Catholic bishop to ASUU: Restrategise, you are negotiating with a deaf, mute govt

By Stephen Gbadamosi

The Catholic Bishop of Ekiti Diocese, Bishop Felix Ajakaye, has advised the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to restrategise in the push for their demands, bearing in mind that they are dealing with a “deaf and dumb government.”

He said this at the thanksgiving service to mark the third year of Professor Edward Olanipekun as the vice chancellor of the Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti, DailyTimesNGR gathered.

According to a statement by the Head, Directorate of Information and Corporate Affairs of the university, Bode Olofinmuagun, made available to journalists on Sunday, while speaking briefly before his benediction, Bishop Ajakaye had prayed for the early resolution of the ongoing ASUU strike, urging the union to restrategise “in view of the fact that the union is negotiating with a seemingly deaf and dumb government.”

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Dignitaries at the service included the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Foluso Daramola; permanent secretaries, representatives of the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, principal officers of then institution and other senior officials.

Also, a cleric with the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, Reverend Father Lawrence Adetola, charged people in positions of authority to be humble in their service to God and humanity.

Father Adetola spoke in his Homily at the service held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Chaplaincy, Ekiti State University, noting that whoever God had favoured was for a purpose and that it was an opportunity to serve.

He added that those who God had favoured should not use the position to oppress their subordinates.

Father Adetola observed that people were too desperate to get into positions of authority, because of the entitlements attached to the offices, rather than to offer quality service, adding that “such desperados” would not have anything tangible to offer.

The Catholic priest commended Professor Olanipekun for having the mind of thanksgiving and for not forgetting that it was the mercy of God that made him the vice chancellor of the university.

In his remarks, Olanipekun emphasised the need to thank God in every situation, hence, the need for the event.

While commending the various staff unions in the university for their cooperation, he appealed to them to reconsider their position on the current nationwide strike action in the interest of the university, being a state-owned institution “with its own peculiarities.”