Obasanjo’s school shut over four-year-old pupil’s death
By Sesan Olufowobi

A school owned by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, The Bells Nursery and Primary School in Ota, Ogun State, has been shut over the death of a pupil in the school.

Four-year-old Master Ayotunde Williams was reportedly crushed to death on Tuesday by a Coaster bus belonging to the school, which had dropped him off after school hours at his house on Unity Avenue, Oju Ore, Ota. Saturday Punch gathered that after the bus dropped little Ayotunde, the driver set it in reverse gear. Coincidentally, the pupil suddenly remembered that he forgot his lunch pack in the bus and rushed after the vehicle. Unfortunately, he was crushed by the bus.

Trouble, however started, the following day, when Ayotunde’s father, who is a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Obalende, Lagos branch, allegedly mobilised his colleagues for an attack on the school. The police in Sango area, however, prevented the angry NURTW members from reaching the school.

Consequently, the school was shut to avoid any harm to the staff and pupils. When our correspondent visited the school on Friday, only two guards were seen while the premises was deserted. The guards on duty told our correspondent that the school might be re-opened on Monday.

There was also no staff of the school around to speak with Saturday Punch. A notice signed by the Chairman of the school’s Parent/Teachers’ Association, J.T Adegboye, and pasted on the school’s gate and wall, said the PTA meeting scheduled for Saturday (today) had been postponed indefinitely. It did not give any reason for the postponement.

The Police Area Commander in Sango, Mr. Adeoye Oyelola, told our correspondent that the driver of the vehicle had been charged to court. He told our correspondent that the police would not prosecute Ayotunde’s father for the foiled attack but was “appealing to him. It is not easy to lose one’s child.”

He said he was not aware that the school had been shut, adding, “We gave them policemen yesterday (Thursday). I thought they had re-opened the school. I don’t know why it was not opened today.”

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