The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has dismissed reports
that it endorsed the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential
candidate, Atiku Abubakar, ahead of the forthcoming presidential
election.
Reports had it that Abubakar was endorsed by the leadership of ASUU
in Ogun State during a meeting with one of the former Vice President’s
campaign Directors, Gbenga Daniel.
However, a statement by the Ogun State branch of ASUU dismissed the
report, which they described as an attempt by the PDP to drag the union
into partisan politics.
The statement signed by leaders of the Ogun State-based universities
including the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Tai
Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, and the Olabisi
Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye said they were not part of the
meeting endorsing Abubakar.
They, however, stated that members were free to associate with
whichever political party they may decide to choose, but should not do
so in the name of the union.
The statement, which was signed by the chairmen of the branches,
including Joel Okewale, Olatunji Ettu and Adebayo Oni for OOU, TASUED,
and FUNAAB reads: “Our attention has been drawn to a news item in the
Tribune Online of Wednesday, February 6, 2019, titled; “#NigeriaDecides:
Ogun ASUU, Academics Pledge Support For Atiku.
“The said article claimed that members of ASUU along with other
stakeholders in the educational sector resolved to work, canvass and
mobilise in support of the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku
Abubakar to ensure his election in the forthcoming presidential election
in February.
“In refuting the involvement of ASUU in the said resolution, we wish
to state the following that: ASUU does not operate along the state
divide. Therefore, there is no Ogun ASUU, just as there is no ASUU for
other states. Our union has a national charter with branches in
universities.
“Ogun ASUU is a fabrication, completely nonexistent and a figment of (the) imagination of the newspaper reporter.
“Whilst respecting the interest of individual academics and their
political leanings, our union wishes to state categorically that ASUU
has no part in the said meeting where the resolution was made and also
disclaims the involvement of ASUU in the said resolution.
“ASUU views the use of its name in the newspaper item as a deliberate
mischief by the newspaper correspondent who is aware that ASUU has
branch executives in each of the public university in Ogun State, and
should have verified the news item before publishing.
“For the avoidance of doubt, ASUU states unequivocally that at no
time were any of its representatives involved in any political gathering
where support was declared for any political party or candidate.