Dialogue with lecturers to prevent future ASUU strikes, Bishop Oyinlola begs FG
By Admin
Bishop Oyinlola has called on federal government to dialogue with lecturers to prevent future ASUU strike.
Naijanewshub.com.ng reports that the Lord Bishop of Irelle Ese Odo Diocese in Ondo State, Bishop Sunday Oyinlola, has enjoined President Muhammadu Buhari, and indeed the Federal Government, to find lasting solutions to the perennial agitations of the lecturers of the Nigerian Universities which had always resulted in months of strikes.
Lamenting the untoward socio-economic effects of the last 8-month strike on the lecturers, parents and indeed the students, Bishop Oyinlola made the appeal on Sunday during his sermon at the Ibadan Diocese (Anglican Communion) Church of the Transfiguration, Ikolaba GRA, Agodi, Ibadan, where the family of Otunba Kunle Kalejaye (SAN), did a thanksgiving for his lawyer-son, Ilesanmi Oyinlola Kalejaye, who married Olayinka (also a lawyer).
In attendance was the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde who was accompanied by some Commissioners, as well as, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs Olubanwo Adeosun. Some members of the legal profession and academics were also in attendance including:
Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN), Mr Oladipo Olasope (SAN), Prof and Prof Mrs Femi Osofisan, Prof. Elegbede, among others.
The Lord Bishop in his sermon chosen from the Book of John 3:16 which emphasises love, said: “I am highly delighted to see a lot of professors in this church. Where professors are, they always want to do things right. And that is why the Federal Government is misinterpreting their stand. I have many friends among the lecturers. The fight they are fighting is not for their salary, but the structures that will enhance learning process. If you go into some of these Universities, you will be sorry. I went to one where we went to have a retreat in the East. i could not sleep there. I with some others went outside the University to rent hotel to sleep.
“Please, we are appealing to the government to reason with these professors with love. They are not fighting for themselves per se. Where the students are being taught matters. If you see any of the students misbehaving outside, go back to their schools and see what is happening there. These professors have been fighting the course for so many years. I was a Priest when they started this agitation.
“So, I am pleading through the federal agencies, particularly my brother, Governor Makinde. Whatever you can do, do please so that we can improve the learning process in our schools. People are rushing to the private universities. This will not give us a good name. And when people go overseas to study, they don’t go to private universities there but public universities. So, why cant we improve our own? Please, I am begging in the name of Jesus Christ, let the Federal Government answer these professors”, the Bishop pleaded.
In his words of encouragement, Gov. Makinde counselled the newly-wedded couple not to copy or compare their family with others, noting that “many marriages have collapsed in our society these days because of such”.
The governor said: “I was in this same situation close to 25 years ago. By February 26, 2023, my marriage to my wife will be 25 years. What is crucial in marriage is that no two marriages are the same. I was having a discussion with my wife few days ago and she asked me what we are going to do on our 25th marriage anniversary. I said we are not going to do anything on that day. I told her the Presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on February 25 and my own governorship election will hold on March 11, and so in-between, we have the marriage anniversary. I said we would wait until the outcome of the two elections, and maybe we will still do something. We are still battling it, I must tell you.
“But the lesson is: you need to do whatever you want to do pragmatically to make your marriage work. Don’t benchmark yourself with anybody’s situation or condition. Dint copy anybody yo live your marital life. Many marriages crash due to this. I pray you have a successful marriage and be friends to each other for life”, Makinde prayed.