By Francis Onoiribholo Bureau Chief Benin
Edo Unity League, a Benin City-based socio-political and cultural organization in Edo State, has condemned what it described as “the diabolic move by some persons to denigrate the management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN).
The group in a three-page reaction, stated that the newspaper falsely accused the university’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Osayuki Godwin Oshodin, of sexual harassment, corruption and embezzlement which it described as falsehood.
A statement signed by the organization’s chief spokesman, Elder Amos Okonofua on behalf of the trustees and members of Edo Unity League, stated that the practice before the emergence of Professor Osayuki Oshodin as Vice Chancellor was that of deliberate hatred and stereotype against staff of the university who are of Edo State origin.
According to the group, “Since the agencies charged by law to investigate public officers on corruption have found no wrong against the man, investigating him on the pages of newspaper after the surreptitious assassination-by poisoning of the vice chancellor miraculously failed, is a journalistic rebellion, which has no place in morality and law.
“It behoves on us as Edo intelligentsia group to consistently propagate and protect the interest of Edo intelligentsia, particularly those in public office as well as those who have earned self esteem and integrity like Professor Osayuki Oshodin”.
The league cautioned against visiting jungle justice’, especially on public officers like Professor Oshodin, thinking that such act would earn them acceptance.
“As Edo intellectual and cultural group, determined to consistently sensitize and conscientiously keep the general public abreast of happenings around our immediate environment, including innumerablegains that the university of Benin achieved under Professor Oshodin’s detribalized administration, we are poised to pursue a legal and justiceable action against the local tabloid, for the libelous publication against Professor Oshodin.
“We make bold to say that not even the devil himself can harm a good man, let alone mere mortals who at the singular beck of God’s finger can lose their existence, yet they continue to cast aspersions on the person and office of the VC, university of Benin”.
This is an aberration on the generality of the common patrimony of Edo People”. The statement added.
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