For several hours on Monday, academic and administrative activities in the Lagos State University (LASU) was paralysed as the workers celebrated the exit of the Vice Chancellor, Prof John Obafunwa.
The workers and their leaders who wore Ankara as uniform defied the heavy down pour to celebrate the exit of their vice chancellor. They sang and danced round the campus for hours.
The tenure of Prof Obafunwa, the 7th VC of the 32-year-old LASU expired on Saturday, October 31 and the Prof Adebayo Ninalowo-led governing council is expected to meet this Thursday to appoint an acting vice chancellor to run the affairs of the institution.
Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) started the celebration from the freedom square to the main gate and then round the various faculties.
Music was provided by band boys and disc jockey while the workers danced, shared drinks and took pictures of the celebration.
SSANU-LASU chairman, Mr. Saheed Oseni said ‘’you can see for yourself that the foot print of the VC has left LASU. It will serve as a lesson for the incoming VC to trade softly. He or she must know it is team work for him or her to succeed.
‘’Prof Lateef Hussain (former VC) case is not as symbolic as the current situation. For seven months, Prof Obafunwa couldn’t come into the campus nor use his office in Admin Block 1. The new VC must learn from the exit of Obafunwa.’’
NASU-LASU chairman, Mr. Agosu Albert said many people thought the workers would not be able to sustain the crisis but that they have been able to overcome the evil.
He recalled that it is the second time LASU workers are celebrating the exit of a bad VC and this would serve as a lesson for the incoming VC.
ASUU-LASU chairman, Dr. Adekunle Idris said the implication of the celebration is that LASU community is relieved that a regime that engage in victimization, impunity, lawlessness and clueless administration is over adding ‘’it is a birth of new hope’’.
He said the celebration is also significant because it ‘’sent a signal to any would be administrator that when you do good, people will be happy but when you do bad people will celebrate your exit.’’
However, Dr. Idris revealed that ASUU would not recognise any VC for a 2nd term because the issue of second term is one of the key sore point of the crisis.
Daily Sun learnt that the governing council would meet on Thursday to take some drastic decisions which may include the appointment of an acting VC. But some of the workers insist council should follow due process and appoint the deputy VC (Administration), Prof Fidelis Njokanma.
On March 16, 2015 Prof Obafunwa was chased out of the campus by the workers, he has not used his office till date. He has been operating from his personal office at the Lagos State University College of Medicine
Daily Sun
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