By CHIDI MATTHEW NWACHUKWU

The Western Zone of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has rejected the decision of the Governing Council of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, FUOYE, regarding a sexual harassment case involving the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fashina, and a Deputy Director, Engineer Folashade Adebayo.

In a public statement signed by the National Vice President and Chairman, Western Zone, Dr. Abdussobur Olayiwola Salaam, SSANU expressed its disappointment and concern over the Council's decision, which they believe laid a bad precedent and further victimized the alleged victim.

The association noted that the Council's attempt to query the recording of conversations between the Vice Chancellor and Engineer Adebayo, was an attempt to gaslight the public.

SSANU highlighted several utterances made by the Vice Chancellor in the conversations which include, "I am dying for you; I will not leave you; Make me happy and I will make you happy; I will not accept your rejection; If I had met you before now, who said I would not have married you?", and concluded that it was shameful that the Council did not query these utterances which they believe were an "invitation to treat."

The association also expressed disappointment that the Council did not address the spate of queries that followed the rejection of the offer by Professor Fashina, which they believe was an attempt to intimidate Engineer Adebayo into submission.

?Rather than be disturbed about the unhealthy and unequal balance of the conversation between a superior with full disciplinary powers and his subordinate, the Governing Council focused on the recording of the conversations determining it to be a blackmail, and querying why such unholy conversation should have been recorded in the first place.

?The attempt to condemn the recording of the conversation is similar to condemning a house owner for recording an attempt by armed robbers or burglars to enter his house,? the statement read.

The statement added that to further claim that Adebayo never made any complaint of sexual harassment against Abayomi Sunday Fashina, was a barefaced and brazen lie.

?Consequently, and in view of the compromised decisions of the Governing Council on this issue, the Western Zone of SSANU rejects in totality, the various sanctions meted out to Engineer Folashade Adebayo for allegedly bringing the name of the Institution into disrepute.

"Conversely, Professor Abayomi Sunday Fashina should have been the person so sanctioned, for his immoral, unethical conduct which has desecrated the office of the Vice Chancellor, compromised the capacity of that office to hold disciplinary powers over staff, and bringing the reputation of the University into disrepute.

?SSANU Western Zone, in the same vein, rejects the sanctions allotted to the Chairman and Secretary of the Branch, Comrades Benjamin Faleye and Ayomikun Aluko, who are being punished for being whistle-blowers. The Council's suggestion of being gracious in its decision on the duo insults our intelligence as their decision is nothing but vindictive.

?The motive of demanding for letters apologies within a seven (7) day frame is not lost on us, as the intent is to automatically dismiss them from service if this is not done, and knowing quite well that as unionists, they would not succumb to apologising for an offence not committed,? the statement said.

SSANU demanded that the Governing Council be dissolved, citing a lack of integrity and failure to provide a moral compass.

It also called for an independent panel to investigate the matter and for Fashina to be placed on suspension until the end of the process.

The association warned that it will not stop until its demands are met, adding that it has begun mobilizing all 26 universities in the Western Zone for possible industrial action.

SSANU also called on various stakeholders, including the Honourable Minister of Education, the Senate Committee on Education, and the Nigeria Labour Congress, to wade into the matter and ensure that justice is served.

?We further call on the Honourable Minister for Women Affairs, Mrs. Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Senate Committee on Education, the House of Representatives Committee on Tertiary Education, the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs, the National Agency for Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Human Rights Commission, the Nigeria Labour Congress and all other stakeholders in the protection of the rights of Nigerians, to wade into this matter which has the potential of becoming a cause of National industrial unrest in our university system,? the statement said.

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