By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Apparently unhappy with the lukewarm attitude of the federal government towards the lingering issues between it and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Victor Oye has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to personally get involved by inviting the striking lecturers for dialogue.
Chief Oye who spoke on Channels Television on Monday night argued that the ASUU versus federal government imbroglio would not have lasted this long if President Buhari had personally got involved in the matter by finding time to listen to the arguments of ASUU no matter how unreasonable it may sound to government.
Said he: “It is a sad commentary that the educational system in Nigeria has collapsed. It hurts to see our educational sector in bad shape with ASUU strike going on for so long without any sign that government is interested to listen to ASUU “.
“I make bold to say that if President Muhammadu Buhari had called ASUU leadership for a closed door meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja and ask them to go back to work I believe they will obey him. I expect the President to invite ASUU to the Villa and ask them how much they are demanding and if they say N300 billion, Mr. President will tell them take N200 billion and go back to work. I am the father of all the citizens if there is any issue come to me, I believe ASUU will call of the strike action”, the APGA boss posited.
Chief Oye lamented the adverse effects the continued closure of the public universities in Nigeria have had on the students, parents and the country’s educational sector in general.
He therefore argued that if his political party is given the chance to produce the next President of Nigeria in 2023, APGA will turn into El Doraldo of a sort.
According to him: “if Nigerians can give APGA the opportunity to produce the next President of Nigeria in 2023, we will replicate the stability in Anambra state in all the states of the federation”.
