UNIVERSITY of Benin (UNIBEN) teacher Prof. Festus Iyayi died holding a newspaper in his hand, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Specialist Hospital, Dr Paul Amodu Okenwu, said yesterday.
The late ex-president of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) had a penetrating injury to his heart, which might have killed him instantly, the CMD told reporters in his Lokoja office.
Okenwu said shock may have contributed to Iyayi’s death. The doctor believed the teacher may have been hypertensive. A drug used by hypertension patient was found beside his body in the vehicle. “It may be possible the penetrating injury may not even reach his heart.”
Also speaking on the accident, the sole administrator of the Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, Dr Paul Amodu, said Iyayi may have died of hypertension.
“Beside his seat was a pair of Novas, an anti-hypetensive drug which suggests that he might have been hypentensive.
But he died as a result of a penetrating injury, which went straight through his heart,” he added.
A vehicle in Kogi State Governor Idris Wada’s convoy rammed into a bus in which the unionist and others were travelling at Banda village, about nine kilometres to Lokoja. They were on their way to the ASUU National Council meeting in Kano, which was meant to resolve the almost five months ASUU strike.
According to the sole administrator of the hospital, who said he was briefed by Dr Francis Idoko, an attachee to the governor’s convoy, the convoy’s rear vehicle rammed into the bus which was trying to avoid a pothole.
He said: “The convoy brushed the side on which the Prof was sitting and something pierced straight through his heart, and he strapped on the seat motionless, with a copy of a national newspaper in his hand
“The woman sitting in the front of the vehicle( Dr Ngozi Ilo) only had part of her right hand flesh slightly chopped off. There was no fracture in the hand.
“When she was rushed here , we later discovered she had a little cut in the leg and a fracture in the Tipia bone ( upper part of the leg). She was treated by a consultant, Dr Chizoba Osita Nwokese, and has been discharged.
“I believe that what will be will be. Iyayi was just destined to die this way because nobody was unconsciuos in his vehicle. Only four other people in the governor’s convoy sustained injuries.”
The state sector commandant of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr Olakunle Omotajo, said it was too early to apportion blame on the cause of the accident.
He said the investigation team had swung into action to determine the cause of the story saying their findings will later be sent to the headquarters in Abuja before it can be made public.
He, however, confirmed that one person died. Five were injured.
Iyayi’s body was claimed at the Specialist Hospital by his immediate younger brother, Peter Iyayi, who teaches at the Federal University, Lokoja.
The University of Benin (UNIBEN) was in a mournful mood yesterday. Many offices were shut
At Iyayi’s residence, sympathisers gathered in groups to discuss his death.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Osayuki Oshodin led the top management of the institution to pay a condolence visit to the widow. Close family members and friends of the late activist received them.
Iyayi’s widow, Grace, was surrounded by friends and relatives. She wept silently, occasionally wiping tears from her face.
Oshodin was in a pensive mood. He could not speak.
Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) Prof. Obehi Okojie spoke on his behalf, describing Iyayi’s death as a shock and a great loss to the university.
He told the widow and family members: “We know what Prof. Iyayi stood for. He was a dear friend to all of us. God didn’t allow the accident to happen but it has happened.
“God will see you through. The university is behind you. We pray God to strengthen you and help you to entrench what he stood for.”
Omole, one of the sons of the late Iyayi, said they did not anticipate receiving condolences.
He said the family was amazed at the concern shown by members of the public on the death of their father.
“We know he was an ASUU warlord and he was going for what he believed in. We are sure he will be in a better place. We never expected it to be so soon,” Omole said.
A childhood friend of late Iyayi and Dean of Postgraduate School of UNIBEN, Prof. Bob Osazee, described him as the best in human capital development management.
He said: “He was committed to activism and had deep concern for human welfare. When he was detained, he stuck to his guns and never wavered. He believed in the welfare of his colleagues.”
Prof. Famous Izedonmi, who said he was taught by the late Iyayi in 1980 described him as a rare gem and a hater of oppression.
“Prof. Iyayi lived and died for ASUU. He went beyond UNIBEN. We should immortalise his name in UNIBEN. We will do something to immortalise him,” Izedonmi said.
