The University of Benin chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has called for the trial of the Kogi State governor, Alhaji Idris Wada and others connected to the accident that claimed the life one of them, Prof. Festus Iyayi.
The union also blamed the government of the state for attempting to distort the facts about the accident.
Reacting to the accident that claimed Prof Iyayi’s life, the ASUU branch Chairman, Dr. Anthony Monye-Emina and Secretary, Okeri Henry, said: “Prof. Iyayi did not just die in an accident, but was willfully murdered by the state and its agents.
“Nigerians are aware of the recklessness of political office holders and their aides and in particular, of Alhaji Idris Wada on our roads and the arrogance that goes with it. It is time that Nigerians rise up to curb the menace and put a stop to the lawlessness, recklessness and impunity of our leaders.”
UNIBEN ASUU said that at the appropriate time, ASUU and the Iyayi family would demand concrete answers from the Kogi State Government for Iyayi’s murder.
The union insisted that ASUU and the Iyayi family were capable of giving him the befitting burial that he deserves, rejecting any state interference in his burial, warning that “his burial should not be an avenue for government officials to score cheap political points as we will resist any state involvement in the burial.”
Meanwhile, civil society organisations in Edo State have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the death of Prof. Iyayi, or face unpleasant reactions from Nigerians.
The organisations, made up of legal practitioners, students, labour unions and lecturers, said this, weekend, at a symposium and street protest organised by the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, National Human Rights Commission and Citizens Wealth Platform to mark 2013 International Day to End Impunity.
Executive Director of ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, said that a society not driven by justice was unacceptable, hence the need for the Federal Government to set up a panel of inquiry into the killing of the former ASUU president.
The ASUU chapter of University of BENIN is right. But if they failed to drag the governor to court, then I will know that Nigerian are absolutely false about how they fight injustices if the accident is one of such.
On the other hand, come to think about what really lead to his death is something one can not which for ones fate. what would have happened if he collided with Dangote truck that has claimed many lives on that same road, or with a taxi. The rest would have been a story.
I will appeal to states that ply this route to take urgent action by romancing with Federal Government on how to complete the construction of the road which links the north and Abuja to the south, east and west of Nigeria states rather than blaming one ourselves when we knew well of the factor that gave room to accident on our roads.
May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.
I will want us to also observe some minutes silence for he, Ken, Dele, Kuti etc who die for the fight against injustice, oppression, corruption and political detectors in Nigeria. Arise oh! Nigerians to fight a good and just fight for the redemption of our country, our only hope and mother’s land.