Former President of the Academic Staff
union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Festus Iyayi was killed yesterday
following a head on collision involving the bus in which he was travelling and
a Toyota
Hilux in the convoy of Kogi state governor, Captain Idris Wada, along the Auchi-Lokoja highway.
Iyayi and three other ASUU activists, who sustained various degrees of injury in the accident, were on their way to Kano for the Union’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
Sources say that Prof. Iyayi’s vehicle was hit hard by the last vehicle in Wada’s convoy, which was involved in a ghastly accident almost 11 months ago.
But the Special Adviser to the Kogi state governor, Jacob Edi, has denied allegations that it was the governor’s pilot vehicle that hit Iyayi’s car.
“There was a collision on a narrow road and it is too early to say who rammed into who. The ASUU car was dodging a trailer and an accident occurred. It is not fair to politicise this incident”, the governor’s aide said.
Edi said as soon as the accident happened; the governor directed that the ambulance in the convoy be used to convey the victims to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.
Some of the victims, he said, were also taken to the Government House Clinic. The Kogi governor’s spokesperson said the governor later visited the hospitals to sympathize with the victims of the accident.
He dismissed suggestions that the accident happened because of over speeding by his boss’ convoy, saying Wada’s convoy travels at 80 kilometre per hour speed.
On December 27, 2012, the governor’s motorcade was involved in a crash that killed his security aide and injured two other state officials, leaving Wada himself with a fractured leg.
Meanwhile, the death of the former ASUU president yesterday threw University of Benin (UniBen) community into anguish.
The UniBen zonal chairman of ASUU, Dr. Anthony Monye-Emina and the only female official of the union in that chapter, simply identified as Dr. (Mrs.) Ilo, who were in the ill-fated bus, were said to be in coma as at press time.
Commenting on the death of the late professor of Business Administration in UniBen, Professor Friday Okonofua threatened to sue Kogi state government, which he urged to take responsibility for Iyayi’s death.
Head of Public Relations Department, University of Benin, Mr. Harrison Osarenren, declined comment on the accident, stating however that the matter will be presented before management of the school today.
The former Provost, College of Medicine, UniBen, however called for a thorough and independent investigation into the circumstances that led to the accident.
Okonofua alleged that: “It is the governor of Kogi that killed him; a reckless convoy. He killed our own most distinguished academic who has won medals all over the world. We will hold the governor responsible for his death.
Hilux in the convoy of Kogi state governor, Captain Idris Wada, along the Auchi-Lokoja highway.
Iyayi and three other ASUU activists, who sustained various degrees of injury in the accident, were on their way to Kano for the Union’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
Sources say that Prof. Iyayi’s vehicle was hit hard by the last vehicle in Wada’s convoy, which was involved in a ghastly accident almost 11 months ago.
But the Special Adviser to the Kogi state governor, Jacob Edi, has denied allegations that it was the governor’s pilot vehicle that hit Iyayi’s car.
“There was a collision on a narrow road and it is too early to say who rammed into who. The ASUU car was dodging a trailer and an accident occurred. It is not fair to politicise this incident”, the governor’s aide said.
Edi said as soon as the accident happened; the governor directed that the ambulance in the convoy be used to convey the victims to the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja.
Some of the victims, he said, were also taken to the Government House Clinic. The Kogi governor’s spokesperson said the governor later visited the hospitals to sympathize with the victims of the accident.
He dismissed suggestions that the accident happened because of over speeding by his boss’ convoy, saying Wada’s convoy travels at 80 kilometre per hour speed.
On December 27, 2012, the governor’s motorcade was involved in a crash that killed his security aide and injured two other state officials, leaving Wada himself with a fractured leg.
Meanwhile, the death of the former ASUU president yesterday threw University of Benin (UniBen) community into anguish.
The UniBen zonal chairman of ASUU, Dr. Anthony Monye-Emina and the only female official of the union in that chapter, simply identified as Dr. (Mrs.) Ilo, who were in the ill-fated bus, were said to be in coma as at press time.
Commenting on the death of the late professor of Business Administration in UniBen, Professor Friday Okonofua threatened to sue Kogi state government, which he urged to take responsibility for Iyayi’s death.
Head of Public Relations Department, University of Benin, Mr. Harrison Osarenren, declined comment on the accident, stating however that the matter will be presented before management of the school today.
The former Provost, College of Medicine, UniBen, however called for a thorough and independent investigation into the circumstances that led to the accident.
Okonofua alleged that: “It is the governor of Kogi that killed him; a reckless convoy. He killed our own most distinguished academic who has won medals all over the world. We will hold the governor responsible for his death.
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