By Gift Obiajuru Ukadikebuazua

A member of the Students Union parliament at the University of Benin, Hon. Diala Princewill Chijoke, denies being involved in the vote of no confidence passed on the Attorney General of the Union. He retracted his appended signature on the letter of no confidence due to lack of clarity and ambiguity.

Hon. Diala released a letter today, the 29th of June, two days after the release of the letter of no confidence which had his signature on it. He disassociates himself from that “Letter of No Confidence” on the grounds that the collated signatures were not used for the clear purpose for which it was requested.

The community of students at the University of Benin was thrown into shock with a letter titled “Letter of No Confidence in the Attorney General of the Students Union Government, University of Benin” that was released on the 27th of June by members of the Students Union parliament representing the Faculty of Law.

According to the letter of no confidence in the Attorney General of the union, Avwodigari Godswill John, by members of the parliament representing his faculty, the Faculty of Law, there were several reasons, including:

▫️ Insubordination and actions bringing disrepute to the prestigious office of the Attorney General.
▫️ Actions that are unbecoming of a law student, soiling the reputation of the prestigious Faculty of Law.
▫️ Insensitivity to the plights of the students he was elected to serve.
▫️ Using his office to create havoc and issues that are divisive and can cause chaos in the union.
▫️ Unprofessional conduct.
▫️ Lack of proper understanding and interpretation of the SUG constitution.

“Pursuant to the Vote of No Confidence on the Attorney General of the Student Union Government, AVWODIGARI GODSWILL JOHN, that was passed by the Faculty of Law Senators on the 27th June, 2023, which caused an uproar due to my reactions to the said document emanating from ‘our’ caucus, I have the following to put straight for the avoidance of doubt,” Hon. Diala wrote in his letter.

“…that I affirm on the grounds of ambiguity, lack of clarity of purpose, and misconception that the said Vote of No Confidence is not worthy of acceptance by all relevant and concerned authorities, at the given circumstances,” the Senator stated.

Also clarifying that the appended signature was not used for what it was intended for, he wrote, “…that the signature published alongside the Vote of No Confidence was not used for the clear purpose for which it was collated originally, hence a nullity of the purported document.

“…that on the basis of the aforementioned, PENDING when true essence is given to the purported Vote of No Confidence and the relevance of its composition, I, in my capacity as a Senator of the Student Union Government Parliament, hereby officially retract my signature from the said document, and that it remains so forthwith until further notice,” he added.

Although Hon. Diala Chijoke has called for the student community to disregard the letter of no confidence and retract his signature from the said document, he calls for peace and affirms his stand for strict adherence to judicial due process in all ventures, irrespective of the parties concerned.

“…that in the best interest of my Primary Constituency and of the University community, I will only sue for peace and harmony in all quarters; I only affirm the strict adherence of judicial due process in all ventures irrespective of whom it may concern per time

.

“This has been and remains my fulcrum of thoughts and actions – Integrity,” Hon. Diala concluded.

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