ASUU Declares UNIPORT Unsafe …Orders Lecturers Out Of Campus

Chairman of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) branch of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Andrew Efemini has declared the university community unsafe for habitation and learning.

Dr Efemini stated this yesterday at Choba while explaining the union’s decision to keep away from classes due to the invasion of the university last Monday by former militants camped at a rehabilitation centre at ALUU, near the university.

Persons believed to be ex-militants had invaded the university in transferred anger over alleged insensitivity of the Federal Government to their welfare. During the rampage, school properties were reportedly vandalized, shops looted and both students and other passers-by molested.

Before ASUU’s decision to boycott lectures until the Federal Government relocates the ex-militants, senior staff of the university had withdrawn their services to the school, last Wednesday.

The ASUU chairman decried what he considered to be “negligence of government” over welfare of ex-militants and said the boys should be relocated to Aso Rock Villa to serve as security aides for Yar’Adua and the state governors.

He wondered why the former militants’ stipends should be reportedly owed by government and the young men made to sleep in over crowded rooms, insisting that “government should respect their dignity,” else they would be more angry and may unleash more harm on the people.

“The way they are treating the boys is not good. If they revolt again, it will be more devastating, and that is why we are insisting that they should no longer stay near us. Right from beginning, we protested their stay near us, because we suspected that government would renege on their part of the deal.”

The Tide learnt that both primary and secondary demonstration schools operated by the university have been shut due to the same security reasons.

Speaker of Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Tonye Harry (left) listening to Leader of the House, Hon Barr Chidi Lloyd during a sitting of the house last Tuesday. Photo: Chris Monyanaga.