The Students’ Union Government (SUG) of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has staged a protest against what they described as a deliberate attempt by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) Women’s Committee to destabilise the university.
The students during the protest, on Wednesday, warned SSANU National Women’s Committee against making inflammatory statements that could disrupt the peace and stability of FUOYE under the leadership of Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abayomi Fasina.
The protest follows a recent press conference held by the SSANU Women’s Committee in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, where the group demanded the suspension of the Vice-Chancellor over an unsubstantiated allegation of sexual harassment allegedly made by Mrs Folasade Adebayo, a senior staff member of the university.
The students, angered by what they called a shameful and politically motivated attack, accused the committee of attempting to disrupt the university’s progress through baseless claims.
Speaking during the protest, some student leaders, such as Comrade Olaniyan Eniola, Vice-President; Justice Victor Olaseni, Chief Justice of the Student Union Judicial Council; Idowu Odunayo, Senator representing Faculty of Law expressed the students’ outrage.
The students said, “We are appalled by the disgraceful actions of a so-called union body, the SSANU National Women’s Committee, led by Mrs Ijeoma Kalu, which is demanding the suspension of our highly respected Vice-Chancellor over a completely unfounded allegation.
“It is disappointing that these women, who should be expected to uphold truth and integrity, have chosen instead to spread falsehoods and engage in media blackmail. We were shocked to read how they publicly disgraced themselves, calling for the removal of our beloved VC without any factual basis.
“The Vice-Chancellor has already clarified that Mrs Adebayo, in her official petition to the Governing Council, never mentioned sexual harassment. Even in her statements before the Nigerian Police, which investigated the matter, there was no mention of sexual harassment. So where did the SSANU Women’s Committee fabricate this claim from? On what basis are they demanding his suspension? This is clearly a politically motivated smear campaign, which is doomed to fail.”
The students’ union reiterated their full support for the VC, describing his administration as the most impactful in the history of FUOYE.
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