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EMMANUEL NLEWEDUM, Port Harcourt
Natives of the Rumuolumeni community, landlords to Rivers State-owned Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUOE), on Monday shut down the institution in protest over allegations of marginalization.
The protesters mainly women and youths, grounded academic activities at the institution as they blocked the university’s main gate with rafia leaves, tents, and cooking pots, preventing staff and students from accessing the campus.
Daily Champion reports that students who were still writing their first semester General Studies Examination, and others who were expecting to start their second semester lectures were denied entrance into the university by the protesters who were seen dancing around the gate to local drums, while security agencies were present to maintain order.
The protesters vowed not to vacate the gate until their demands were met.
One of the leaders of the protesting host community, and the Rumuolumeni Youth leader, Comr. Felix Chinda, while addressing newsmen claimed that the community has been marginalized in employment and contract opportunities despite providing land for the institution.
Chinda expressed frustration over the university management’s alleged disregard for their concerns, despite several letters and meetings.
He specifically pointed out that the recent employment exercise was unfair, with opportunities allegedly diverted to non-indigenes.
He said, “Over the years, during employment, the institution never carried the people along. During employment exercise as a host community, they do not carry us along.
“Our parents, this is where they farm, and we gave the institution when they approached us. In turn, we expected that we would get employment in place of giving our land, but during employment, they do not employ our people.”
Addressing the protesters, Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Okechukwu Onuchukwu, explained that the employment process was merit-based and supervised by the dissolved governing board chairman.
The VC maintained that the process was transparent and fair.
Meanwhile, scores of stranded students of the institution have expressed worry over the picketing of the institution’s gate by the host Rumuolumeni community.
Some of the students, in an interview with our correspondent, say their transport fare to school has been wasted.
The students regretted that “lectures for the second semester, which were supposed to start today, have been disrupted.”
Others who are still writing the first semester General Studies (GNS) Examination also spoke about the impact of the protest on their exam.
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