, As security agents manhandle members
From PETRUS OBI, Enugu
Monday, October 18, 2010


Obi
Photo: Sun News publishing
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The South-east stakeholders meeting convened by the governors to find a way out of the strike by lecturers in the zone turned sour when ASUU leadership and members walked out in protest.
Chairman of the South-east Governors’ Forum, Mr. Peter Obi, had during accreditation for the meeting at the Nike Lake Resort Enugu announced that only Igbo speaking lecturers would be allowed in.

The lecturers, who viewed the announcement as a ploy to stop the national leadership of ASUU from participating, protested the decision and were consequently manhandled by security agents.

The coordinator of the ASUU strike in the zone, Dr. Emmanuel Osedeke, expressed shock that the governor could introduce ethnicity into the university system; “its unfortunate and we decided to walk out.” He alleged that Mr. Obi was out to prolong the strike because he wasn’t going to be part of the 2011 elections, “and his children are not here.” Osedeke declared that the strike would continue until the owners of the universities tell the governors that they were not a local institution; “because the governors did not own the schools.”

He lamented the assault unleashed on ASUU members, pointing out that they no longer feel safe; “the last time we came to Enugu, the governor unleashed dogs on us; so if there will be another meeting, it will be at a neutral ground. One of the lecturers, who was molested by the security agents, Mr. Ogbonna Onuoha, from Abia State University, narrated how a policeman held him on the head and tried to push him down; “when I recovered, his fingers were pointed towards my eyes as he threatened to blind me.

“And as we tried to go, they attempted to kidnap us; they held us hostage and even turned our students against us.”
Efforts to bring the lecturers back to the meeting failed and at the end, a committee was set up to look into the face-off and see the best way to resolve the problem. The committee, which was jointly headed by the Anglican Bishop of Enugu Diocese, Rev. Emmanuel Chukwuma and former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, announced that negotiation had been taken over by them. Bishop Chukwuma, who briefed newsmen on the outcome of the meeting, said it was agreed that a neutral body outside the governors and lecturers should handle the negotiation and come up with a conclusion.

He urged ASUU to appreciate the intervention and re-open the universities with the hope that agreement would be reached. Among the stakeholders that attended were the five governors of the zone, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; Chairman South-east Tradtional Rulers, Eze Cletus Illomanya, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, Chief Hope Uzodimma, Dr. Dozie Ikedife, Senator Ayogu Eze, among others.

There so called governors have kept me at home for almost 3months and are still willing to prolong it. God pass them o.

The other governors of the s.east will just be following peter obi sheepishly, they have forgotten that he will not contest 2011 elections with them.

Whenever they deem it fit to call of we'll be waiting.

graciella, this is serious ohh,

Means they are not near "prepared" to call this strike off!

All the Governors involved in this strike scam should resign or face the wrath of God and man.
Its all a ploy to lure the innocent youths who are students in this region into political thuggery and gerrymandering.
If the request of these lectures cannot be met, let allocations of these states be halted and let everybody stop work.
Enough is enough!!

@ all, see me oh,! a semester to graduate. God punish Devil!

graciella:


@ all, see me oh,! a semester to graduate. God punish Devil!

same with me o, infact an exam to graduate.