Unilorin G44: Will Mr President Listen?

(From This Day (Nigeria) - AAGM)

Byline: Osagie Jacobs

During his last media chat with journalists, President Olusegun Obasanjo once again reiterated his intention not to forgive the sacked University of llorin lecturers. The lecturers were sacked for participating in a strike action directed by their trade union, ASUU.

The President said having been informed by the University Council that the lecturers disrupted examination during the strike, he saw no reason why such characters should be allowed to remain in the academia. When told that their letters of sack never indicated such disruption and that all available evidence including that of the fact-finding panel instituted by him did not point in that direction, he said he had no option than to listen to the University Council.

Had I been one of his interviewers, I would have reminded him of the attempted coup of which he was implicated, tried and convicted during the military regime of Gen. Sani Abacha. I would then ask if he could say with candour that the coup trial panel's verdict and its acceptance by the Armed Forces Ruling Council could not be wrong?

It is self-evident truth that unfair, biased and wrong judgments often flow from high places. Corroborative evidence is therefore necessary to prove beyond reasonable doubt allegations that may adversely affect someone's career, integrity …