THE Academic Staff Union of Universities, Delta State University branch (ASUU-DELSU), on Friday, flayed its national body for violating court order that upheld the victory of Prof. Abel Diakparomre as DELSU branch chairman.
This is contained in a statement signed by Diakparomre on behalf of the ASUU-DELSU branch and made available to journalists on Friday in Abraka, Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta.
“ASUU-DELSU has been in dispute with ASUU National Executive Council (NEC) since 2014 when ASUU NEC tried to annul the result of an election for the position of Chairman that was won by Prof. Diakparomre.
ASUU-DELSU challenged the action of ASUU NEC and a court injunction was secured that upheld the election of Prof. Diakparomre as Chairman until the final determination of the Motion on Notice.
In spite of this injunction and subsisting case, ASUU NEC has continued to be disrespectful of the court order.
It has unsuccessfully attempted to subvert the electoral will of the majority of the Academic staff by appointing, at different times, different persons to act as Chairman.
Each of these attempts has failed as persons so appointed have turned down the appointment. Indeed, there is a contempt of court proceeding that is ongoing in this regard,” Diakparomre noted in the statement.
It said that the bubble burst when ASUU NEC notified him through Prof. Tony Monye-Emina, Coordinator, ASUU Benin Zone, on May 14, in a text message of their proposed visitation to DELSU.
He said the visit was slated for between May 15 and May 18, adding that the team was to be led by Prof. Idowu Awopetu
“I chose to reply simply that unfortunately, I am out of town on an ASUU-DELSU official assignment in my capacity as Chairman.
Unfortunately too, this notice is again very impromptu. I will suggest that sufficient notice should be given in future.
In spite of my suggestion, the NEC team held meetings with certain individuals in complete disregard of normal protocol of having the Branch Executive Committee and also paid a courtesy call on the Vice Chancellor,” he noted.
Diakparomre refuted a media publication that DELSU security men chased the visitation team out of the campus.
He chided the ASUU NEC for trying to truncate the unity and bond existing among the ASUU-DELSU members.
“…What the team from ASUU NEC did between Monday, 15/05/17 and 18/05/17 is a clear affront to the sensibilities of members of this Branch of the Union, and was capable of instigating disharmony among the members who have been living peaceably irrespective of Union political persuasions,” the DELSU ASUU chairman warned.
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