DELTA POLYTECHNIC ASUP CRISIS: Unionist Preaches Peace

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A former vice-chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, (ASUP), Delta Polytechnic, Ogwashi- Uku Chapter, Sunny Ogbuenyi has sued for a peaceful resolution of the union crisis in the school.

Mr. Ogbuenyi, in an interview in Ogwashi-Uku, headquarters of Aniocha South local government area of the state told HardReporters correspondent that only a peaceful approach through dialogue would help end the lingering crisis of interest that have rocked the union over the last one year.

He disclosed that presently, some of the union members are up against each other in court,  while some others are also having court suits against the management of the polytechnic during the administration of the former Rector, Dr. Edna Mogekwu.

According to Mr. Ogbenyi, the litany of court cases and general apathy among union members, has polarized the union in the institution, a situation that has resulted in disharmony in the union’s relationship with the management.

“Presently, the Union is in crisis because we allow many things to go wrong to the extent that many of us have gone to court to seek redress and some others are up against the management in court. We cannot continue like this if we must move forward. We must first of all, come out from the court.

“I believe is the first step to achieving a peaceful resolution of the many issues of this crisis. I believe that if come out of court, organize ourselves and have an election to produce a new executive, then the new leadership can now sit down and look at these individual issues among ourselves.”

The unionist appealed to union members to sheathe their swords and seek a peaceful resolution to the many challenges that have grounded the union and left it in factional crisis.

Mr. Ogbenyi, noted that the union has been left with no executive since the suspension, interdiction and subsequent sacking of its former chairman, Mr. Tobechukwu Ogidi last November by the management of the polytechnic over alleged insubordination.

Mr. Ogbuenyi, who was the vice-chairman under the sacked leadership of Ogidi, however lauded the efforts of the new Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Stella Chiemeke in the amicable settlement of the union crisis.

He said that Chiemeke, upon her assumption of duty, had set up a committee broker a peaceful resolution of the union crisis and reconcile individuals and factions concerned.

“I want to commend the effort of our new rector, who upon assumption of office, set up a committee to look into problems of the union and reconcile every interest so that we can work harmoniously. Because, if you ask me, I will tell you that the prevailing situation, coupled with the litigations in court, have been a major hindrance to the growth and welfare of union members over a year now,” Ogbuenyi noted.

Speaking on the crisis, the Polytechnic’s Public Relations Officer, (PRO), Mr. Manfred Oyibogbeye disclosed that the institution’s academic union have been embroiled in crisis, a situation that had resulted to fictionalization of the union.

“Presently, there is no recognizable academic staff union here in the polytechnic, because of long-standing issues that have led to factional crisis. So, when the Rector of the institution assume office few months ago, she made efforts to dialogue with the union members.

“But there are factions. The Rector have had several meetings with them, and asked the members to go back to the round table and resolve their differences so that they can have one united body,” Oyibogbeye said.

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