I’m on my knees, call off over 7-month strike — Fayose’s aide, Lere begs ASUU

Ilesanmi AdekanbiAugust 6, 2022

2 minutes read

A House of Representatives candidate under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Lere Olayinka, has gone on his knees to beg the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, to call off the strike action embarked upon for over 7 months.

Lere Olayinka, Ayo Fayose’s spokesman said his action doesn’t mean he does not appreciate the demands of ASUU, but said he is certain that when the PDP have a govt in the country, the demands will be addressed.

Recall that Minister of State for Education, Festus Keyamo, SAN, had reported that the federal government has no money to meet the demands of the striking Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

Mr Keyamo, newly appointed as the spokesperson for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaigns, asked parents to beg ASUU members to return to classes because the federal government would not borrow money to meet the demands of the lecturers.

He said this on Friday during an interview on ‘Politics Today’, a programme on Channels Television.

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He said “the Academic Union is holding the government at the Jugular and can’t push the federal government into borrowing”, a statement that has drawn wide criticisms against Buhari’s minister from Nigerians.

Reacting, Lere Olayinka went on his knees to beg ASUU to call off the strike saying since Keyamo said the Buhari government has lost all sense of responsibility to end the strike and has said it is the duty of Nigerians to beg ASUU.

He said” I am on my bended knees this morning, pleading as a parent that this strike in our universities should end.

“My plea is premised on the confession of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo (I won’t address him as a SAN because a SANship is about having sense), that the Buhari’s APC govt does not have or have lost every sense of responsibility to end the strike.

Lere further said, “Keyamo, on Live TV yesterday, said that on the strike, the FG has become helpless, hopeless, clueless, visionless and directionless.”

“Therefore, it has now become the duty of Nigerians to beg ASUU to end the strike.

“Consequently, In the name of God, I am on my knees begging ASUU to call off the strike so that our children can return to school.”

The PDP Reps Candidate noted that “This is not to say that I do not appreciate the demands of ASUU, but I am sure that when we have a govt in the country, the demands will be addressed.”

“More so that the strike NO even KONSAN those in this Buhari’s APC government because their children are either in universities abroad or private universities in Nigeria.

“Thank you as you consider this my plea and call of the strike.”