Election Postponement: University lecturers lament

 

The Academic Staff Union of Universities condemned the postponement  of the presidential and National Assembly polls, the News Agency   of Nigeria reports.

The National President of ASUU, Prof Biodun Ogunyemi,  told NAN that the country  would  be the laughing stock of the world because of the development.

He said, “It is not yet clear to us what could have really led to this   dent in our country’s image.

“We shall be issuing our statement on this as soon as we are through with our findings.”

Former head of the  University of Lagos political science department, Prof Solomon Akinboye, described the postponement as a national calamity.

According to him, the development has affected the country economically and  socially.

He said, “The implication of this development is negative. Look at observers from the international community. Some of them have been here days to this election. They decided to suspend  their engagements just to ensure the success of the  elections.

“Does it mean they are idle? What will be their thought about us? What will happen next? Should they continue waiting till the new date?

“Some of them  will be forced to go back to their  countries and therefore the consequence will be that the integrity of the process may not be guaranteed.

“It is as sad as disappointing that this is happening now, as economic activities are already being affected.”

He added, “I was thinking that Prof Yakubu would have sustained and even improve on Prof Jega’s legacy but with the  development, that is not going to be after all.

“This will cast a dark shadow on his integrity.” Akinboye noted that INEC’s reasons for cancelling the polls were  not acceptable.

“I must say this is a huge slap on  our development as a nation and democracy,” Akinboye said.

A senior lecturer in the University of Lagos  Department of Mass Communication, Dr Olubunmi Ajibade, described the development as a show of national shame.

He said,  “This development is sad. It  shows that as a nation, we do not plan well.

“Earlier in the week, INEC claimed that it was set for the polls.”

He added,  “Academic activities  have been suspended just to see these  elections through, and now this is what we get.

“As a matter of fact, I will recommend that the position of the INEC chairman be reviewed immediately after the entire polls.”

Meanwhile, a  source at King’s College, Lagos, told NAN that only the Federal Ministry of Education was in position to decide when the  pupils would return to school  following the postponement of the elections.

The source said,  “Our pupils  were released on Thursday, to be back on Tuesday. But  following the election postponement, we do not know what is going to happen.

“We are expecting further directives from the Federal Ministry of Education on the next line of action.”

 

Source: The Punch