Death of 400-level student: Groups press for resignation of VC over shooting in UNIPORT

Pressure has mounted on the vice chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) to resign following the shooting to death of a student during a demonstration on Monday, April 11, 2016.

The call, which started with the Rivers State chapter of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) late on Monday, has spread the next day, just as the number of those killed has been confirmed as one Peter Opurum, a 400-level student. Two others said to have be missing have been found to be wounded, not dead.

The students were said to be kicking against increase in fees and blocking those did not meet deadline from writing the examinations that were to start on the demonstration day.

The students were said to have pressed for relief especially for indigent students but to no avail. When the demonstration started and the police were called in, some top persons were said to have appealed for the university authorities to avert the tension by allowing those who did not meet up or who paid part of the fees to write and pay later, but that this was not heeded, leading to violence and shooting to death.

The public relations officer, William Wodi, however said the federal government expected lecturers to be paid for supervising exams and that the fees and the prompt payment were justified.

The TUC however said it condemned in its entirety the unwarranted killing of students of the University who were on a peaceful protest. “We are worried that if there unarmed and protesting students would be so killed in cold blood, then there is no guarantee that protesting workers or citizens will not be killed.”

TUC led by Chika Onuegbu called on the authorities of the University of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, the Inspector General of Police and the Minister for Education to as a matter of utmost urgency identify and prosecute those who killed the innocent protesting students. “We note that students all over the world have the right to protest. And as a matter of fact, the right to peaceful protest is protected by the Nigerian constitution.”

The Emohua-born activist said; “We want to state categorically that if within 14 days our demand is not met, we shall convene an emergency TUC State Council meeting and invite the State Council to take a decision on this matter including the decision to withdraw the services of all our members in Rivers State.”

TUC appealed to all parents, civil society organisations and people of good conscience to rise up against the unwarranted and cold blooded killing of these students, whose only offence was protesting against the policy of the authorities of the University of Port Harcourt.

The TUC said; “Want to state categorically that if the Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT cannot handle a mere student protest, then he should resign immediately. Silence in this matter cannot be golden but an actively collaboration with the murderers of the students.”

Onuegbu also raised concerns over the criteria for appointment of VCs, saying it cannot be true that once someone was a professor, he was qualified to be a VC. He urged the appointing authorities to consider leadership qualities, management training and skills as well as pedigree in similar positions.