to ensure the safety of guests, students, and members of the public.
It added that because those critical preparations could not be completed in time, authorities were unable to approve the use of Oduduwa Hall for the lecture as requested.
The clarification followed concerns earlier raised by Obi, who said he had been scheduled to deliver a keynote lecture at the institution before proceeding to Ibadan for an opposition summit, only to be informed that the programme had been cancelled.
Obi also alleged that similar cancellations of his university engagements had happened more than 10 times, warning of what he described as a shrinking space for intellectual freedom in Nigerian universities.
Responding to the controversy, OAU insisted its decision was taken strictly in the interest of safety, orderliness, and established procedures, stressing that it held Obi in high esteem and meant no disrespect.
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