The Coordinator of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos Zone, Professor Adelaja Odukoya, has dispelled a report credited to him that Nigeria needs somebody like presidential candidate of Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, to be president, saying it is a falsehood.
He also refuted the claim that he described President Bola Tinubu as a slave, saying this claim is also fake news in its entirety
Odukoya, who debunked both claims in a statement, cautioned the media not to use the name of ASUU nor his own to pursue any hidden agenda probably for their politician friends.
He said fake news would not in anyway do Nigeria nor its people any good rather pulling down the system and the media should therefore shun such practice by all means.
He described the superimposition of the fake headline over his video address, which discussed something different as a manifestation of the low level with which political mercenaries have descended, by attempting to use the name of ASUU to pursue their ambition.
He said he is far more cultured to call President Bola Tinubu a slave.
He said he would not have bothered himself over the spread of falsehood but to put the record straight in the interest of the public, he did.
Explaining what happened, the don said he spoke at a programme on the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation in Africa on the Students Loan Act held in Lagos and asserted that Nigerian rulers behaving like slaves to Bretton Woods institutions by adopting policies that demean the humanity of Nigerian citizens.
He said he went further to say doing so has contributed largely to government at all levels being uncritical of importing or accepting just any policy recommended to them by the IMF or World Bank.
“I also said the people in power are afraid of having an educated populace so as not to be challenged and that alone accounted for the reason most successive leaders invested so low in a critical sector like education.
“So, I didn’t speak about political parties or party candidates at the event.
“I’m more than that. My union, ASUU, is ideologically strong and resolute.
“Our philosophy and principles are clear about building an egalitarian society.
“Let no one, therefore, drag ASUU or myself into their politicking.
“What Nigerians are interested in is good and impactful governance irrespective of who is in that office.
“So, the public should disregard the fake report in its entirety.”
