ASUU Leaders Abuse Journalists in Minna over Strike Report

 

 

Leaders of the Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) harassed the anxious newsmen while emerging from the Senate Building of the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, the venue of Union’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

They shouted repeatedly, “who invited these stupid people?”

One of the notable members of the Union, the Chairman of ASUU in FUT, Minna, Dr. Abdulfatai Jimoh, instructed security men to make the journalists leave the building. He also went ahead to assault the Daily Trust correspondent, Aliyu Hamagan.

Dr. Jimoh, who initially thought Hamagan was a member of the Union, called him to come closer and asked:

“Who brought these stupid people inside? What are they doing here?”

The journalist responded:

“I am one of the people you are calling stupid. I will not have you insult us like that.”

Dr. Jimoh understood his mistake, pushed Hamagan and asked him to leave the premises.

“You people are intruding, we did not invite you. Get out of this place now,” he said.

ASUU meeting started at about 11.30 a.m. and was still in process by 7 p.m.

The scenario took another twist when members of ASUU NEC LOC emerged to inform journalists that some of them (ASUU) are not comfortable with the presence of the pressmen.

Dr. Jimoh, who was at this time furious, threatened the media men, saying “Anything wey una see, make una take am like that, because we didn’t invite the media.”

However, there was a disagreement among the members over the presence of the media. Some suggested that the journalists should stay because they were doing their job, others persisted that “we did not invite them. When we need them, we will invite them.”

The Vice Chancellor FUT, Minna, Prof. Musbau Akanji, who got the news that ASUU assaulted some journalists, rushed to the venue pleading with the journalists.

“Although, I am not a part of the meeting, but I am apologising on their behave because they are in my territory. This place (FUT, Minna) is a Federal Government institution, and it is a public place that everybody including journalists can enter especially when they are discharging their responsibilities,” Akanji said.