SUG Vs ASUP: Students' Union President, SIWES Breaks Silence Against ASUP Threats in FPE

FPE SUG President, Siwes

The Students Union president, Federal Polytechnic Ede, Rufai Opeyemi Lukman SIWES has finally reacted to the ASUP strike action.

Naijaparry earlier reported that the Academic Staff Union (ASUP), Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun, says it will embark on strike over the proscription of the union activities by the school management.

The ASUP Chairman, Mr Masopa Nurudeen, who said this at a press conference after the union congress on Saturday in Ede, said the union would withdraw its services by midnight of Sept. 10.

The union was reportedly angry over the failure of the institution’s management to investigate alleged mistreat of a staff by the president of the polytechnic student union.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Naijaparry, SUG President, Comr. Opeyemi Lukman Rufai said that that the ASUP Chairman, have been threatening the School management, most especially the rector. 

The Union said if they don’t see the outcome of the panel they won’t start examination on monday despite the fact that I surrendered myself.

That the union emphasised that if the outcome doesn’t favour them they won’t still start exam.

In his words said “the ASUP of this institutions are not not ready to make peace reign on campus.

“Recently, a scenario happened on campus where a car owned by a lecturer was deflated for parked at the main entrance of the SUG building where there are two signposts of “No parking” because the road is curve and prone to accidents. Many students have fallen victims of road accident because moving cars find it difficult to turn easily whenever a car is parked.

The car parked at the main entrance of the student’s union building

Car parked at the entrance of FPE SUG building

“The owner of the car happens to be a lecturer and a member of the Academic Staffs Union of Polytechnics, Ede chapter. The ASUP chairman was angry when he heard of the incident, drove his car to the spot of the car whose tyres were deflated and threatened me and my executives that we should deflate the tyres of his car and see what would happen to us. It was a show of shame as one could not differentiate between the students and lecturers. One of the disadvantages of young lecturers; youthful exuberance always at play.

“Along the line, SUG and ASUP filed petitions and it was forwarded to the panel for judgement. 

The panel comprises of experienced, gifted, sound and men of rare native intelligence.

“They warned me to caution my ways and I should allow peace to reign on campus. 

The caution issued to me was greater than the ASUP own but the key message in all is “Peaceful Polytechnic community”.

“Few weeks after the judgement, the ASUP chairman was angry that the panel did not punish me, and drafted a letter that the union would disrupt the school calender if I was not petitioned again and the result of the panel must be positive and this only is the condition for commencement of examination.

“Their wish from the panelist is to get me suspend or rusticate, also said that the second semester examination won’t hold till the panel release their judgement which must favor them.

“Let me tell you, ASUP are not entitled to be forcing or subjecting the rector or management on what to do on issues, I have faced many committee constituted by the management and the output was said not to be favourable to them, which I see as high level of injustice and act of witch hunting me”.

“ But, I will only indulge the students to keep calm and follow the tenet of school motto knowledge, skill and character as I will be facing the students disciplinary committee SDC on Monday and also prepared for the coming exam.

“As we all expected that leader will face alot of test and challenges because of his follower and the students should not engage in any form of assault to staff, students and others.As we will be waiting patiently for the good outcome of the panel. 

Assuring Nigerian students that we will contribute our quota to minimize the abnormalities repose to us by some of the lecturers in all section within the polytechnic community, he concluded...(Naijaparry)