The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite has condemed Tuesday's violent protest at the Niger Delta University (NDU), which led to massive destruction and looting of vital properties owned by the University, saying it could have been avoided.

The Commissioner made this known when he went on an on-the spot assessment with the State Commissioner of Police, the Vice Chancellor of the University and some members of the management team to see the level of damage done by some armed hoodlums majorly from the community. He said that these persons did not only carry out a protest by locking down and welding the university gate, but also went on a looting spree and carted away with Computers, Television sets, Refrigerators, and other vital properties belonging to institution, adding that the University Authority would come up with a comprehensive report of all that was lost and damaged.

In the same vein, he regretted the casualties arising from the protest and wondered why opposition politicians will stoop so low to sponsor and arm hoodlums to attack security agents who were carrying out their duty of maintaining law and order.
According to him, unknown to the people of the university's ‎host communities, the sponsored hoodlums took charge of the protest, leading to its bloody outcome.

Obuebite who condemned attempt by some persons to link the state government to the ongoing issue said its only role was to mediate between the governing council, the school authority and the communities to end the impasse.

The Commissioner noted that all parties had reached a resolution after a meeting last week to amicably resolve the crisis but the vested interest of some disgruntled politicians led to the renewed protest.

While expressing confidence that the contentious issues will soon come to an end, he declared the total support of the goverment to the management of the university in the ongoing reforms which he emphasized has come to stay.

He said with the reforms the non-academic staff at the university is 1,268 of which 688 persons are junior staff and 580 persons are senior staff.

Out of the 688 junior staff, Obuebite said 350 are from Amassoma while 20 from Ogobiri while‎ out of the 580 senior staff 100 persons are from Amassoma while 5 are from Ogobiri alone.

Obuebite urged parents to warn their children not to allow themselves to be misled‎ and stressed that no amount of blackmail or propaganda will make government backdown on the implementation of the reforms.

He said : It is unfortunate that politicians who have fallen out of favour in the system will vent their frustration by sponsoring armed hoodlums to attack security operatives. We as a government are committed to this reform and we will not go back on it.

"We stand with the management of the school in their bid to reform the system and have a manageable workforce, especially those who are above the age of retirement.

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