Peter Obi Fumes As OAU Gives Reason For Last Minute Cancellation Of Lecture

By Ayodele Oni 

The Management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has blamed short notice for the cancellation of a proposed lecture by Peter Obi.

In a statement issued by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, the university said the organisers failed to provide timely information about the high-profile guest, giving notice only a day before the scheduled event.

According to the statement, such short notice made it impossible for the university to put in place adequate security and logistical arrangements required for hosting prominent personalities.

The Management explained that events involving individuals of Obi’s stature necessitate prior notification to enable coordination with relevant security agencies, including the police and the Department of State Services (DSS), to ensure safety within the campus.

“As a result of the late request and the inability to complete these critical arrangements, the university could not approve the use of Oduduwa Hall for the programme,” the statement read.

The university emphasised that the decision was based strictly on safety concerns and adherence to established protocols, stressing that it does not reflect any disregard for Obi, whom it described as highly respected.

The clarification follows concerns raised by Obi, who had earlier described the cancellation as part of a growing trend of disrupted academic engagements across Nigerian universities. 

He warned that such incidents could signal a threat to intellectual freedom in higher institutions.

Obi disclosed that the OAU lecture was one of more than 10 similar cancellations he had experienced, suggesting a pattern that should concern stakeholders.

He noted that he had been scheduled to deliver the lecture before proceeding to Ibadan for a political summit when he was informed that the event would no longer hold.

“This is no longer incidental; it points to a troubling pattern,” Obi stated.