Don’t Drag UNIPORT Into Politics – Chinwo

Former member of the
House of Representatives and National President of the University of Port Harcourt Alumni Association, Hon Ike Chinwo, has warned against dragging the alumni into partisan politics.
Hon Chinwo, who was reacting to a publication in a national daily (not The Tide) alleging that some members of the executive committee had excused him from performing his functions as the National President, said such move was illegal, as they did not have the constitutional powers to do so.
The former lawmaker who represented Obio/Akpor federal constituency said it was regrettable to read from the same paper that his offence for asking him to abdicate his position as the union’s National President was due to membership of a political party other than preferred one by his traducers.
He reminded members that the alumni association is non-partisan, non-religious, non-ethnic and non-profit organization with members of varied background and opinion.
According to him,’’ My fundamental right of association and holding of political opinion is enshrined and protected in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended; therefore it  smacks of impunity for anybody to want to punish me by whatsoever guise for exercising that right.”
“Since my election on February 16,2013 as the National President, we have tried to reposition the association and in doing so, I have personally been careful and mindful of the sensibilities of our members and therefore avoid acting in a partisan political fashion in the performance of my duties. I state that I remain resolutely committed to the wishes of the entire members and the goal of the alumni association.”
He, however, called on members to discountenance the ill-advised statement by some members of the executive committee purporting to imply his removal, or suspension as the national president of the alumni association.