THE Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) has dismissed claims that its president, Dr Smart Olugbeko, accused the chapter chairman of Benjamin Uwajumogu College of Education, Ihite Uboma, Imo state, of sparking off a crisis at the institution.
According to a statement on Tuesday by the vice president and zonal coordinator of COEASU, South East Zone, Dr Churchill Okonkwo, the president’s recent visit to the college was a routine one, aimed at promoting peace and stability.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the union was reacting to an online publication alleging that Olugbeko accused the institution’s COEASU chairman of instigating crisis in the college.
However, Okonkwo noted that Olugbeko’s remarks during his visit as represented in the said online publication were misleading.
“In the said article, the author said that the president criticised the actions of the chapter chairman and secretary for taking their grievances to the media, calling their allegations unsubstantiated.
“It further claimed that the president cautioned the union chapter to explore all available channels of peaceful negotiation rather than resorting to media criticism.
“We wish to set the records straight that Dr Olugbeko’s visit to the college was a routine to interact with his union members,” the vice president noted.
Okonkwo said the president rather encouraged the college community to continue in their duty of being a foremost teacher-education institution in the country, while also supporting every activity at improving welfare of members and the progress of the college.
“He also advised against engaging in any form of crisis, given the college’s young age.
“The press release which claimed that the president accused the chapter chairman of instigating a crisis in the college is, therefore, a mischievous interpretation of the reconciliatory effort of the President,” Okonkwo said.
He said the president did not at any time blame the chairman of the union for instigating the crisis but enjoined both parties; the management and union to explore interpretation mechanisms in resolving their issue.
He said the meeting did not have in attendance any journalist as it was purely a meeting between the union and the management of the institution.
He noted that the implication of the press release was that some people within the college are benefitting from the crisis in the institution and do not enjoy the peace the college is presently enjoying.
“It is surprising that the press release misinterpreted Dr Olugbeko’s peaceful and reconciliatory message.
“We challenge the journalist who wrote the article to provide evidence of their presence during Dr Olugbeko’s visit.
“It is on record that Dr Olugbeko came to the college accompanied by the vice president and coordinator for the South East Zone, Dr Churchill Okonkwo and zonal secretary and chairman of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education Owerri Academic Staff Union, Associate Professor Jovita Ogu.
“We urge the public to disregard the misleading press release and instead focus on promoting peace and stability in our institutions of higher learning,” the statement stressed.
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