Tragedy struck Tuersday when the former President of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Festus Iyayi, was killed in a ghastly motor accident.
The former ASUU president was said to be on his way to Kano with three other members of ASUU, University of Benin chapter, when the vehicle they were travelling in was hit by a police escort vehicle in the convoy of the Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada, around Lokoja, the state capital.
Following the impact, the vehicle was knocked off the road and somersaulted three times, killing the professor of Business Administration instantly.
The unfortunate incident happened at Banda village yesterday when the governor was returning from an official engagement in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
In a statement by Jacob Edi, Special Adviser to the Governor, Media, the Kogi State Government said the convoy was moving at 80 kilometers per hour when a bus collided with the escort vehicle.
The condition of Iyayi’s three other colleagues was also described as critical at press time yesterday, as they were said to be in a coma.
The statement added that at least six victims with varying degrees of injuries from both sides are currently hospitalised,
Edi said Wada ordered a full-scale investigation into the accident, when he paid a visit to the injured.
An ambulance was said to have been dispatched from Benin to Kogi State to convey Iyayi's body to Benin.
Iyayi was part of the ASUU negotiating team, which met with the federal government last week, and was travelling to Kano in continuation of efforts to resolve the logjam that had ensued over the strike with his colleagues, before his death.
His death yesterday threw ASUU and the University of Benin community into mourning.
Reacting to Iyayi's death yesterday, President Goodluck Jonathan commiserated with the leadership and members of ASUU over his tragic death.
He equally extended sincere condolences to Iyayi’s family as well as his colleagues, friends and associates across the country and beyond.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the president joined them in mourning the renowned academic and award-winning writer.
“Iyayi rose to national prominence in the 1980s with his courageous leadership of ASUU in its struggle for a better working environment for teachers and academics in the nation’s university system,” the president observed.
Jonathan said he was particularly dismayed by the fact that Iyayi had sadly lost his life while going to contribute to efforts meant to finally resolve the current ASUU strike which has unfortunately disrupted academic studies in most of the nation’s universities for over four months.
Jonathan prayed for God to comfort all who mourn Iyayi and grant his soul eternal rest.
Also, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, condoled the Nigerian academic community and the family of Iyayi on his tragic death.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal described the deceased as a respected teacher and unionist who gave his all for the progress of the education sector.
According to the speaker, late Iyayi's lifetime of struggles would no doubt inspire many upcoming lecturers and unionists to render selfless services to their country.
While urging ASUU and the Federal Ministry of Education to immortalise the late professor, Tambuwal prayed to the Almighty God to give his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
In the same vein, organised labour yesterday expressed shock over the death of Iyayi.
A statement by the Vice President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Issa Aremu, said the Nigeria labour movement had indeed lost a tested and committed activist of decent work in the universities and Nigerian labour market.
The statement said Iyayi would be remembered for the honesty, commitment and abundant energy he brought to the struggle of working men and women for improved working and living conditions.
It added that the death of Iyayi was a reminder to the federal government to urgently bring to a permanent end the persistent crisis of funding of public education.
“Late Festus would be remembered for the honesty and commitment, as well as abundant energy he brought to the struggle of working men and women for improved working and living conditions.
“The fact that he tragically died while reportedly travelling for the resolution of the four-month long strike of university lecturers was an eloquent testimony to his life and deeds; service to the working people and humanity!
“Fighters and comrades like comrade Festus hardly say goodbye. In literary and metaphoric terms, Festus is the latest major casualty of Nigeria's crisis of governance.
“Accidents are the norm (not exception) along the notorious Kogi-Lokoja road which for well over a decade remains under permanent ‘construction’ and ‘rehabilitation’ despite serial awards of contracts by various governments,” the NLC lamented.
In another statement on the tragedy, the Chairman, University of Ibadan branch of ASUU, Dr. Segun Ajiboye, who regretted the incident, said it was a sad day for the union, which has lost a rare gem and a great leader with an impeccable character.
Asked if the union will still go ahead with its planned National Executive Council (NEC) meeting today, he said members of the union were in deep mourning (all Nigerians should be) and were not thinking about anything at the moment, except the loss the past leader.
In his reaction, Prof. Friday Okonofua, of the University of Benin, held Wada for being responsible for Iyayi's death.
“It is the governor of Kogi that killed him. He was killed by a reckless convoy. He killed one of our most distinguished academics who had won laurels from all over the world. We would hold the governor of Kogi responsible for his death,” Prof. Okonofua said.
