ASUU Strike: Union President Denies Mocking State Universities

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Emmanuel Osodeke, has denied mocking state universities, saying he was misinterpreted by the media.

While making an appearance on Arise TV, Osodeke had spoken on the decision of some universities to back out of the ongoing strike, calling them "irrelevant".

"Yobe State, go and check, just like Kaduna state university, what’s happening there? Please don’t set those examples, they’re irrelevant.

“Talk about the issue, is Ibadan on strike? Is UNN on strike? Is ABU on strike? Is BUK on strike? Is Maiduguri and Lagos on strike?

“Talk about important universities, not those quacks. They’re not part of our strike. Set the ones that are members of our strike", he had said.

Backtracking his words in a chat with Daily Post on Saturday, Osodeke said he was only referring to three universities owned by state governments.

“There is nothing like that. It is a lie. I have told myself that I will not talk to the press again because they always misrepresent things.

“I have found out that the Nigerian press specialises in manipulating interviews, reporting what someone did not say just to create confusion in the system. They won’t report things the way it is”, he stated.