Zonal Chair of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Dr Musa Abdulahi has condemned the recent bulldozing of staff quarters of the University of Benin by the Edo state government even while lecturers were still inside the houses.
The Chairman noted that ASUU was shocked at the development which could have been avoided if the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomole had waited patiently for ongoing legal actions to be completed in the court of law.
According to him, the Edo state government behaved as if it was above the law by sending in bulldozers on the block of flats while a judge was sitting over the matter.
He went on: “The Land in question was given long ago to the University of Benin by the former government of Bendel state and has been utilized by lecturers since then.
“But the son of the Oba of Benin woke up one day and started claiming that the portion of land in question was his, pressing all manner of buttons to ensure that he possesses the land by hook or crook.
“The comrade governor who we respect so much initially maintained his neutrality and later on joined forces with the Oba’s son to commit wrongs against our colleagues by bulldozing their homes even as all their things were still inside.
“ASUU used all its legal means to stop the government pending the court ruling but they succeeded in destroying the homes and properties of the lecturers involved. We condemn the act and I assure you we are going to take further legal actions against them to make sure that they pay for their wickedness.
“We believe that those lecturers who have been rendered homeless now are in Benin where they serve their native land and have been treated unfairly in their own country. The University is serving the interest of the state as such they cannot extricate themselves from the very harm they have done to the institution.”
ASUU has been following the case of their colleagues for a year or two now and have spoken with one voice from all the thirteen zones of the federation.
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