Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko Branch ASSAULT ON ASUU MEMBERS IN ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY, AKUNGBA-AKUNGBA It is very important to avail members of the public the actual transactions that led to the assault of Dr. Busuyi Mekusi, the chairperson of ASUU-AAUA, and Mr. O. F. O. Bolarinwa, a member of the extended executive of the branch by the security guards of the SHERIFF DEPUTIES outfit on Monday, 27th January, 2014. On that fateful day, at about 9.15 am, members of the extended exco of ASUU-AAUA were holding a meeting with a team sent to the branch by the National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU, led by the Vice President, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, when a gentleman led some people to the secretariat of ASUU on campus to inform us that the Vice Chancellor had directed that no ASUU vehicle other than that of the local branch should be allowed into the University. While we told him that such a directive was not good for the image of the University, we nonetheless agreed that we would relate with the University Administration on this later. This appeal did not convince these people as they started deflating the tyres of the University of Ibadan (UI) ASUU vehicle and that of the Benue State University (BSU), which conspicuously carried inscriptions that showed their identities. These two vehicles were the ones referred to by the Registrar, Mr. R. B. Olotu, to have refused to submit themselves to security checks at the gate. We like to state very unequivocally that it was not true that these vehicles forcefully drove into the AAUA campus as they were duly checked at the gate and given gate tallies. The vehicles are not also tinted as claimed by the Registrar, Mr. R. B. Olotu. One would have thought that the Registrar should have found out the correct account of the event than peddling half-truth in a manner unexpected of his good offices as the custodian of the rules of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, as well as a preacher of the Truth, Jesus Christ. He is, however, encouraged to provide the evidence that supports his claim. As the deflation of these tyres was going on, we had to intensify our protestation against this dehumanizing act when one of the SHERIFF DEPUTIES’ people observed that someone from our side was recording the event. We also protested that some people amongst them were making recordings. At about this time I observed that Mr. O. F. O. Bolarinwa was on the ground, during which I also received a heavy blow on my right hand, causing me to surge. I discovered that the other people around started shouting to alert the SHERIFF DEPUTIES guards that they were assaulting the ASUU Chairman and Mr. O. F. O. Bolarinwa, a former Speaker of the House of Assembly in Ondo State. By the time I regained my balance, I realised that people at our end were trying to ferry me to safety as we noticed that some people in plain clothes, together with the other SHERIFF DEPUTIES guards had got into their security van they parked few metres away to take two cutlasses with which they intended to inflict more bodily injuries on us. The University Acting CSO later came to the ASUU secretariat after getting information about the invasion and apologized on behalf of the Vice Chancellor for what the SHERIFF DEPUTIES guards did, saying that the position of the Vice Chancellor was that they should not have gone ahead to harass ASUU visitors after they had issued them entry tallies at the gate. You should also take note that we are law-abiding individuals as the vehicle of ASUU Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, was denied admittance into the campus that same morning, and he did not forceful drive in as being claimed. Both Mr. O. F. O. Bolarinwa and I have been receiving medical attentions from both the University Health Centre and our family doctors following this incidence. It is important to state here, also, that we have both video and photographic documentations to support the narration of the incidence we have given above. Kindly visit appropriate virtual spaces to view the video and the photographs that we got from this event to be able to avoid falling for the misinformation that is being spread around by the University Registrar and other hired vendors. We continue to stand for the truth as a Union and we will not succumb to anything that tends to take away our humanity notwithstanding highly placed forces that seek to give us a bad name in order to hang us. The University community is, and should, remain a free space devoid of circumscriptions. Aluta Continua! Dr. Busuyi MEKUSI For and on behalf of ASUU-AAUA
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 07:11:09 +0000
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