Parents Urge RSG To Reopen RSUST

Parents in Rivers State have sent a fresh appeal to Rivers State government to prevail on the authorities of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, to reopen the institution to enable students resume normal academic activities.

Some of the parents who made the appeal in exclusive interview with The Weekend Tide in Port Harcourt argued that the continued closure of the institution following violent protest by the students would do the state more harm than good as some of the students would engage in anti-social behavours while idling at home.

Mr. Charles Akaoma, a Civil Servant in Port Harcourt and father of two students of the institution disclosed that the closure of the university has added more financial pressure on him as two of his children who returned home as a result of the development border him with one demand or the other.

Besides, he told The Weekend Tide that the closure of the university has disrupted the academic calendar of the institution thereby prolonging financial hardship on poor parents who are battling hard to cope with the economic situation in the country.

He however told The Weekend Tide that he was not in support of any violent protest over the demands of the students pointing out that, dialogue and due process would have been their watch-word.

Mr. Ikem Okereke who claimed to be a Port Harcourt based businessman passionately appealed to the University authority to consider the plight of parents and guidance that are at the receiving end of the unfortunate closure of the institution.

He, however, said that there is every reason for the Rivers State government to look into the issues that arose from the violent protest with a view to ensuring that it would not happen again.

When The Weekend Tide visited the university campus on Tuesday, some of the students seen on campus were busy helping admission seekers as part-time job.

The Weekend Tide investigation revealed that some of the admission seekers in the university were ready to pay some amount of money to the student who assured the prospecting candidates of admission into the institution.

Isaac Nwankwo