FALEKE SLAMS GOV BELLO OVER KSU ASUU PROSCRIPTION

Member House of Representatives and Deputy Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress( APC) in the 2015 Governorship election in Kogi State, Hon James Faleke has condemned the recent proscription of the Academic Staff Union of Universities(ASUU), Kogi State University,s Chapter by the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
In a Statement he personally signed, Faleke said the so-called proscription has no legal basis as there is no provision  in KSU Law 1999 that gives the governor such sweeping powers to undermine the rights of the lecturers to free association.


He expressed worries concerning the increasingly dictatorial attitude of Governor Bello never before witnessed in the annals of responsible governance in this country,  an unfortunate trait he warned could throw the state into unprecedented anarchy.


" I was shocked when I heard the news that Governor(Yahaya) Bello has made the headlines again, albeit for the wrong reasons. Some of us are beginning to be ashamed of the juvenile theatre of the absurd daily playing out of Lugard House in Lokoja. At a time when the the governor who is still grappling with the unmitigated disaster of accumulated salaries should be circumspect and sober, he has opted to thread the infamous path of dictatorship by announcing with Hitleric glee the proscription of ASUU in KSU over their demands for a return of civilised engagements with the State Government. It beats my imagination how the apparently thoughtless decision could advance the course of educational development in the State".

Hon Faleke said instead of ban, what the governor should do was continously engagement with the Lecturers devoid of over bloated ego in an atmosphere of give and take.

" It is unfortunate that after several months of closure of the University over unpaid salaries and unfavourable conditions of service, with our students losing valuable time wasting away, the State,s Chief Executive is crossing the line for another round of battle with the Lecturers which may lead to yet another  breakdown of academic activities in our beloved Ivory Tower. Now, why can't reason prevail over might? Is it not better to jawjaw than warwar? Must Kogi continue to slide into the dark in the comity of States? Must our government remain the laughing stock of the nation at all times?"
Hon Faleke called for the immediate reversal of the obnoxious proscription order and a return of peaceful and Civilised  engagement with the Lecturers in order to save the state another round of school shutdown, throwing our youths and parents into mindless agony.


It will be recalled that the State Governor had early this week announced the proscription of ASUU on Kogi State University campus over the refusal of the teachers to resume lectures until their demands for better working environment are met.