Tension Mounts in AKWA Poly as Students Demand Elected Union Leadership

…The SUG will be in Place before October is out – Chairman Governing Council

By John Effiong

Students of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Ikot Ekpene, barricaded the school gate for hours today demanding an elected Students’ Union Government(SUG).

The spokesman for the aggrieved students, Mr. Akpan Idongesit, said that all the students wanted was a duly elected students union government in line with the constitution approved by federal school authority. He maintained that students would return to classes if they were reassured by management.

The Registrar of the Institution, Mr. Emmanuel Umoh, who claimed to represent both the Rector and the Governing Council Chairman, promised there will be an election in two weeks time, adding that management and council will meet with select members of the students to work out a timetable.

The Rector, Barr. Israel Affia and Chairman of Council, Barr. Uwemedimo Nwoko were reportedly left  with the Dean, Students Affairs Mr. James Etim Ekikor whose duty it was to oversee the election after more than ten years of either no Students Union Government or lame duck caretaker governments.

Students claimed to have been intimidated by Mr. Ekikor instead of their grievances being forwarded to management.

One of the students claimed that Barr. Affia who promised to “raise the bar” when he became Rector in February, 2013, has only so far hiked fees for untendered services. “The services they are charged for as part of their fees are not provided”, another student said. “This Rector is trampling upon our rights and we will not be quiet anymore”, he added.

In a telephone conversation with the Chairman of the Governing Council, Barr Uwemedimoh Nwoko, he said that the Students Union Government caretaker Committee was given an opportunity for a period of over one year to produce a Constitution and send a proposal to the School management about the election of a substantive SUG but they failed, only to go on demonstration attempting to blackmail the school management as being responsible for their inability to move forward.

Barr Nwoko said he held a meeting with the Students body within the first few months he came on board and specifically told them he was not going to tolerate a caretaker committee for the “next six months” for the SUG.  The Council Chairman said the then caretaker committee lamented how they were disallowed into a NANS meeting which held in Uyo at that time for not being a democratically elected Students’ Union leadership.  He said for about 12 years they had not elected Students Union government and had no constitution.  He told this paper that the Students opted for a Constitution to be done for them by the School but he objected, adding that they were to do their constitution and forward a proposal to the school management, but they delayed till they had to embark on demonstration.

He said he was going to the school to hold meeting with the school management and that within three weeks there would be an elected SUG before the semester exams would be taken.