By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City
Hon. Fidelis Ogbejiele, President AAU Alumni Association, Worldwide has called on Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State to be fair and just in handling the affairs of AAU Ekpoma.
Speaking with newsmen after visiting the university over the purported sack of lecturers. Ogbejiele said, “I came to the University Campus to access the true position of things as it affects the university staff. The university town is tensed! Youths have taken over the university gate, chanting war songs and calling for the sack of the special intervention team put in place by the State Government.
“I spoke with the ASUU Chairman Dr. Cyril Onogbosele, who confirmed the disengagement of Dr. Jude Obasanmi,lecturer 2 of the Department of Economics, Faculty of Social Science and the retirement of Prof. Eunice E. Omonzejie, lecturer Department of Modern Language, Facility of Arts.
“The Chairman displayed the disengagement and retirement letters of the affected lecturers and expressed fear of a possible disengagements and retirements of other staffers, I also spoke with the Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. Sonni Adaboyin who dispelled the rumour of mass disengagements and retirements as being reported in news and Social media, but confirmed the retirement and disengagement of the lecturers.
“I, on behalf of the entire members of AAU Alumni Association, Worldwide, wishes to appeal to the Governor Godwin Obaseki to as a matter of urgency direct the appropriate quarters to recall the affected staff, retired and disengaged from the University without further delay.
As true Alumni Association members, we are ready and willing to partner with the Government and the University Management in developing our alma mater, we frawn seriously at any abitrary disengagements and retirements of staffers without cause.
As proud Alumni Association members we support positive re-positioning of the University, we appeal to the Governor to be fair and just in taken decision affecting the University.” He concluded.