UNIBEN SUG crisis: Parliament orders 4 EXCO members to publicly denounce allegations against union president

UNIBEN SUG Crisis: Parliament Orders 4 EXCO Members to Publicly Denounce Allegations Against Union President.

By Editor

Dec 13, 2022

The senate assembly of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the University of Benin has ordered four executive members of the union to publicly denounce  allegations made against Comrade Amadin Foster, the president of the union.

The senate directive was sequel to the recommendations of the  investigative and enquiries committee set up by the body on the alleged vote of no confidence passed on the SUG President, Comrade Amadin Foster.

The committee's reports was signed by  Comrade Obasi Charles. 

Chairman and Comrade Shisulen Benedict, Secretary respectively.

The four members of the executive ordered to publicly make denouncement of the allegations are the general secretary of the union, Comrade Oredia Destiny, Attorney-General, Comrade Ekene Aninze, Director of Sports, Comrade Benson Osademe and the assistant secretary general; Omorogie Sylvester.

According to the committee's  reports, "it should be known this day that the vote of no confidence on Comrade Foster Amadin, the SUG president of UNIBEN was borne out of personal grievance, jealousy, envy and anger of some members of the executive council on the president.

"And we advised that they restrain from such activities of letting their personal interests, or emotions becloud their sense of judgment and sincerity.

"As  a sign of good faith, the four executive members should make a public release to acknowledge resolution to these issues as some of these allegations were exaggerated and misrepresentation of facts.

"Also, the choice of words in some areas of the letter is rather damaging to the personality of Mr President, one of which is "Adolf Hitler" of Nazi Germany",it said.

Other recommendations of the committee include, the urgent need to address the ambiguities plaguing the union's Constitution through constitutional review and reforms.

It opined that the reviewing of the constitution will go a long way in addressing some recurrent problems in the Union and strengthening it.

It, however, noted that as students involved in politics, they should understand that the primary loyalty of the executive was  to the students, and that should be seen at all times and levels protecting  the interests of the students.

Dailymonitorngr reports that the four executive members were said to have constituted themselves into a parallel body thereby passing a vote of “no confidence” on the President of the university’s Students Union.

The four executive members,who tagged themselves "G4", were accused to have ganged up to undermine the powers of the SUG President, by passing a vote of “no confidence” on him, an action that led to a strained working relationship between the G4 and the  President who by the constitution of the body, is entrusted with the duty of leading the Union.

In a bid to resolve the imbroglio, the Speaker of the Parliament,. Rt Hon Dignity Amenaghawon directed the committee on Investigations and Enquiries to examine the seven-point allegations against the president as contained in the memo by the G4.

Amenaghawon, also directed the committee to establish the merits or the demerits of their allegations and make recommendations that will bring the lingering crisis to an end.