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Professor Festus Iyayi
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It is with profound
sadness that Civil Society Legislative Advocacy (CISLAC) mourns the tragic
death of Nigerian renowned writer, academic and leading democratic activist,
Professor Festus Iyayi, whose death occurred after a ghastly motor accident on
Tuesday 11th November 2013 along the Auchi and Lokoja highway on his
way to the national congress organized by Academic Staff Union of University in Kano.
CISLAC remembers
the tireless and committed efforts put in by this development oriented
intellectual in the struggle for a better Nigeria. We say without any fear of
contradiction that the deceased was a famous university don, who contributed to
progressive agitations and advocacy for people oriented development, citizen’
welfare and emancipation.
We recall his tough stance on social and political
issues, intelligent articulation of trade union and progressive positions,
thought provoking opinions and pro-poor alternatives canvassed through his
several publications.
CISLAC recollects
that his sojourn as the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of University
(ASUU), he fought tirelessly to save university education from total collapse.
His contribution towards nation education development would forever be
celebrated. It is sad to note that 23 years after his initial struggle, the
state of university education has deteriorated further and Iyayi met a painful
death fighting the same cause.
CISLAC recalls with
nostalgia, the personal contribution of Festu Iyayi to the development of civil
society in Nigeria as he was a mentor and source of inspiration to several
activists and organizations in the sector with his insightful advice and
constructive inputs.
We view now with deep pain, lying in our library, his last
contribution as a CISLAC Resource Person, the Assessment of the
implementation of the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Act
and Process in Nigeria.
We regret once
again, that one of Nigeria’s leading light in social activism and progressive
struggle is lost to the death traps we call roads in Nigeria, which continues
to claim the lives of innocent people on a daily basis.
This painfully calls to
mind the loss of Chima Ubani, a renowned activist who died in a similar circumstance
several years ago on his way from Maiduguri where he had participated in a
sensitization rally organized by the labour movement to resist the plan by the
Nigerian state to increase the cost of petroleum products and make life more
miserable for the toiling poor masses of the country.
CISLAC is sad that
Iyayi died in an accident that involved the convoy of Kogi State governor. We
note with concern the arbitrary use of convoys and the recklessness with which
they drive on our highways, endangering the lives of innocent people. One would
have thought that after surviving an accident under such circumstances, the
governor would be more circumspect in his ways.
We call on the
government to pay attention to the quality of our roads and ensure that they
are safe for motorists to prevent avoidable deaths on our highway.
We also call on all
elected and appointed political leaders to deist from the use of unnecessary
convoys and caution their drivers to drive carefully, respect traffic
regulations and respect the rights of other road users.
We call on the
police authorities to investigate the circumstances resulting in the accident
and ensure that any defaulting parties are brought to justice in accordance
with our laws.
We call on the
federal government to immediately take steps to revamp the state of university
education in Nigeria, a cause for which Iyayi lived and died so that his death
would not have been in vain.
We sympathize with
all members of ASUU, the University of Benin, all progressively minded activists
and civil society as a whole on this painful loss. We particularly pray that
God grants his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
Signed:
Auwal Ibrahim Musa
(Rafsanjani)
Executive Director,
CISLAC
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