Those alleging scandal and crisis in the Academic Staff Union Of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) in Delta State, have been warned to verify and authenticate their facts before rushing to make any such claims against the Union.
The warning was handed down yesterday, by the State’s Chairman of the Union, Comrade Kenneth Okoh, in his response to the allegation of financial misappropriation to the tune of N200m against him, profiteering at the expense of the Union, abuse of power and arrogance, among other’s by what he called some faceless and mischievous person’s in the State.
Comrade Okoh, who said, the allegations were the handiwork of those who were blind to the good works of ASUSS and its Executive in the State, towards fighting the course of Secondary Schools’ teacher’s and making them occupy their rightful place in the educational sector of the State posited that, ASUSS in Delta State was peaceful, characterized by harmony between it’s Executive and Secondary School teacher’s.
The operations/ activities of ASUSS in Delta State are transparent, with the Union and teachers, working as an inseparable team and one united family. Every member of the Executive is part of everything we do and decisions taken. Therefore, there is no blackleg among us, Comrade Okoh said.
Reacting to some of the specific allegations, he said, accusing him or his Exco of misappropriating N200m of the Unions funds was the most unreasonable thing for any person to allege, and it is a lie from the pit of hell, because, in the first place, since ASUSS began statutory deductions from teachers salaries, the Union has not been able to realize N200m.
On the allegation of his use of the Union’s funds to purchase vehicles, only to be diverted for his personal domestic use, Comrade Okoh challenged those alleging such to be bold enough to specify the vehicles, their make and registration numbers.
“Before I became ASUSS chairman in Delta State, I had four vehicle’s to myself because, I was into sale of vehicle’s. The vehicles were FORD Explorer, KIA Spetra, a big bus (FORD A350 and another, Satorm view, 2007 model. All the vehicles, I bought with my personal money between 2012 and 2015, and I became ASUSS Chairman in December, 2016.
“From the time I became ASUSS Chairman till now, I have not bought any personal vehicle for myself. And, it would interest you to know that, all my vehicles were used to the service of ASUSS, and even when the engine of one got damaged, I got it fixed with my money”, Comrade Okoh posited.
He said, the only vehicle ASUSS money was used to purchase is a Toyota Sienna, bought and registered in the name of ASUSS.
On the allegation of use of the Unions funds to purchase land which he sold to the Union at outrageous price, Comrade Okoh said, it was a figment of the wicked imagination of those alleging such.
“ASUSS bought a land at Okpanam. Before the land was bought, it was a collective decision of the Executive. The land was bought and registered in ASUSS’s name. All the land documents bear the name of ASUSS, he added.
Also, on the allegation of abuse of office and high handedness, he challenged those alleging such to come up with specific incidence, adding that Secondary School teacher’s were responsible and very well educated person’s, who cannot be bullied in anyway or by any persons. The relationship between Secondary School teachers and the Union Executive has been a very cordial one, Comrade Okoh added.
