Wike warned UNIPORT to be apolitical, now the varsity comes begging for forgiveness  

The topmost leadership of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) went to the seat of power in Port Harcourt and begged Governor Nyesom Wike for ‘forgiveness’. According to a statement issued after the visit by Simeon Nwakauda, the special, adviser to the governor on electronic media (who fully acts as the chief press secretary), the Chancellor of the UNIPORT and Emir of Gwandu, a retired Army General, Muhammadu Bashar, pleaded with the governor to forgive the university management.

It is not clear how the UNIPORT management offended Wike but the Emir reportedly urged the governor to remain committed to the service of Rivers State and Nigeria. Universities usually produce those who announced election results and these had come from the UNIPORT over the years and had been announcing what could be regarded as favourable results to the governor’s party, probably until now that the music seemed to have changed.  

The anger of the governor may be gleaned from his later comment. According to the press statement from the Government House, Governor Wike said he had urged the university management to remain apolitical.  He said that the strained relationship between the Rivers State Government and the University of Port Harcourt was because of his advice that the institution should not be involved in the rigging of the rerun legislative elections. 

According to the statement, the Chancellor also called on the governor to thank God for surviving the harsh political climate. Wike has been in running battles with Chibuike Amaechi, his former boss and now minister of transportation, and some security agencies in the state. 

To drive the plea home, the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, a professor from Benue State, Mvendaga Jibo, appealed to Governor Wike to continue to support the university materially.  Wike had in the past offered various forms of support to the UNIPORT before the elections.

Responding, Governor Wike released outbursts against the Governor of Benue State and called for declaration of state of emergency, saying Governor Samuel Ortom had lost control.

Wike reiterated his accusations against federal forces and said because he was in contact with the people of Rivers State, it was difficult to rig election in the state. The governor said that those who plotted to rig in Rivers State, now understood the consequences. He did not explain what the consequences have so far been.

He, however, said that the state would continue to support the university through the execution of projects.