…defends VC over baseless sexual harassment allegation
A group, Women For Good Governance and Transparency (WGT) has condemned the national Women Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), over its plan to destabilize the University because of unnecessary confused activism on baseless accusation of sexual harassment allegedly leveled against the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), by one Mrs. Folasade Adebayo.
WGT frowned at what was described as deliberate and heinous plan by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) national women committee to destabilize the peace and serenity currently prevailing on the twin campuses of the University. They warned the SSANU women committee to be wary of making inflammatory statements capable of disrupting the peace and smooth academic calendar the University is enjoying under the sterling leadership of Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina who is the Vice-Chancellor of the University.
Some group of confused individuals who identified themselves as SSANU national women Committee had addressed the media few days ago in Otueke , Bayelsa State, and demanded the suspension of the VC over a baseless, unfounded and ridiculous allegation of sexual harassment allegedly leveled against the VC by one Folasade Adebayo, said to be a senior female staff of the University.
The concerned women group said the action of the SSANU national women Committee is pathetic describing its unfounded claims as shameful act calculated to disrupt the peace of the University.
In an address by the leader of the women group, Mrs. Chinyere Chukwuma, she said:” We are compelled to protest the shameful act displayed by a so called union body identified as SSANU national women Committee led by Mrs. Ijeoma Kalu,who allegedly demanded for the suspension of an astute scholar and great administrator, and father, Prof. Abayomi Sunday Fasina, over an unfounded and baseless allegations of sexual harassment.
We frown at this strange development coming from women who should be considered sensible and reasonable mothers. We read with great shock how they danced shamelessly and ranted, calling for the head of VC over such falsehood. In the same report on the dailies, our dear VC clarified that this same Folasade Adebayo did not in any way accuse him of sexual harassment in the petition she wrote to the University Governing Council over which the Council had in its wisdom , set up a probe panel to investigate all claims. The VC also said that in all Mrs. Adebayo ‘s written statements before other authorities such as the Nigerian police, which had investigated issues that came, there was no mention of sexual harassment against her from him.
We then wonder where these strange women of so called SSANU national women Committee got their allegations of sexual harassment against Adebayo?
On what premise were they calling for the suspension of the VC when no prima facie case has been established against him? We believe this is just an unnecessary and doomed to fail political smear campaign against a dynamic VC whose tenure has been the best of all his predecessors given the magnitude of his achievements in the past four years. We also warn these strange women of SSANU and the SSANU as a national body to henceforth allow peace to reign on our campus and stop this senseless media war against the VC. Let this rare gem concentrate on the great works he has been doing in FUOYE.
The women group described Prof. Abayomi Fasina as a visionary leader whose exemplary leadership and dedication to the welfare of the students and staff of the University is unparalleled . The statement further reads in part : “Prof. Fasina has been a very responsive and responsible leader to the students and has always frowned to any form of assault,which made these allegations come to us as a shock.”
Moreover,in the last four years of Prof. Fasina’s leadership, he has been a father figure who does everything under the law to protect the students against sexual harassment, sex-for-grade, sex-for-mark, intimidation, and oppression. He created an enabling environment for students to learn and for academic excellence, innovation, and character for national transformation to thrive. He looks out for the students at all times and ensures nothing hinders their academic journey. Prof. Fasina gives out scholarships to students every year and supports indigent students financially to ensure their academic journey does not get cut short due to financial challenges.
The group expressed its disappointment at the lack of focus on the development FUOYE has witnessed under Prof. Fasina, It is quite disheartening that people are not talking about the significant development FUOYE has witnessed under his leadership,rather unhealthy news flashes are being spread all over the internet.We strongly advice against interference of uninvited bodies by intrusion with content and distractions that could disturb the investigation processes and that could further tarnish the image of the University as this would not be taken with levity, as we await the report of the governing council committee investigating the case,” the statement read.
It concluded by urging the investigative committee to act with diligence and fairness, adding that the process must set a precedent for justice and good governance. “FUOYE’s legacy must remain untarnished, reflecting its status as a beacon of hope and excellence in Nigeria’s educational landscape, We hope that the truth is uncovered and the university’s Dignity, Intergrity and Reputation is preserved.”
