Stop persecuting our members over Pantami’s appointment, ASUU cautions Oti
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Owerri Zone, has urged the Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Nnenna Oti, over alleged harassment and persecution of its leaders in the university.
Coordinator of ASUU in the zone, Prof. Dennis Aribodor, at a press conference at ASUU secretariat in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, alleged that the VC was persecuting the leaders because of the fallout of her appointment of Dr. Isa Pantami as professor.
Pantami, former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy in former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration was appointed professor of cyber security by the VC. But that appointment was rejected by the national leadership of ASUU on grounds that it did not follow due process, and as such illegal.
At the press conference attended by leaders of the union in the zone, Aribodor alleged that the secretariat of ASUU in FUTO had been locked by the VC and the executives led by Chinedu Ihejirika were being persecuted.
“ASUU NEC cannot reverse its position on the appointment of Pantami given the facts before it; and the leadership of ASUU FUTO does not have the locus or powers to reverse the resolution of ASUU NEC on this or any other matter.
“The administration of FUTO can continue to play the ostrich on this matter to the detriment of the University.
“The ASUU Owerri Zone hereby urges the Vice Chancellor to retrace her steps, halt harassment and threat to the Chinedu Ihejirika led executive of ASUU FUTO for standing on the path of truth.
“The university is where we seek the truth, find the truth, teach the truth, defend the truth and preserve the truth no matter whose ox is gored,” Aribodor stated.
