Soldiers and policemen yesterday descended on students of the Abia State University ABSU, for protesting the planned revocationof the degree awarded former governor of the state, Dr Orji UzorKalu by the institution. Kalu had completed his first degree programme at ABSU when he wasgovernor and earned a bachelors degree. Surprisingly, the Abia State government recently threatened that the state s university would revoke the degree, in a move believed to be the continuation of the persecution of the former governor. Yesterday, when ABSU Senate was expected to meet overthe matter, hundreds of students had converged on the administrative block as early as 7am.
The students, who were on a peaceful demonstration, were however, dispersed, even as someof them were beaten up and whisked away by combined team of soldiers and mobile policemen. Saturday Sun observed that no fewer than five students were beaten to a pulp and thrown into the waiting vans of the military personnel. While the mobile policemen stormed the campus with security van with the inscription, “MOPOL 28”, the soldiers came with several Hilux vans. The protest had started in a peaceful manner and within thirtyminutes, the team of security operatives stormed the campus, beating student, including those who were not part of the protest. In the circumstance, students andstaff were seen running helter-skelter for their lives.
It was not immediately clear where the arrested students weretaken – to the police station or to army barracks, since both outfits were involved in the operation. Some of the Placards the studentswere carrying read: “NO TO REVOCATION OF OUK’S DEGREE.” “OUK IS ONE OF US.” “THIS INHUMAN TREATMENT CAN HAPPENTO ANYONE TOMMORROW.” “IT IS OUK TODAY, IT CAN BE ANYBODY TOMMORROW.” “GOVERNMENT SHOULD SAVE OUR FUTURE.” “DEGREE FROM THIS UNIVERSITY MAY NOT BE CREDIBLE AFTER THIS.”“POLITICS SHOULD NOT BE MIXED WITH EDUCATION.” Two students who did not disclose their names said they were on their way for lectures when the security men started beating everybody.
“We were just going for lectures when I had a slap from the back, only for me to look and it was from a soldier; they started beating me and my friend. We had to run for our life.” Efforts made to reach the PRO of the School, Mr. Acho Elendu, for comments failed as he did not pick his call on his phone, 08037448159. There were hints earlier this week that there were plans by Governor Theodore Orji to invoke his powers as the visitor to the Abia State University and revoke the degree certificate the university awarded to his predecessor. It was learnt that this followed a recommendation of an investigative panel that looked into a spurious petition lodged against the certificate issued several years ago. Kalu hadcut his degree programme at the University of Maiduguri and had transferred his transcript records and other details to Abia State University, where he completed the programme.
Inside source at the university senate said the matter to revoke Chief Kalu’s certificate was not discussed at the senate, that the Vice Chancellor only announced tomembers that decision had been taken on it. According to the source, when the former Vice Chancellor, Prof Ogwo, raised his hand to make a comment, the VC told him that whatever he said onthe matter would not affect anything, because a decision had been taken on it. It was also learnt that the senate had dismissed the recommendation ofthe panel because it was hurriedlyput together and did not follow due process. Senate had also noted that the report was hurriedly done and the Vice Chancellor, as at the time of the report, was never invited to give evidence during investigation. Neither Kalu nor others considered to be central figures in the petition were invited to testify.
Reliable sources revealed early this week that those interested in the matter allegedly had mounted pressure on the senate to revisit the issue. A senior member of the academic community warned that: “They should not bring politics into academics because it will destroy the institution. Offers have been made to some members after some of us rejected the bid.” Former Governor Kalu, who was outside the country, remarked that the Abia State Government’s latest move has shown the level of desperation of the government.
He spoke through his aide, Kunle Oyewunmi and said: “It is obviousthat this shameless desperation was provoked by my return to PDP.If the governor is popular as he claims, why is he jittery and desperate that one man is re-joining a party he co-founded?” He called on well-meaning people of Abia Stateand Nigeria to call T. A. Orji to order.
http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/soldiers-policemen-brutalise-absu-students-%e2%80%a2for-protesting-revocation-of-kalus-degree/

I'll be back!!

For God's sake what's T.A Orji turning Abia sate into. There seems to be loss of self dignity in this his fight with his master. Abia people are the ones suffering. Let's wait and see how this whole drama ends.

I'm seriously considering this rent-a-crowd business. So ABSU students love OUK to the point of protesting on his behalf? I laugh in Swahili.

On a serious note, was the ABSU senate smoking weed when they approved the degree in first place? Abeg jare.

ypzilanti: I'm seriously considering this rent-a-crowd business. So ABSU students love OUK to the point of protesting on his behalf? I laugh in Swahili.

On a serious note, was the ABSU senate smoking weed when they approved the degree in first place? Abeg jare.

From information I got, Kalu was actually coming for lectures and actually wrote his exams without aid or cheating. A friend of mine was his course mate. I think they are looking for any loophole to discredit him. Orji Kalu saw the degree as a challenge and had to humble himself to achieve that.