Members of the Academic Staff
Union of Universities(ASUU), civil society groups and sympathizers on Saturday
attended the funeral of Prof Festus Iyayi, in his residence at his home town of
Eguare-Ugbegun, Esan Central Local Council area of Edo State, Nigeria.
The federal government shunned
the burial as neither the Federal Ministry of Education nor the government was
represented.
With
the circumstances of Iyayi’s death and his role in the on-going strike embarked
upon by ASUU, many had expected that the Federal government would be
represented at the burial.
The
Senate was however represented by a member of its Committee on education,
Senator Abubakar Bagudu.
In
a homily delivered by Catholic Cathecist Peter Omigie, he urged members of
Iyayi’s family and associates not to cry over his death, as they have the hope
of seeing him again.
“We
will on resurrection morning rejoice with him. Living our physical body is not
the end of our lives,” he said.
The
52 branches of ASUU across the federation were represented at the burial
ceremony that was solemn and devoid of fanfare.
The
interment of the late Professor of Business Administration was preceded by
labour songs offered by ASUU and civil society members who came from all parts
of the country.
Among
dignitaries present at the event were Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State,
INEC Chairman and himself a former President of ASUU, Prof. Attahiru Jega; two
other former ASUU Presidents, Dr. Dipo Fashina and Dr. Abdullahi Sule-Kano and
incumbent ASUU President, Dr. Nasir Fagge Isa.
Others,
who attended the burial, included a former vice chancellor of UNIBEN, Professor
Abhulimen Anao; Chief Medical Director of UBTH, Prof. Michael Ibadin; Mr. Odia
Ofeimun, Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana and members of UNIBEN academic
community.
The body of Prof Iyayi was laid
to final rest at about 11:00 am in the presence of his immediate family members
and others at the occasion after a short funeral talk that was delivered by a
clergyman, Peter Omigie, of the Saint Matthew Catholic Church, Eguare-Ugbegun
Speaking to journalists after
the Iyayi’s interment, Chairman of the INEC, Prof. Atthiru Jega, said the death
of Prof Iyayi was a big loss to the nation because of his tremendous sacrifice
for the development of the country.
“I worked very closely with
Festus Iyayi. He was like a brother to me. He was one of the few Nigerians that
I have known, who had tremendous integrity and passion for progress and
development of our country. This country has lost a gem. One of the best and
patriotic Nigerians,” Jega said.
Student bodies, who stormed the
venue of the burial ceremony expressed anger toward the Federal Government
through numerous uncomplimentary songs.
They particularly used harsh
words on the duo of the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, and the
Executive Secretary of the National University Commission (NUC), Prof Julius
Okojie, condemning their roles and that of Presidency in the ongoing ASUU
strike.
Meanwhile, Edo State governor,
Adams Oshiomhole, has announced plans by the state government to immortalise
the late ASUU President, as a way of immortalizing him.
Speaking
at a reception held at the Ugbegun Grammar School, Governor Oshiomhole said the
school will be rebuilt and renamed Festus Iyayi Memorial Grammar School. He
also said a water scheme will be constructed at Ugbegun and named after the
late Festus Iyayi to remind the people of who he was and what he fought for.
“Some
of the things we can remember about the late Iyayi was his consistency,
commitment and doggedness and he paid the ultimate sacrifice. He lived and died
in the struggle and therefore we can in truth say that the struggle was his
life.”
Oshiomhole
who noted that Iyayi would sorely be missed, said, “how do we remember him, how
do we immortalise his name? When I visited his family house this morning, I said
since Iyayi was also a contributor on how a worker can become the governor of
Edo State, now that a worker is now the governor of the State, this community
of Ugbegun, by next Monday I will deploy one of our industrial rigs to provide
a water scheme which will be named as Festus Iyayi water scheme for the benefit
of the people of this community.
“I
also want therefore that this school called Ugbegun secondary school beginning
with the new budget which begins in January and by the special grace of God not
later than February, we would have passed through all the processes and we will
build this school to the new standard of Edo State the school will be renamed
Festus Iyayi Memorial Secondary School.
“That
way, even after our death, the children yet unborn will know there was a man
who was born to this community, who led national struggle, died in the struggle
but his spirit and ideals never died,” he said.
PM
NEWS
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