From Victor Akinkuolie, Ado Ekiti

The over four months old crisis rocking  the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU),  Federal University, Oye Ekiti chapter got messier when aggrieved members disrupted a congress that was organised and presided over by the zonal chairman of the union ,Prof Olu Olu in Akure.

The angry lecturers insisted that the embattled chairman of the chapter, Dr. Adeniyi Omonijo must first step aside before any congress would hold on the campus.

It was learnt that the congress of the academic union was about to hold at about 1pm at the venue last week  and was to be presided over by the zonal chairman of the union, in Akure zone, Prof Olu Olu when angry members stormed the venue to stop the meeting as they rang bell, made so much noise and chased away those who wanted it to hold.

A leader of the union and Dean of Faculty of Arts of the university, Dr. Opoola Bolanle Tajudeen, who spoke about the cause of the disruption said: “There was to be a congress but there was no congress because our members felt strongly that Prof Olu Olu who has been part of our problem in this chapter should not now come to foist any congress on us and they insisted that he cannot hold any congress when the chairman of our chapter that he is imposing on us has committed impeachable offences.

” There  is  a resolution that the chairman has committed impeachable offences and should go.

“Our people really felt bad and demonstrated their grievances. They spoke their mind. However there was no casualty. The demands of our members who insist they are still part of ASUU is that current chairman of our branch  Omonijo should step down because he has committed impeachable offences.

“0ur people cannot allow a system where some people from outside would come and lord over us. We have our own internal problem and we should be allowed to solve it internally. Our people want ASUU to move on but we do not want Omonijo again, ” he said.

Peace necessary for devt – Prof Ige

By Michael Ofulue

The Deputy Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko  (AAUA), Professor Olugbenga Ige has said that any responsible government in democratic society that fails to address issues bordering on security of lives and property is bound to fail.

Noting that there cannot be meaningful  development in an  atmosphere of insecurity he said it has become necessary for various stakeholders to join hands with government and relevant security  agencies  to ensure a sustainable peace and development  in the nation.

The university don stated this  in an interview with The Hope  shortly after he participated at a one day security summit put in place by  the Ondo state government held at  The Dome in Akure .

Professor Ige who described the idea of the Security Summit as  a right step in the  right direction commended the initiative of the Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu  for organizing the programme which according to him would help in proffering solutions to ways of effectively solving crime related  challenges in the sate.

He said  it was the recent challenges arising from kidnapping and Armed robbery that  informed the decision of the government to organize the security summit, adding that implementing the outcome of the  programme will definitely help to  the  problem.

His words ” I came here to represent my vice chancellor, Professor Igbekele Ajigbefun who is unavoidably absent due to a  pressing issue. I saw various experts, professionals, Academia among others invited  to speak on the subject matter of the security summit and they all made beautiful suggestion on ways to talkle security challenges in the state .

I believe if the suggestions made in this summit are implemented  and all the security agencies work in mutual understanding and respect for one another, tackling crime will be easy and the state will be peaceful.

I am leaving the summit back to school and as you can see,  it is already 4pm and I have to go because of the roads leading to our School which has been a reference point for this criminals in recent times.But I am happy that the situation is returning to normal and also hoping that this security summit will further help to bring crime to the bearest minimum”, he state.