Students of the University of Port Harcourt today blocked the busy East/West road that links all the South-South states.

The students said they were protesting the protracted faceoff between Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, and the Federal government.

The blockade caused serious traffic jam on the busy highway which led to a clash between the students and men of the military Joint Task Force.

The students said they want resumption of talks between ASUU and the Federal Government.

http://thepmnews.com/2009/08/28/uniport-students-block-highway

As long as they dont make it violent, they got my full support.

Kudos to you; leaders of tomorrow.

good, but they are blocking others who have nothing to do with government from work etc

they should have gone to the local government to protest

Otokx is behind this.

Ibime:

Otokx is behind this.

Behind the demonstration or this post? Abeg, clarify.

Not me

Those "students" were rented by the FG using the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) as an intermediary. In actual fact majority of the crowd were not UNIPORT students per se. The university authorities refused to give permission for those "students" to demonstrate in the campus because officially the school is closed down and the students are at home with their parents. If in the event that such permission was given them and some damage should be done then the authorities will have no legal backing to surcharge the students. The university authorities went a step further to mobilize all the necessary security forces to protect their facilities especially the residential quarters were the university staff stay.

Now the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) decided to lobby the organizers and influence the tone of the demonstration which will not protest against them alone but will castigate both parties evenly. The whole thing has been in the works since last week and having been warned via an sms most of us in the university community stayed in doors while the "students" went straight on to the east west road junction blocking that strategic road. They were quite innovative as they used like 5 flat bed long trailers to block the road. All the siren carrying politicians and so called "big men" had no alternative but to wait until it was over or return back to their houses. AIT was there to video it. A lot of security personnel were on hand to make sure that no one was molested. It all ended by about 1pm thereafter the road was open and by 3pm it was quite clear.

Blocking the eastwest road will not stop this backwardness coming from Government it will be better if student unions should put themself together to make the system stop functioning it is only at that point all Nigerians will know the implication of students not being in school.

They have my full backing.

The beginnig of a revolution? The people have been pushed to the edge