A Call to Honor Professor Biodun Jeyifo with Integrity, By Niyi Sunmonu

Any homage to the esteemed late Professor Biodun Jeyifo (BJ) is a worthy addition to the many rightful accolades acknowledging his significant influence. Typically, one would consider such a tribute as the one articulated by Professor Christopher Piwuna, the President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), titled “Biodun Jeyifo: The legend lives on,” published in PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday, March 1. Nonetheless, the tribute by the ASUU president contains inaccuracies concerning Professor Jeyifo's relentless endeavors to resolve the institutional turmoil that afflicted the Obafemi Awolowo University branch of ASUU (ASUU-OAU) from 2016 to 2017.

Thus, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA) presents this response for two principal reasons. First, as Malcolm X famously highlighted, “A people who don’t control their own story will always live in someone else’s lie.” Upholding this principle, our union generated “The CONUA Story,” which is a comprehensive narrative detailing the establishment and progression of the union, available on our website.

Second, this response is driven by a desire to honor Mr. Jeyifo’s legacy through truth. Throughout his life, Professor Jeyifo was known for his steadfast resistance against oppression. He would largely rejoice upon witnessing a resilient CONUA that stands to honor his memory.

For the sake of maintaining historical accuracy, completeness, and reverence for Mr. Jeyifo’s legacy, various elements of the ASUU president’s remarks necessitate clarification. Professor Jeyifo's expression of regret during his 2018 convocation speech at OAU characterized the branch as enduring a severe and debilitating crisis, even while it was the birthplace of ASUU. His contributions were far more extensive. Between late 2018 and 2019, he voluntarily relocated to Ile-Ife, engaging different stakeholders over several weeks and conducting three separate meetings with the group within ASUU that ultimately established CONUA.

Additionally, the assertion that the crisis could have been permanently resolved had the leader of the separation movement assented to Jeyifo's perspective fails to recognize a crucial facet of the situation. Mr. Jeyifo himself attributed a significant portion of the responsibility to the unyielding demeanor of the ASUU national leadership throughout the process.

Those of us who participated in discussions with him during this period—an uncommon privilege—clearly recall his final judgment. With his characteristic forthrightness, he noted that the ASUU national leadership held a greater share of the blame for the failure of his reconciliation attempts. His concerns were deep-rooted, recognizing that some information presented to him earlier did not authentically represent the actual circumstances. In his view, a fair approach without punitive measures would have allowed for a genuine renewal of the union rather than a permanent schism. He outlined these recommendations to ASUU's NEC on March 2, 2019, emphasizing the OAU crisis as the most critical challenge in the union’s history, particularly as it had escalated to the level of a breakaway movement seeking formal registration.

It is certainly fitting to pay tribute to Mr. Biodun Jeyifo here. He was not merely a scholar or a pioneer of the union; rather, he functioned as a moral compass, unafraid to take a clear stand when principles necessitated it. One notable demonstration of his intellectual bravery occurred many years ago at Oduduwa Hall of the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where, in direct response to Professor Wole Soyinka's lecture, he thundered, “Rightocracy or Leftocracy: take a position!” This declaration encapsulated his lifelong refusal to entertain ambiguity in the face of power, injustice, or contradiction. He challenged intellectuals and institutions to declare their positions rather than hide behind nuances or convenient approaches.

It is in that same spirit that we recall his 2019 intervention—not as a thwarted mediation—but as a courageous endeavor to call upon both parties to embrace fairness and renewal. His exit from the initiative, once he recognized that trust had been undermined by deception, exemplified a commitment to integrity, a refusal to attach his name to half-hearted measures. Among the many instances that highlighted his commitment to constructive dialogue was his assertion at one of our meetings—held in a respectful and honest environment—that ASUU was not intended to be a union that expelled its members—a poignant reminder of the founding values of the union. This setting of mutual respect and open dialogue does not imply any fundamental contention between Mr. Jeyifo and those of us who went on to form CONUA. He also explicitly inquired about our essential requirement for rejoining ASUU, and we plainly articulated that it involved revoking the letters of expulsion directed at our members. This necessity was presented to the ASUU leadership; unfortunately, it remained unaddressed. It is imperative to clarify that the conception of CONUA did not precede the expulsion; it emerged as a response to it.

The assertion that the situation could have been permanently resolved if the leader of the separation movement had yielded to Mr. Jeyifo therefore neglects a vital aspect of the historical record. Professor Jeyifo himself allocated a heavier share of accountability to the unsatisfactory management of the process by the ASUU national leadership.

We extend our gratitude for the chance to clarify this element of the ASUU president’s remarks, and we reiterate our condolences to his family, friends, and all those whom he inspired.

The registration of CONUA adhered strictly to regulations outlined in the Trade Unions Act and was ultimately validated by the National Industrial Court in July 2023. CONUA emerged from a moment characterized by principled dissent. We did not reject reconciliation out of a desire for division; rather, we sought equity, fairness, and accountability within the academic labor union framework. This commitment is the reason why we consistently opt for dialogue, discipline, and responsibility over confrontation as we pursue the interests of academia in Nigeria. We believe this course of action genuinely honors Professor Jeyifo's call for renewal—not through absorption or negation but via constructing a framework that benefits educators, students, and the overall university ecosystem without unwarranted disruption.

Today, the reality of pluralism within the academic sphere is no longer a point of contention; it is an undeniable fact. CONUA remains dedicated to ensuring fruitful competition and collaboration with all unions concerning common interests, such as funding, pension reforms, academic freedom, and organizational integrity. Our aim is not to displace or fragment, but rather to augment and fortify.

Professor Jeyifo’s legacy is paramount and should not be limited to a singular narrative. He embodied truth, fairness, and the audacity to confront systemic inequalities, even when these truths were uncomfortable. We honor his memory—not only as he rests but also by actively engaging in responsible and transparent building, steadfastly refusing to be silent when corrections to the historical record are necessary.