LASU-Trouble in the house of ASUU

Is the Academic Staff Union of Universities-Lagos State University (ASUU-LASU) polarised?

Although the union is giving the impression that all is well, it seems they are not as its current leadership is enmeshed in a challenging crisis.

There is a bribery allegation against ASUU-LASU chapter Chairman Dr Isaac Akinloye Oyewunmi. Some members are demanding the sack of the Oyewunmi-led executive for alleged incompetence.

An October 6, 2016 petition signed by Abiodun Adebola Jolaosho, accused Oyewunmi of using a surrogate to demand N50,000 each from sandwich students in order to come up with results of modules for 2009, 2010 and 2011, which Oyewunmi, as the then course coordinator, claimed were swept away by the rain.

The one-page: ‘Save our Soul petition against Dr Isaac Akinloye Oyewunmi’, was copied to the Office of the Lagos State Governor, Deputy Governor, Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice, Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly, Special Adviser on Education, as well as Chancellor and Pro Chancellor of LASU.

It read in part: “Dr Oyewunmi who was our course coordinator at the time claimed that the rain that fell that year had swept off all the results of 2009, 2010 and 2011 modules and therefore charged us to pay N50,000 each to have our result processed. When his message was delivered to us by his agent, one Alhaji, we approached him and he said the demand was from him or else we won’t graduate.”

In his response to the petition, Oyewunmi denied the allegations, claiming that the petition was designed to tarnish his image and that of ASUU.  He also dismissed the authenticity of the petitioner, saying he (petitioner) did not include his matriculation number, set and the programme of study while in LASU.

“Rest assured sir, that I have never demanded for gratification of any kind from students (directly or indirectly); and did not demand for any N50,000.

“As soon as the identity and details of the petitioner are provided, I shall respond accordingly,” Oyewunmi said in his response dated November 14, 2016.

On Thursday, January 5, the university wrote Akinloye to appear before a panel to clear his name.

On Monday, January 9, Akinloye supported by some ASUU members appeared before an investigation panel set up by the university. Shortly after, news began filtering out that the ASUU-LASU chairman actually owned up to the allegation, having been persuaded by his predecessor, Dr Idris Adekunle, who attended the session.

When our reporter visited the ASUU-LASU secretariat two Mondays ago, the union’s secretary, Dr Tony Dansu, said ASUU would prefer to exhibit ‘dignified silence’ over the allegations as the panel was still sitting. Four days later, the union issued a statement strictly to members’ emails where it debunked the rumour that Oyewunmi pleaded guilty at the panel.

“Nothing could be farther from the truth. Nine union representatives’ witnessed the proceedings. At no point in time did the chairman, Dr Oyewunmi, admit that he sent any surrogate in 2012 to demand for money from sandwich students (for anyone) and no audio evidence played to our hearing revealed him as saying that he sent anyone to do so,” the statement read.

Further, the statement described Oyewunmi’s experience as persecution of the union, attributing it to the work of the “remnant of Obafunwa group, (Prof John Obafunwa is the immediate past vice chancellor who had a running battle with ASUU and other workers until he was forced out of the university in March 2015.  His tenure ended in October 2015), some ‘disgruntled elements’ as well as ‘some over-ambitious professors’ that were gladiators in the union’s struggle, but are now desperate and power-drunk.”

ASUU said Oyewunmi who was before being elected the welfare officer (2011-2013), and vice chairman (2013-2016) of the union, has been a very active member who prominently featured in the union’s struggle particularly when Obafunwa was VC.

Apart from the Obafunwa loyalist school of thought, some sources believe the university’s management could have a hand in Oyewunmi’s predicament, while rumour has it that one Olatunji Abanikanda, was fighting a lone battle against the union.

Although as Obafunwa’s right hand man, many class Abanikanda as one of his greatest loyalists; yet in the alleged persecution of ASUU and Oyewunmi, he is reputed as working alone to take back his pound of flesh.

Abanikanda, who was appointed Professor of Animal Breeding and Genetics under Obafunwa, was demoted to senior lecturer by the Governing Council of the university led by Prof Adebayo Ninalowo – a move many trace to ASUU, which faulted the process that led to his promotion.

Abanikanda was Director, Lagos State University External System (LASUES) under the previous administration. As Obafunwa’s Man Friday, he was one of management’s closest advisers who wielded enormous influence.

When Obafunwa’s tenure expired and the present Council was inaugurated in October 2015, it asked unions and other stakeholders to bring their agitations forward. ASUU-LASU, among other things, demanded a revisit of all promotions executed under Obafunwa, alleging that some got their promotions without due process.  A five-member panel set up by the Council investigated Abanikanda and subsequently recommended that his professorship be withdrawn.  Abanikanda has since gone to court to challenge the withdrawal.

When Oyewunmi faced the panel on January 9, Abanikanda, who was the Director of LASUES when the allegation was lodged, was reportedly one of the three key witnesses that presented slides and audio evidences against him.

However, Abanikanda has denied involvement in Oyewunmi’s travails.

He said: “How could I be seeking legal redress and at the same time fighting dirty? It doesn’t make sense.

“Let me start by saying that I ought to have started my leave by December 30, 2016, but decided to wrap up my lectures with my students and travel by December 8.

“Unfortunately, on December 6, I received a letter from the university asking that I make myself available for an investigation panel to hold on December 10. The letter ended with a subtle threat of the consequences of my absence and I complied.

“I was told that a petition was written against Oyewunmi and three other people were listed as being aware of the matter.

“Indeed I was familiar with the matter and I actually investigated it ab initio. In fact Dr Oyewunmi should be eternally grateful to me because I was the one that encouraged him to stay on when he told me he would call it quit with LASU.

“The petitioner accused me of foot dragging on the matter in the presence of everyone at the panel and I apologised to him and explained the extent I had gone about the matter.

“I did not even know anyone by the name Oyewunmi when the matter was brought to my knowledge. The issued had occurred before I got to know; so how could anyone accuse me of being behind his travails?”

On another front, some believe that the union, having emerged victorious from a long-drawn battle against Obafunwa, suddenly became heady and uncontrollable, a development that may have informed management infiltrating its ranks.

A professor from Faculty of Education told our reporter that since the new management under Prof Lanre Fagbohun was inaugurated in January last year, management had been extending a hand of friendship to ASUU and other unions.  However, he claimed ASUU was over-bearing, dictating which member should take what position, while being cold to management.

“He (Oyewunmi) insisted that all academic staff should proceed on annual leave as the work load was becoming too much and could lead to members dropping dead. On the other hand, the idea did not go well with some senior academic staff who wanted all dead academic programmes resuscitated so that LASU can again, be financially strong.  They felt Oyewunmi’s suggestion meant locking up the system. You too can see that peace is gradually returning to LASU and we are all happy, but all of a sudden, ASUU became controversial,” said the source.

Another source from the Faculty of Science who pleaded anonymity accused Akinloye’s predecessor Dr Adekun Idris who, according to the union’s tradition, is still a part of the present executive, of failing to properly guide him.

“They just wanted to play God. They would dictate how the university must be run, who should be the dean, DVC, director and all that. They are too crude about it and it’s because they have never occupied such position before. They became so unruly even in public functions. Unfortunately, they fail to submit themselves to wise counsel,” the source said.

But Idris denied there was any division within ASUU.

Speaking with our reporter at the secretariat on Tuesday, he described the allegations as ‘internal problem that will be resolved internally.’

He labelled the allegation that he did not guide the union well as individual opinions which do not represent the union’s general opinion.

“If the union has achieved this much and yet what some people will say is that we did not guide them well, we leave them to their conscience. For me, it’s a subjective statement that has to be put through scientific test.

“If they say the union is heady, has the union not been heady all the while? Is it not through being heady we beat down the school fees from N350,000 to N25,000, brought peace back on campus, achieved promotion of our members and other things?

“We want peace in LASU and we are happy there is peace now. Management has been doing so much and everybody can see the signs all over the place. I do not think it is the best to be in the media for the wrong reason. We want to put this behind us. That is why the union is silent now. We also do not want to comment since the investigation is still ongoing.At the appropriate time, ASUU will address the press and you will be the first to know.”

At the union’s congress held on Wednesday last week, ASUU tried to calm members’ nerves by apologising over some of its actions, including the January 13 statement, which some found offensive.

However, while resolutions were made, a professor from the Faculty of Arts reportedly stormed out of congress. According to him, Oyewunmi must step aside as ASUU chairman on account of the allegations. He said other members of the executive, should resign as well for inadequate leadership experience.

While the findings of the panel is being awaited, an ASUU member who witnessed the proceeding but wished to remain anonymous, told our reporter that the panel chaired by the Dean Faculty of Law Prof Mike Ikhariale, may not come up with incriminating evidence to nail Oyewunmi.

“I witnessed the proceeding and I can tell you it was like the whole thing was stage-managed by some disgruntled elements.  The petitioner gave another name at the panel and said he used a pseudo name in the petition because he does not wish to be victimised if he was identified.

“He (petitioner) also confessed that he has since graduated since 2013 and the panel had to ask him why he had to use a pseudo name and why submitting his petition when he was no longer in the system against what he claimed in his petition?”

Meanwhile management has washed its hands clean of the allegation, saying it remains committed to its principle of fairness to all.

The university’s acting PRO Martins Adekoya, said since the new management came on board, it has extended olive branch to warring factions.

“Since our vice chancellor came on board, all he has been saying to every worker is to forget the past and let us make LASU greater. Besides, people for the first time, also see committee system working because the VC has chosen not to dabble into anybody’s affair.

“What management did about Oyewunmi’s case is what any management would have done. It was government that sent the petition to us and mandated the university to act on it. If you were in the VC’s shoes, what would you have done? So this is no case of victimisation,” Adekoya said.

Generally, peace has returned to the once crisis-ridden institution with the workers having more faith in the management’s commitment to improving the standard of the 34-year old institution.

However, perennial power play and growing animosity which once characterized the system in the past are not dead yet, but may simply have gone comatose, except the management rises to the occasion before its term expires in January 2021.