UNIUYO VC BEMOANS BAD STUDENT POLITICS

Prof. Comfort Ekpo, VC UNIUYO

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Uyo , Professor Comfort Ekpo has advised students, parents and the general public against external collaboration, influence and bad politics in student Union Elections.

Professor Ekpo handed down the advice following a protest by some students at the main Campus of the University along Nwaniba Road, Uyo, Wednesday, April 22, 2015.

The Vice-Chancellor, while addressing a group of disgruntled students who declined to speak to the Deans of Student and Engineering Dr. (Mrs) Isongesit Solomon and Prof. Linus Asuquo, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Trenchard Ibia wondered why the students resorted to protest without exhausting the avenue of dialogue , formal complaint in writing and other peaceful overtures to settle their grievances with the University Management and directed them to formally present their complaints in writing for consideration before the close of work.

In an interaction with one of the students at the scene of the protest, it was adduced that the protest was not unconnected with the disqualification of one of the candidates vying for the office of the Student Union President, Mr. Bassey Bassey of the Chemical Engineering Department in the Faculty of Engineering; in the election billed for Friday April 24, 2015. The protest according to this source, was an indication of the displeasure of the Engineering Students who were the first set of students to have moved to the main Campus of the University along Nwaniba Road, Uyo; students from the same Faculty of Engineering whose disagreement over the University Bus Shuttle Scheme led to the unfortunate June 12, 2013 student crisis in the University.

According to the Secretary, Student Union Electoral Committee, Mr. Aniefiok Ekpo, a Senior Assistant Registrar, the approval and disqualification of candidates for the Student Union Election is an executive decision of the State Security Service. He added that the duty of the University is to compile names of candidates vying for positions and send to Security Agencies for screening before the elections. This is as applicable with secular elections and has been practice in the University for several years without hitches.

Speaking further, the motherly disposed Vice-Chancellor, Professor Comfort Ekpo wondered why students in other Faculty who were screened out by the security agencies did not protest except students of the Faculty of Engineering. She expressed disappointment that a faculty known to have created some inventions such as Can Satellite and other fabrications; produced the best graduating student two years ago should allow external influence to thwart the lofty heights attained by the Faculty.

The Vice-Chancellor implored the Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Professor Linus Asuquo and his colleagues to devise more creative avenues to channel the Engineering knowledge of the students, and advise parents, guardians and the general public to steer clear from student politics as the University was not a political platform but a citadel of intellectualism where men and women of learning and character are groomed for National Development.