PRIEST BOOED FOR CALLING ON ASUU TO SUSPEND STRIKE AT IYAYI'S LYING-IN-STATE

THE University of Benin yesterday stood still in honour of former President, Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Late Prof. Festus Iyayi as it declared  the Late Don irreplaceable.

Late Iyayi’s journey home ward began with a  stop-over at his Isihor country home, accompanied by ASUU members, to enable his family members and ASUU members have a close look at his remains.

This came as one of the officiating Priests at the lying- in state ceremony held at the Akin Deko Main Auditorium in honour of the former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Festus Iyayi  drew the ire of a cross-section of members of the academic community, civil society organizations when in his homily, he appealed to ASUU to suspend their six months old strike.

At about 9.35am, his body was carried by pall bearers into a waiting hearse with registration number FG 63-U50 while his wife, Mrs. Grace Iyayi was conveyed in a black Toyota Prado SUV with registration number NUC 07U-37 FG, followed by ASUU, CDHR representatives and close associates in a long motorcade to the UNIBEN Ugbowo Campus.

On arrival at UNIBEN, his remains was conveyed to the Faculty of Management Sciences, where he was the HOD, Business Administration till he died. At the Faculty, Academics decked in academic gowns formed a guard of honour while  the Dean of the faculty, Prof. Famous Izedonmi delivered a brief oration. In the same vein, Prof. P. Eriki rendered  heart touching prayers before the body was taken to the University main auditorium.

The remains of Iyayi was received by a mammoth crowd of ASUU members and UNIBEN management led by Prof. G. Oshodin and immediately, a commendation service began.

Rev. Fr. Andrew Obiyan, who was booed during the homily ceremony, which was attended by a large number of people said many of the lecturers were already wary of the “fight.”

Reading from portions of the Bible, Obiyan praised Iyayi’s tenacity of purpose, courage and sense of dedication to duty, all of which he said contributed to the “hero” he became, both in life and in death and  appealed to ASUU members to consider their position in order not to continue at the receiving end.

He said, “The death of the faithful is precious in the eyes of God, so I want to admonish the family not to think of the pain of death, but think about the bright promise of immortality.