The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) to sheathe their swords over the crisis rocking the Institution.
The National Vice President of the Association, Felicia Akinbodunse made this call on Wednesday while addressing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.
The association, who threw their weight behind the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Abayomi Fasina urged critical stakeholders involved in the crisis to embrace dialogue and reconsideration, saying the prevailing tension has been affecting the peace, tranquility and academic activities of the Institution.
She also appealed to the National Vice President of SSANU, Dr Abdul-Sobur Salam to call the FUOYE branch to order, saying no development or progress would beset an environment replete with acrimony.
She said in part, “We hereby call on all the warring parties in the university to sheathe their swords, especially when the Governing-Council of the institution had investigated the matter and cleared the VC of the allegation leveled against him.
“Again, the lifting of suspension on the FUOYE Branch Chairman and Secretary of SSANU, Mr Benjamin Faleye and Mrs. Ayomikun Aluko, respectively, should be seen as demonstration of good faith by the Governing-Council, hence, the matter should be put to a rest.
“We want to also appeal to the National Vice President of SSANU, Dr. Abdul-Sobur Salam, to impress it on SSANU in FUOYE that peace on the campus is of the utmost importance. As we all know, there is no development or progress in an environment replete with acrimony.
“As the umbrella body of the Nigerian students, NANS will continue to agitate for a better environment for students, both on the campus and off the campus. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye to issues in FUOYE, knowing fully well that students will be at the receiving end. Where two elephants fight, we all know that it is the grass that suffers. This is not we stand against in FUOYE and will not allow such to happen.
“While we will continue to monitor events as they unfold at the university, NANS, once again, sues for peace and appeal to all parties to embrace dialogue and reconciliation. To jaw-jaw is better than to war-war. To us, this is a truism and NANS prefers dialogue to confrontation.
“It is our expectation that FUOYE will now breathe properly and give the students the best in terms of quality tertiary education and character building”.
