Why Obafunwa, LASU VC, was banished from campus –ASUU

ACADEMIC Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos zone yesterday ex­plained why staff unions, especially its members, sacked the Vice Chancellor (VC) of Lagos State Uni­versity (LASU), Prof. John Obafunwa, from the campus on March 16, 2015.

The union also revealed that it would not support the second term bid of the embattled VC, appealing to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to start the process of appointing a new VC to move the university for­ward.

Addressing newsmen on the protracted crisis rocking the 31-year-old institution, ASUU Lagos zone Coordi­nator, Dr. Sola Nassir, said the unhealthy situation was occasioned by the VC’s gross incompetence, high handedness and continued acts of impunity capped with disdainful treatment of staff and leadership of the unions.

His words: ‘’The height of the desecration was the consummation of anger that resulted to the shame­ful happenstance that led to the VC being chased out and his consequent banishment from his office on the main campus of the university on March 16, 2015.

‘’It is not something that ASUU is proud of. When a VC was pelted with sachet water, it means the VC lacks legitimacy. When that hap­pens, the only thing left is for him to throw in the tow­el. When things get to that level, even if he is an an­gel, he ought to have left. I don’t know any where in the world where the VC cannot enter the campus and still claim to be the VC.’’

On the subtle second term campaign, Nassir said: ‘’The VC is not acceptable to the staff unions. ASUU will not allow him on cam­pus for a second term in of­fice. The VC has done his best but his best is not good enough for LASU.’’

The ASUU Lagos coordi­nator said the union is aware of pressure being mounted on the governor by the VC lobbyists to remain in office but warned that the union would not welcome him back on campus.

Nassir informed Gov­ernor Ambode that since March 16, 2015, LASU has been at a stand still and on autopilot but stressed that his members continued to do their academic function even without the VC.
Prof Obafunwa did not re­spond to text messages sent to his phone for his com­ments on allegations lev­elled against him by ASUU.