Saturday, 7 December 2013

Iyayi Burial: ASUU Members Boo Reverend Father

Reverend Father Andrew Obinyan, a Catholic priest, angered the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) on December 6, 2013, when he appealed to them to call off the strike and trust the Federal Government on meeting their demands during Festus Iyayi's commendation service.

The visibly angry ASUU members interrupted Rev. Obinyan and refused to say amen to some prayers offered by him, and shouted on him to leave the podium.

Rev. Obinyan was booed while giving his homily at the commendation service held for the former President of ASUU, Prof. Festus Iyayi at the University of Benin.

In his address, the priest advised ASUU not to give the Federal Government the privilege of satisfaction of fighting and defeating them, stating that he discovered that many ASUU members were retreating, as well as collapsing their structures.
Rev. Obinyan further urged ASUU to trust the Federal Government to keep to its promise by calling-off the strike:

"My appeal is to request you to make surrender the tool of power.

Do not give the FG the privilege of satisfaction of fighting and defeating you. We rely on that voice. We believe in that voice. I humbly request you to surrender first in this fight. You have made your point eloquently and clear enough. I know the Federal Government cannot be trusted because of their antecedent, but I request you to please trust them now.

"ASUU will never lose by it. They will gain by it. Be assured of our prayers. We are at the receiving end. Many of your foot soldiers are collapsing. Some are retreating", the priest said.

On hearing that most of ASUU members started shouting, so Rev. Obinyan concluded:

"Christ will not tell you to fight on. He will tell you to forgive and forget. My appeal is because of the sufferers."

In his comments on the incident, the President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Isa- Fagge, said the Reverend Father spoke for himself, and that ASUU members were steadfast in their demand. He further confirmedthey would not call-off the strike until the Federal Government meet the four-point demandin their letter.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN

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