Read Patrick Obahiagbon's Response To The Death Of Former ASUU President, Iyayi

For those who are very conversant with former Nigerian legislator, Hon Patrick Obahiagbon from Edo State, his ability to speak words in English language that one cannot understand is nothing new.

Just hours after the death of former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Prof. Festus Iyayi, who died on Tuesday in a car crash on Lokoja-Abuja Expressway, the former lawmaker gave his condolence on facebook.

In his words:
"The grand initiation of Professor Festus Iyayi is a lancinating loss of another stentorian voice, against retrograde and prebendal forces of primitive mercantilism.That he passed through transition on matters pro bono publico,bears eloquent testimony to our state of dystopia.Such is the evanescence of life.Its all vanitas vanitatum....


Related Post: Where are Africa's great leaders?

Golden Eaglet's Kelechi Iheanacho To Arsenal FC ?

Arsenal, English Premier League football club, is the latest club to show interest in rising Nigerian football star, Kelechi Iheanacho. This information has been confirmed by the young player's agent.

Iheanacho demonstrated his potential at the recent FIFA Under-17 World Cup, where he received the Most Valuable Player award after bagging six goals and seven assists in just seven games. Thanks to his contribution, Golden Eaglets eventually won the competition against Mexico team.

After the young player's impressive display at the United Arab Emirates stadium, his agent, Henry Galeano, disclosed that Arsenal's chief scout, Steve Rowley, has already spoken to him about the player.

"We're ecstatic to have another major club like Arsenal following young Iheanacho. That said, the attention is well-deserved. Iheanacho's performance at the World Cup was indeed remarkable.

"Iheanacho has consistently shown good form and the statistics throughout his career as a Youth player with the Nigerian National Team, are quite impressive. Even during the World Cup qualifications in Morocco, Iheanacho was the second highest goal-scorer."

Although Iheanacho at the moment belongs to the Taye Academy, there are strong indications that in the nearest future he might become a member of one of Europe's top clubs. His agent also confirmed that the player now has several options to choose from. Galeano noted he would like to see the young man follow in the footsteps of Kanu and make a name for himself with the Gunners.

"At present, we are considering and evaluating all options. Our goal is to match Iheanacho with a club that fits his profile, and a club that can bring out the very best in him.

"If Arsenal F.C. is an option on the table, we'll be glad to sit down and consider it."

ASUU ready to end strike – Chairman

The University of Jos chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), who voted against ending the four-months-old strike, says it will resume classes if directed by the national body.

“Yes, the local ASUU chapter voted 159 to 88 against ending the strike at its congress on Monday, but we shall abide by any decision taken by the national body on Wednesday,’’ its Chairman, Dr. David Jangdam, said in Jos on Tuesday.

ASUU’s central body is expected to meet in Kano on Wednesday to take a final decision on whether or not to end the strike after collating resolutions from various local branches who considered the offer by President Goodluck Jonathan during their congresses on Monday.

Jonathan had made the offers toward ending the strike during a meeting with the striking lecturers who are seeking better funding for the universities and improved welfare packages for the teaching staff.

Jangdam said in Jos that the decision of the national body was final and binding on all local chapters.

“Even the strike was not supported by all the universities. Many local chapters of ASUU opposed it, but majority wanted it and we embarked on it,’’ he said.

He explained that ASUU’s decisions were usually from bottom-to-top with representatives at meetings having to revert to the local branches before any decision would be taken.

Jangdam, however, rejected suggestions that the local branch’s position was influenced by the internal disagreement with management over the conduct of the post-UTME examinations during the strike.

ASUU had condemned that action, and declared that the examinations were “illegal, wasteful and of no effect’’.

“At the congress meeting yesterday, we made it clear that no local issue will be discussed.

“Our focus was solely on the issues related to the national strike. Other local disagreements shall be tackled locally and therefore had no effect on our stance yesterday,’’ he said.

He said that the lecturers voted against ending the strike because they did not trust the federal government to fulfill its promises and therefore wanted something concrete to be seen on ground before resuming classes.

Jangdam also rejected suggestions that the lecturers had not been fair to university education in the country.

“I think the questions should be if the system is fair to the educational sector; Nigerians should ask the leaders why the educational sector is usually the least in their priorities,’’ he said.

He said that it was wrong for Nigerians to blame the lecturers for the bad situation in the universities, saying that the search light should rather be on those in authority that decided what should go to the ivory towers at budget planning sessions.

“Sometimes, I find the situation a bit perplexing; I wonder why should Nigerians complain about poor quality of graduates and heap the blame on the universities and the lecturers even when they know that not much attention is paid to the educational sector?,’’ he asked. (NAN)