Iyayi Burial: What made ASUU Members Boo Reverend Father

Reverend Father Andrew Obinyan, a
Catholic priest, angered the members
of the Academic Staff Union of
Universities (ASUU) on December 6,
2013, when he appealed to them to call
off the strike and trust the Federal
Government on meeting their demands
during Festus Iyayi's commendation
service.
The visibly angry ASUU members
interrupted Rev. Obinyan and refused
to say amen to some prayers offered by
him, and shouted on him to leave the
podium.
Rev. Obinyan was booed while giving
his homily at the commendation
service held for the former President of
ASUU, Prof. Festus Iyayi at the
University of Benin.
In his address, the priest advised ASUU
not to give the Federal Government the
privilege of satisfaction of fighting and
defeating them, stating that he
discovered that many ASUU members
were retreating, as well as collapsing
their structures.
Rev. Obinyan further urged ASUU to
trust the Federal Government to keep
to its promise by calling-off the strike:
"My appeal is to request you to make
surrender the tool of power. Do not give
the FG the privilege of satisfaction of
fighting and defeating you. We rely on
that voice. We believe in that voice. I
humbly request you to surrender first
in this fight. You have made your point
eloquently and clear enough. I know the
Federal Government cannot be trusted
because of their antecedent, but I
request you to please trust them now.
"ASUU will never lose by it. They will
gain by it. Be assured of our prayers.
We are at the receiving end. Many of
your foot soldiers are collapsing. Some
are retreating", the priest said.
On hearing that most of ASUU
members started shouting, so Rev.
Obinyan concluded:
"Christ will not tell you to fight on. He
will tell you to forgive and forget. My
appeal is because of the sufferers."
In his comments on the incident, the
President of ASUU, Dr. Nasir Isa- Fagge,
said the Reverend Father spoke for
himself, and that ASUU members were
steadfast in their demand. He further
confirmed they would not call-off the
strike until the Federal Government
meet the four-point demand in their
letter.