By Oladele Ogunsola, Ibadan
Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has criticized the pioneer National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande as unfair to the Union over the lingering strike embarked upon to better the funding of education in the country
Akande was quoted in the media to have condemned the strike embarked upon by ASUU in Oke-Ila, Osun State where he had gone to commission one storey classroom donated to Abolarin College and said that the union is destroying the country with demands that are not genuine.
While lashing out at the former National Chairman of the APC for his criticism and for accusing the striking lecturers of producing vagabonds and unemployable graduates, the
Union said it was unfortunate that a supposed leader could render a statement with such warped logic.
Dr. Deji Omole, Chairman ASUU, University of Ibadan who reacted through a press statement made available to journalists in Ibadan at the weekend said it was shameful that Chief Bisi Akande by age and previous offices held in the country before now is qualified to be called an elder statesman.
“However, his recent outburst against the ongoing patriotic struggle by ASUU to save public University education in Nigeria clearly exposed him that he is just an elder only by age but not a statesman.
“The same Bisi Akande who himself was a teacher during the free education programme of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo sacked hundreds of teachers and left Osun State education in tatters now claims to value quality graduates while shying away from adequate investment in education.
“It is on record that during Akande’s time as governor, all the higher institutions in Osun State were closed down due to the anti masses policy of his administration on Education and it is even self indicting for the leader of a party who is destroying public education with chronic underfunding of the existing institution and busy itself to mushrooming of new Universities without any funding plan.
“The budget for education in the current year was wickedly cut down to seven percent to demonstrate their hatred for public funded education. ASUU is not government that promised Nigerian youths gainful employment like the ruling party did and so could not be blamed for the failure of the clueless government to establish industries.
“It was because of the likes of Akande who is interested in killing public education to allow for their children and grandchildren to dominate and oppress the children of the masses that we go on strike and it is only in Nigeria that those who should not open their mouth to talk speak.
“What can be more disappointing for a person of Chief Bisi Akande who should know better. But as the Yoruba proverb says, a compromised mind cannot speak the truth. Akande should tell the country how many of his grandchildren attend public primary, secondary and university?
“He should tell Nigeria how much Ghana is voting for education and how much his party is putting into education? You cannot build something on nothing. If Akande wants full-baked graduates, he should tell his party and President Buhari to implement agreements government reached with the union and see if there will not be change. He should pay lecturers what they pay lecturers in South Africa”, Dr. Omole further lectured Chief Akande.
