Iyayi Burial: ASUU Members Boo Reverend Father, Shouted On Him To Leave The Podium

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
confirmed they would not call-off the strike
until the Federal Government meet the four-
point demand in their letter.
Source: The Nation

Sent From David Aniemeka