ASUU Divided Over AAU Visitation Panel

By Lucky ISIBOR

Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Ambrose Alli University (AAU) chapter, Ekpoma on Thursday expressed confidence in the Edo State Government’s Special Visitation Panel to the university, sayings the personalities in the Panel were carefully selected by the Edo state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki in his effort to reposition the institution.

Recall the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Ambrose Alli University (AAU), in a statement signed by its chairman, Dr Monday Igbafen, and Secretary, Dr Anthony Aizebioje-Coker, on Tuesday faulted the Panel’s purported meeting with stakeholders in the school.

Dr Monday Igbafen, and Dr Anthony Aizebioje-Coker in the statement further said all the stakeholders including lecturers, students, faculty heads and others waited in their offices expecting the panel’s visit but it never happened.

However, in a counter statement signed and made available to Journalists in Benin on Thursday by concerned members of the Union led by its Coordinator, Ojealaro Benson Peters and 42 others, faulted the claim by the institution’s chapter of ASUU led by Dr. Igbfen, saying there was “no approval, ratification authorization given by Congress.”

“No approval, ratification, authorization or imprimatur was given by Congress to Dr. Igbafen to do any such letter on behalf of ASUU, AAU Congress Members. Where then did Dr. Igbafen and his Secretary derive their authority to do the letter of 2/11/2020 to the Special Visitation Panel?”

While emphasising that the letter did not emanate from Members of Congress of ASUU, AAU, Ekpoma, the members said majority of the members were not consulted to that effect.

“If anything, we aver that it is not within the province of the AAU Exco to set its own agenda/terms of reference for the visitation panel.

“As a responsible Union with high ideals and ethos, ours is to submit memoranda and be prepared to substantiate and defend same before the panel.

“Going to press with wild, false, baseless and scurrilous allegations against the panel and the Ambrose Alli University administration, is a feeble attempt at a distraction and to besmirch the noble intention of Governor Godwin Obaseki in setting up the panel”, he said.

The lecturers urged the visitation panel led by its Chairman, Prof. Ikponmwosa Omoruyi to remain focused on its assignment and totally disregard the ASUU leadership position on the panel noting “that ASUU leadership cannot influence the Special Visitation Panel to do its biding.”