Prof. Festus Iyayi has all along worked for what has never existed in Nigeria - JUSTICE! He was in this same spirit in the 80's when he was dismissed together with Prof. Itse Sagay by the Babangida’s government, a regime that left Nigeria worse than it met it. I was, and am still proud to have co- co-coordinated the historical protest against the dismissal of both eminent Dons at the University of Benin.
Prof. Festus Iyayi has all along worked for what has never existed in Nigeria - JUSTICE! He was in this same spirit in the 80's when he was dismissed together with Prof. Itse Sagay by the Babangida’s government, a regime that left Nigeria worse than it met it. I was, and am still proud to have co- co-coordinated the historical protest against the dismissal of both eminent Dons at the University of Benin.
Between 2007 and 2008, Prof. Iyayi selflessly supported me throughout the ActionAid’s interventions in the Niger Delta crisis, which I led and coordinated. He was a great resource throughout the policy dialogue and other series of dialogue that culminated into the NIGER DELTA PEOPLE’s COMPACT, which eventually formed the fulcrum of the Federal Government’s Technical Report of Action on the Niger Delta. Without pity and compassion, agents of the same state whose people Iyayi laboured to rescue from valley of injustices killed him. The privilege of knowing Prof. Iyayi, to have worked with him and being taught by him will amount to nothing if I do not continue to join others to stand against these agents who have sworn to see the end of man.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content1'); });
Iyayi was on a mission to repair one of what they have destroyed – the University Education! They destroyed public universities and built private universities; they destroyed public hospitals and now carry out medical consultations in foreign countries; they destroyed public roads and they are now building airports in all ghettos and forests. Worse still, they killed Prof. Iyayi, among others through reckless display of power and lifestyle. If nothing is done urgently, they will end up destroying the country and her people. Their destiny is to destroy this country. Like the devil, It is in their destiny, ‘to steal, to kill and to destroy’! We must courageously stand against them and allow the painful death of my teacher, Prof. Iyayi to become a pillar of endurance on our way to victory!
Adieu Prof!
Gbenro Olajuyigbe is the Human Security Manager for ActionAid Nigeria. He is based in Abuja.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content2'); });
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of SaharaReporters
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('comments'); });