The University of Lagos (UNILAG)
chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has condemned the
dismissal of Austin Nwagbara, a Nigerian professor, by the University of
Education (UEW), Ghana.
Nwagbara was sacked by UEW over
“unethical and damning” comments he made about the country and its education
system.
The professor, in a viral video,
had accused the Ghanaian government of maltreating Nigerians.
The professor had urged a group
of people to employ the media from Nigeria to reshape the reportage of
Nigerians based in Ghana.
Shortly after this, he was
arrested by the Ghanaian police for allegedly inciting the public. He was later
granted bail but asked to report to the police frequently.
In a statement on Friday, Dele
Ashiru, chairman of ASUU-UNILAG, said the union received news of the alleged
harassment and detention of Nwagbara with anguish.
Citing article 3 and 4 of the
Kampala declaration on intellectual freedom and social responsibility, the
union said the professor’s opinion should have been viewed within the context
of academic freedom no matter how scathing they were.
The union called on the UEW and
relevant government agencies to ensure the safety of Nwagbara, warning that
they would be held responsible if anything untoward happens to the professor.
“Our union ASUU-UNILAG received
with anguish, the reports of harassment, intimidation, and detention of one of
our colleagues Professor Austin Nwagbara who is currently on sabbatical at the
University of Education, Winneba, Ghana, based on a leaked video of a meeting
addressed by the erudite professor,” the statement read.
“It is the opinion of our union
that no matter how scathing the vies of Professor Nwagbara may be to the
authorities of the University at Winneba, the Government and the people of
Ghana, the fact remains that Professor Nwagbara’s vies should be viewed within
the context of academic freedom guaranteed by Article 3 and 4 of the Kampala
Declaration on Intellectual Freedom and Social Responsibility which states
that..
“No African intellectual shall in
any way be persecuted, harassed or intimidated for reasons only of his or her
intellectual work, opinions, gender, nationality or ethnicity.
“Every African intellectual shall
enjoy the freedom of movement within his or her country and freedom to travel
outside and re-enter the country without let, hindrance or harassment. No
administrative or any other action shall directly or indirectly restrict this
freedom on account of a person’s intellectual opinions, beliefs or activity.’
“In the light of the above, our
union condemns in absolute terms the unwarranted harassment, intimidation and
illegal detention of the erudite professor.
“Our union calls on the
authorities of the University of Education, Winneba, relevant government
agencies and the people of Ghana to ensure the safety of Professor Nwagbara’s
life and property.
“They should take notice that
should anything untoward happens to Professor Nwagbara, the authorities of the
University of Winneba and the government of Ghana would be held squarely
responsible with its reciprocal consequences for Nigeria-Ghana relations and
the Ghanaian community in Nigeria.”
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