Jonathan mourns Iyayi As ASUU suspends NEC Meeting
Oladunjoye Opeyemi
Former president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Festus Iyayi was killed yesterday in a road accident as a security car belonging to the Kogi Governor Idris Wada hit the vehicle he was traveling in on the Abuja-Lokoja highway.
The former ASUU chieftain was on his way to Kano for the National Executive Council meeting of the Union which was to vote on whether to call off the strike. He was with the president of the UNIBEN chapter of ASUU, Mr Tony Monye; the national welfare officer of ASUU, Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Illoh, and the driver. All three are in critical condition at the Kogi State Specialist Hospital.
The Governor’s security aides are being blamed by the Federal Road Safety Commission for a wrongful overtaking which led to the accident and are also in the hospital receiving treatment for serious injuries.
The Kogi State Government released a statement which read, “An escort vehicle on the convoy of the governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, has been involved in a fatal accident.
“The unfortunate incident happened at Banda village today, while the governor was returning from an official engagement in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
“The convoy was on a speed of 80 kilometres per hour when a bus collided with the escort van. Sadly, in the storm, it was discovered that a renown academic and respected human rights advocate, Professor Festus Iyayi, who was in the other vehicle, died in the accident.
“There were other victims with varying degree of injuries from both sides. The victims were immediately evacuated to the State Specialist Hospital in Lokoja, on the governor’s directive.
“Those injured are responding to treatment. The governor has ordered full scale investigation into the matter and paid a visit to the injured.
“Captain Wada sympathized with the victims and their families. He wished the deceased a peaceful repose of his soul.”
President Goodluck Jonathan in a statement released by his media adviser Reuben Abati said, “I am particularly dismayed by the fact that Iyayi sadly lost his life while going to contribute to efforts to finally resolve the current ASUU strike, which has unfortunately disrupted academic activities in most of the nation’s universities for over four month.”
The NEC meeting which was to hold today has been called off thus prolonging the strike. ASUU president, Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge when contacted by reporters was in a state of shock and could not say much.
“I cannot say anything right now. We have just lost one of our own, Festus Iyayi, who was very dear to us. I am mourning.’’
