The crisis of confidence rocking the Federal University, Oye, Ekiti (FUOYE) chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) reached a head when aggrieved members of the chapter passed a vote of no confidence in the leadership of Dr. Akinyemi Omonijo and demanded his resignation.

Lecturers at the institution had backed out of the ongoing strike action declared by ASUU, say they have switched their membership and allegiance to the newly formed Congress of Nigerian Academia of Universities (CNAU).

Leader of CNAU in the university, Ayodeji Ige, said they are currently discharging all their lawful duties, “because we are no longer members of ASUU.”

He disclosed that the second semester examinations started is ongoing and was neither halted, nor disrupted by any individual or groups.

He stressed that no one was coerced into taking the decision, even as no one has also been harassed for keying into the choice.

The leadership of FUOYE Students Union, which said their exams were ongoing, also confirmed the steps taken by the lecturers.

In voting for the removal of Omonijo, majority of members at the ASUU congress held last week accused the embattled chairman of allegedly going to the press without due consultation with the university leadership and ASUU members.

According to the members, he defied the congress and held a press briefing where he misrepresented events that took place in the university, especially the issue of infrastructure.

He was also accused of refusing to implement the decision of congress, which mandated him to exhaust all internal settlement mechanisms before reporting the institution’s management to ASUU zonal branch or addressing the press.

By his actions, the chairman was said to have misled the zonal ASUU, while the zone in turn misled ASUU National Executive Council (NEC).

They further accused him of misleading the Federal Government who, after reading reports from the press conference, wrote FUOYE management, demanding explanations on the state of affairs in the university.

The ASUU chief was also accused of reporting some members to the police and the State Security Service without carrying other members along.

At the resumed congress of the union, members were divided on whether Omonijo should continue in office or step aside.

While some members, led by Prof. Alabadan and Dr Stephen Ojo were against the impeachment of the embattled chairman, others insisted that he must step aside and moved a motion for his impeachment.

The duo of Alabadan and Ojo described the motion for impeachment of the chairperson, as illegal and unconstitutional saying Omonijo should be given a fair hearing.

The Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, in his contributions clarified some of the allegations against the management particularly on the appointment of a non-PHD holder as professor.

Prof Fasina informed the congress that the said lecturer was actually appointed a professor from his former university, adding that a law lecturer does not necessarily needs a doctoral degree before he or she can be appointed a professor.

He disclosed that in recent times, FUOYE has recorded several achievements, which included producing two vice chancellors for some other universities, while its students have displayed outstanding performances in national competitions.

He concluded on the need to reposition the union with a view to correcting the negative impression generated against the university as a result of the press conference held by Dr Omonijo.

Dr. Oyedokun later moved a motion for the impeachment of the chairman; which was seconded by Dr. Opeyemi Enoch.

The motion, which generated heated arguments, was subsequently put to vote. However, members loyal to Omonijo staged a walk out in protest against the decision.

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