Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities , University of Ilorin branch on Wednesday defied the order of the national body of the union asking it not to stage a procession in commemoration of the late former president of the union, Professor Festus Iyayi, as it held the rally on campus.

The national leadership of ASUU had  in a statement, midweek placed embargo on the Unilorin branch of the union's plan to stage a rally in honour of the late activist.

But the leadership of the branch vowed  to continue to uphold the ideal of progressive unionism as practiced by late Iyayi.

The members of the union led by its branch chairman, Professor Wahab Egbewole, moved across the campus of the university to show their grieve over the killing of Professor Iyayi along Abuja- Lokoja road last week by the convoy of the Kogi state governor, Captain Idris Wada.

Addressing journalists after the procession, the branch chairman, Professor Egbewole said the union would not be in line with any group that fails to embrace progressive unionism.
According to him,, "the era of anti- progressive attitude in the act of unionism would not be accepted so as to move the university system forward in the country".

He said,"we are not against to be in line with the national leadership of the union but it has to be for progressive idea and not antagonistic to the development of university system in the country.

"As far as ASUU Unilorin is concerned, ours is to join hands to the growth of university system and not the one that will retard its growth".

Egbewole vowed that members would use their blood to maintain the legacy of the late unionist so as to add values to the educational growth of the university.

He described late Professor Iyayi as an educational icon that used his knowledge to boost the academic excellence of the Nigerian students.

He said, "Late Professor Iyayi was severely persecuted but still this did not stop him from rising to the course of the ASUU that every body is now benefiting in the university system today".