The candidates of the Non Academic Staff of Universities NASU, Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta FUNAAB has condemn the representative of the national body in the purported election, demand for justice over the undemocratic disqualification of contestant from exercising their civic responsibility during the last election.
According to investigation made by Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists NGIJ over the week by Comrade Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo (Amebo Online Newspaper) , Oladipupo Michael (Alariya Oodua) and Obadimu Adeyemi (NewsExtra Online) on the Non-Academic Staff of Universities NASU, FUNNAB chapter election which was marred by irregularities by the electoral committee headed by the national body representative which almost lead to rancorous moment as the members, contestants groaned, condemned the imposition and irregularities calling for a free and fair election.
Meanwhile, one of the contestant was made the caretaker chairman while other contestants from the same ,group also occupied the position of Secretary and treasurer of the committee as the union cannot be left in vacuum.
While visiting the Director of Information to the University, Dr Nwoka she made us to understand that there is no crisis within the union but she can only say they are having family issue (rancor) as it is expected by any successful association.
Reactions from NASU members
The Guild meet the members of the union to hear their reactions towards the cancellation of the election via oral interview as the Chief Security Officer of the University said we cannot disrupt the staff with our interview but we can wait for them to close from work which we chose oral interviews.
One of the members of the Non-Academic Staff of University NASU, Mr O. S. Oyenekan said there was no election based on the fact that almost all the members refuses imposition of candidates on the union which the member refused.
“The National body came to the University three weeks to the election on the platform of the congress to read guidelines to the contestants, only to hear another news that three of the contestants have been disqualified on what they call anti-union activities without any explanation to all the contestant after challenging the national body for clarification, which the members rejected outrightly…. we want free and fair elections said Mr O. S Oyenekan.”
Meeting with Mr Charles Ogunmoloye, one of the contestant for the office of ex-officio, he said he was so surprised the national body of NASU sent him a letter on the 11th of last month notifying him of his disqualification based on anti-union activities which he said he challenged the union based on the NASU constitution.
“I asked the national body for clarification on the meaning of anti-union activities, because i was not served any query, no verbal warning, no invitation to panel if at all i practiced any anti-union activities in line with the NASU constitution… It is undemocratic to impose the contestants on the union as the caretaker committee after calling off the election that was supposed to come up by the representative of NASU national in connivance with some of our members said Ogunmoluyi.”
He called on the national body to wade into the matter as he described his disqualification as undemocratic according to NASU constitution.
Comrade Afaraitu Olayinka Tunrayo, former treasurer of NASU and one of the contestant vying for secretary of NASU, FUNAAB in the last election said there was no election based on undemocratic disqualification by the national body representative who was sent to conduct the election. She said any member found in any financial crisis, sue the association are not eligible but all these contestants were not involved in these afore-stated offences.
“The national body released thirty forms for the election which the contestants occupied all the twenty eight forms leaving only two forms behind for the position of the chairmanship, after which we received the notification of disqualification and the contestants in one of the team were imposed on the union to act in capacity of their contested positions which I believed is unethical and undemocratic said Miss Tunrayo Afaraitu.”.
According to the acting chairman Mr Edivri said only national can explain why the election was cancelled, all what he can say is that he is the caretaker chairman of NASU, only National knows better why they cancelled the election.
All efforts made to talk to disqualified chairman and Nasu National Secretary was not acknowledged as at the time of filling this report..
The prophetic hall of fame and Ambassador of peace, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry has castigated the Northern people, especially the Fulanis for always travelling and entering other states with arms.
The prophet of the nation who outrightly condemned the killing of Northern people in Uromi also enunciated that it’s wrong for the Northern people to invade other states with arms based on the tensed security threat the nation is facing at the moment “I want to condemn the killing in Uromi because nobody has the right to take another person’s life,they should have been handed over to the security operatives, the killing in cruel and barbaric,but it’s wrong for the Northern people to keep invading other states with arms, the rate of insecurity in the nation is high, anyone seen with a gun is dreadful and harmful,Fulani Herdsmen have perpetuated so much heinous and callous act for people to be apprehensive of their presence,my in Law was a victim of their heinous act,they assaulted her in her farmland,their presence with arms is really terrifying and it’s making farmers to desert their farmlands, prompting food scarcity ”
The prophet of the nation advised the government to take a proper look at the possession of arms by these men and reiterated that the North is big enough for thousands of hunters and herdsmen to explore “travelling to other states with arms is not good, the North has got the largest landmass in the country,why leave the North to other states with little Landmass , the North is very massive, it’s very obvious that their is hidden agenda,why will someone leave a river to look for fish in a swimming pool, the government need to look at these area critically,arms should be prohibited, anyone that is not a security operative shouldn’t be seen with arms ”
Citizens for Democratic Watch (CDW), a pro-democracy group, has condemned the appointment of administrators for the 23 local government areas in Rivers State by the sole administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas, describing it as “a dangerous abuse of power and a direct attack on the constitution”.
This latest action, which came just 24 hours after a federal high court restrained Ibas from making such appointments, has triggered widespread concern over what CDW calls “the rapid erosion of democratic institutions under the guise of emergency governance”.
In a statement on Wednesday, Dr Hassan Dantani, Executive Director of CDW, called on President Bola Tinubu and the leadership of the National Assembly to intervene before the situation spirals out of control.
“Appointing 23 sole administrators in clear defiance of a federal court order is not only unlawful — it is tyrannical,” Dantani said.
“No state of emergency gives anyone the license to override the judiciary, erase local governance, and act above the law. This must be condemned in the strongest terms.”
Dantani noted that the local government system is a constitutionally recognised tier of government, and any attempt to run it without democratic structures sets a very dangerous precedent.
“This action by Ibok-Ete Ibas is a grave violation of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees the system of democratically elected local government councils,” he said.
“Our democracy cannot function if unelected individuals are imposed to run local governments under military-style appointments.”
CDW warned that if allowed to stand, the appointments could embolden future political actors to trample on the rule of law and weaken the judiciary.
“The blatant disregard for a valid court order should alarm every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation,” Dantani said.
“When leaders ignore court rulings and impose their will, what remains of the rule of law? If we allow this to stand in Rivers, it could happen anywhere else.”
The group called on the National Assembly to urgently summon the Rivers sole administrator to explain his actions and ensure that all constitutional boundaries are respected.
“We urge the Senate and House of Representatives to treat this matter as a priority,” he added.
“Democracy must not be sacrificed on the altar of expediency or political convenience.”
Dantani concluded by demanding the immediate reversal of the LGA appointments and a return to constitutional order.
“The people of Rivers State deserve legitimate, elected representation — not handpicked appointees. We must not normalise authoritarian shortcuts in a democratic society,” the group warned.
The prophetic hall of fame and Ambassador of peace, prophet Godwin Ikuru of Jehovah Eye Salvation Ministry has warned the governor of Benue state,Rev.Fr.Hyacinth Alia of the dangers and consequences of neglecting and being obstinate to George Akume,the Secretary to the Government of the Federation that made him relevant by making him the governor.
Prophet Ikuru warned governor Alia of the dangers of “fighting” with Akume, urging him to respect his priesthood and not behave like a politician “this thing has been a very serious problem in Nigerian political scene,if you support someone and make him a governor, senator or help him to attain any political position, immediately the person grabs power,he becomes obstinate and neglects the person that aided him to attain that seat, governor Alia is not the first to do such,but I’m disappointed that a priest like governor Alia could do this,I want to advise him to respect the anointing of God upon his life and not behave not behave like the normal politicians that are full of ingratitude because only a foolish man drinks and throws away the cup”.
There has been reports of rivalry between Akume and Alia over political control of the state.The face-off was said to have started shortly after the governor was sworn in two years ago.
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