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Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, has expressed deep shock at the sudden death of former President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Professor Festus Iyayi and called on players in the education sector, including the Federal Government and striking lecturers in the country to rededicate themselves to the pursuit of excellence at the tertiary level in honour of the deceased.
The governor in a statement by Felix Ofou, his press secretary, said the highest honour that the late Festus Iyayi deserved was the return to the pursuit of academic excellence in our universities and other higher institutions, arguing that anything short of this would have meant that the late activist might have died in vain.
Uduaghan recalled the heroic struggle and sacrifice of the late Professor and author for the working class as well as the university system, pointing out that the history of strikes and strive for higher academic goals in the country cannot be said to be complete without glowing references to the part played by the deceased while still alive.
The Delta State chief executive, an alumnus of the University of Benin, paid glowing tributes to his alma mater for providing a place of pride for the renowned poet, author and academic colossus who engineered new heights and defined the intellectual and working class struggle in a manner never experienced before his time; standing strong and speaking truth to power and championing the cause of the oppressed.
He therefore commiserated with the family of the deceased, UNIBEN, the people of Edo state, ASUU, the academic community and the nation at large on the painful loss and asked God to grant them the fortitude to bear the untimely passage of such a titanic labour leader.
