University lecturer suspended over hateful Facebook post

olamide oni

January 28, 2016 9:33 AM

John Danfulani, in December, launched attack on the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, President MohammadU Buhari and uneducated children in the north.

Dr John Danfulani

Authorities at the Kaduna State University has suspended a senior lecturer over a hateful comment he made on his Facebook page, PremiumTimes reports.

The lecturer, John Danfulani, in December, launched attack on the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, President MohammadU Buhari and uneducated children in the north.

The Facebook comment partly read, " To them, APC is a religious party. Northern leaders under the party are demigods and crusaders of their ways of life. These people living in dusty villages of Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Kano, Jigawa are quick in calling you ‘Arne or Kafiri’ (Meaning Pagan) once you express your view on anything their God PMB and his brigade of small Angels are doing. Attack the attacker, and lets the skies fall.”

READ: Sociology-cultural group takes on varsity over query

He subsequently deleted his Facebook page after receiving backlash when the post went Viral among Kaduna residents.

Mr Danfulani, who is currently out of the country, has been accused by the University of making a speech that can be termed “divisive, injurious and tantamount to hate speech”.

In a query dated January 6, signed by the school registrar, Talatu A Kuri, the university said the lecturer should explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for a comment he posted on the social media.

“The content of the publication you authored is divisive, injurious to the University and tantamount to hate speech capable of inciting particular group of students against staff and other students. This behaviour is unbecoming of a lecturer who is supposed to mould students’ character and impart learning,” the letter said.

In his response, Mr. John said he was not furnished with details of his offence.

“It is a large world of dozens of platforms, most of which are yet to be in full practice in Nigeria. I have pages that upload my opinions on multifaceted local and international issues when my conscience and spirit direct me to do so,” he wrote.

“Because of this, I do not know on which of the platforms the piece that generated this query was hoisted because your query did not contain such details.”

He added: “My wall, updates and writings in the social media are all in my private capacity and not in my official capacity as a Lecturer with the University”.

Not satisfied with his response, the school authority suspended him from the university.

olamide oni