Oyo Abduction: Branch NUT Chairmen Refute June 5 Protest Viral Post

Oyo Abduction: Branch NUT Chairmen Refute June 5 Protest Viral Post 

By Magnus Emuji 

Teachers in Delta State, particularly those in Aniocha/Oshimili axis, have been told to disregard a viral  post from faceless individual claiming that the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in the four local government areas directed their teachers to participate in a demonstration on June 5 over the recent abduction of Oyo teachers and pupils.

The chairmen of the affected local government areas, who  made the clarification at the State Secretariat of NUT during a press conference to debunk the post, which was attended by his fellow chairmen for Oshimili North, Comrade Daniel Okolo, Aniocha North, Comrade Aniamaka Joy Uzor and their counterpart in charge of Aniocha South , Comrade Linus Chukwuenweniwe  said that though protesting was not a bad idea but such directives have to come from their National and State levels.

Speaking further, the Branch chairman of NUT for Oshimili South, Comrade (Prophet) Chinedu Joseph Mokogwu described the information as untrue and  baseless and did not emanate from them, urging teachers in the area and the general public to abide by such a misleading  post .

Comrade Mokogwu  stated that the leadership of the NUT in Aniocha/Oshimili do not know anything about the vital post and should therefore be considered as the figment of the imagination of the faceless writer .

He explained that if there was to be any  solidarity protest in the State, the leadership of the union at the State level reserves the statutory responsibility to issue any directives to teachers, noting that in this case no directives have been given to them .

Also speaking, the NUT chairman for Oshimili North ,  Comrade Daniel Okolo said that the refutal of the post was necessary in order to put the record straight, stressing that there was never a time they instructed teachers in their local government areas to embark  any demonstration.

While saying that they act within their areas of jurisdictions , Comrade Okolo noted that if there were to be any solidarity protest concerning the abduction of school children and their teachers in Oyo State, the State leadership of NUT would definitely notify them .

Comrade Okolo specifically stated that such unfounded information must have been orchestrated by unscrupulous elements who may be seeking for cheap popularity and looking for ways to extort money from people, especially from politicians.

In their separate remarks, the Delta State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Comrade Dickson Poubeni and the Principal Secretary of the union , Comrade Dan Basime informed the four Branch chairmen that the State leadership of the union invited them because of viral post that they the chairmen had directed their teachers to mobilize for a protest on June 5 whereas the State Chapter of the union was not aware of such a thing.

Comrade Poubeni, however, warned individuals causing misinformation using the name of teachers to desist henceforth from the negative act ,  emphasizing that NUT is one of the most organized unions in the society and this, the credibility of the Union must be protected at all times.

They implored the public, especially teachers not to comply with the directives, saying that if there was need for solidarity protest, their National would certainly inform them .