Follow Us on Google
From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Aggrieved residents of Ekpoma, yesterday, shut down the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State, to protest poor administration of the institution, just as they called on the government to sack Austin Osakue, a member of the special intervention team.
The protesters, carrying placard with various inscriptions, called on the government to find a quick solution to the problem which is capable of throwing the town into anarchy.
One of the protesters said the way the school is being run could cause problem in the community. He said they were concerned citizens who do not want the lofty ideas of the government for the school to be misconstrued.
“The management of the school seems to be incapable of running the institution. How could they sack or even think of sacking workers at this time? It has been one problem after another since this management took over and we, the indigenes, cannot take it any more,” the protester said.
However, Edo State House of Assembly Speaker, Marcus Onobun, who was at the scene of the protest, urged the protesters to be calmed, assuring the sack of the lecturers have been reversed and voided by the state government.
He said: “The sack of the staff is null and void. I am also using this opportunity to tell Ekpoma people, Esan people and Edo people that the sack of the staff is null and void.
“And Governor Godwin Obaseki will engage the staff of Ambrose Alli University in discussions where the facts will be put on the table.
“I want to tell you that all we did was done in good faith to help to revitalise the university,” the speaker said.
Media aide to the governor said to prevent the problem in the institution from snow balling into a bigger crisis, Obaseki has ordered the sacked staff be reinstated immediately.
He said the governor insisted the sack notices issued earlier to some staff of the university were illegal, null and void.
