* As CJFP urges Senate, alumni, staff, students to stand with VC
By Nudoiba Ojen
The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) on Wednesday protested alleged attempt to destabilize their school.
FUOYE SUG officials led by the Vice President, Olaniyan Eniola, warned the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) National Women’s Committee against making inflammatory statements that could disrupt the peace and stability of FUOYE.
SSANU Women’s Committee had in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, recently demanded the suspension of FUOYE Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof. Abayomi Fasina, over an unsubstantiated allegation of sexual harassment allegedly made by Mrs Folasade Adebayo, a senior staff member of the university.
But the placards carrying students, angered by what they termed “shameful and politically motivated attack on the VC”, accused the SSANU committee of attempting to disrupt the university’s progress through baseless claims.
Eniola, flanked by the Chief Justice of the Student Union Judicial Council, Victor Olaseni, who represented the Student Union Senate President’s representative, ldowu Odunayo, said it was disappointing that the SSANU women could allegedly “choose to spread falsehoods and engage in media blackmail”.
Eniola stated, “We are appalled by the actions of the SSANU National Women’s Committee, led by Mrs Ijeoma Kalu, which is demanding the suspension of our highly respected VC over a completely unfounded allegation.
“We were shocked to read how they publicly disgraced themselves, calling for the removal of our beloved VC without any factual basis”.
The student leaders, who said that Adebayo had never accused Prof. Fasina of sexual harassment in any formal document, added that “The VC has already clarified that Mrs Adebayo, in her official petition to the Governing Council, never mentioned sexual harassment.
“Even in her statements before the Nigerian Police, which investigated the matter, there was no mention of sexual harassment. So where did the SSANU Women’s Committee fabricate this claim from? On what basis are they demanding his suspension? This is clearly a politically motivated smear campaign, which is doomed to fail,” the students said.
In a related development, a group, the Campaign for Justice and Fair Play (CJFP), also accused the SSANU Women’s Committee of “orchestrating a well-funded campaign to unseat FUOYE VC, Prof. Fasina”.
CJFP Chairman, Calistus Jemade, said in a statement made available in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday that the campaign was being “driven by a network of vested interests threatened by the VC’s remarkable achievements, and they are determined to undermine his leadership by any means necessary”.
Jemade stated, “The sponsors of this campaign are not seeking justice, but are actively working to destabilise the university. This is a calculated political attack designed to discredit a leader who has worked tirelessly to improve FUOYE. These individuals, motivated by self-interest, are determined to take control of the university’s leadership at any cost”.
The CJFP called on FUOYE Senate, alumni, staff, and students to stand in solidarity with the VC, urging them to resist any attempts to sow discord within the institution.
It called on the Chairman of the Governing Council and members “to take decisive action to counteract misinformation by expediting action on the ongoing investigation”.
