The varsity teachers’ union is said to
be suspecting foul play in the death of Iyayi who died after his vehicle
was involved in an accident with a vehicle in the convoy of the Kogi
State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada (retd.), on November 12.
ASUU’s suspicion that the cause of
Iyayi’s death could not have been the injuries he sustained in the
accident was said to have been fuelled by an object, which reportedly
pierced through the late activist’s body.
The University of Benin chapter of ASUU,
in a statement on Monday, said, “Prof. Festus Iyayi did not just die in
an accident, but was wilfully murdered by the state and its agents.
“At the appropriate time ASUU and Prof. Iyayi’s family shall demand concrete answers from the state for his murder.”
The statement, which was signed by the
union’s chairman and secretary, Dr. Anthony Monye-Emina and Okeri Henry,
respectively, said it was aware that there were deliberate steps by the
state and its agents to distort facts of the accident as it happened.
It stated, “This started with the
reckless and irresponsible press statement that was issued by the Kogi
State Government to try to explain away the killing of Prof. Iyayi, and
there are further attempts to conceal and distort available evidence. We
shall of course meet them with the facts.”
Warning state officials to stay away
from Iyayi’s funeral rites, ASUU said, “Iyayi’s family are capable of
giving the late professor the befitting burial he deserves.”
It also served notice that “Governor
Idris Wada and those ancilliary to the accident will be made to face
trial for the murder Prof. Iyayi.”
Commenting on the development, Iyayi
family spokesman, Prof. Robert Ebewele, said that the issue of autopsy
was ASUU’s affair and that the family would go ahead with the burial
already slated for the first week of December.
PUNCH NG
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