People Living with Disability protest unfair treatment by NDU Vice Chancellor in Bayelsa
by Peregba Jerry
A peaceful protest, this morning, grounded vehicular and economic activities at the popular Tombia Roundabout, Yenagoa, the capital city of Bayelsa state.
The peaceful protesters, which was led by the Chairman, People Living with Disability, were protesting alleged “malicious suspension” of their chairman, who was also the Deputy Bursar, by the Vice Chancellor of the state-owned Niger Delta University (NDU), Prof. Samuel Gowon Edoumiekumo.
The protesters carrying placards with various inscription such as “Prof. Samuel Gowon Edoumiekumo: immediate lift the malicious suspension meted on the disabled deputy bursar, “Prof. Samuel Gowon…. Go….Go…Go…. We don’t want you again, “VC NDU is highhanded, “Save our souls, Governor Douye Diri, amongst others, alleging that they have been treated unjustly by the VC.
Speaking to TarakiriVoice on the issue of the suspension of their chairman, one of the protesters alleged that the VC suspended their chairman because “Mr. Ikilowei wants to contest as the Bursar of the university and VC was afraid that he’s going to win the position.”
On his part, the Chairman, People Living with Disability, Mr. Eric Ikilowei, stated that he has made efforts to reach out to the state government to wade into the issue but to no avail.
Ikilowei also noted that the last time they protested and was invited to the Commissioner of Police office, he was detained and taken to court.
He, however, appealed to the Bayelsa state governor, Sen. Douye Diri, to wade into the matter and call the VC NDU to order and his reinstatement as the deputy Bursar of the institution.
The policemen on ground later fired teargas cannisters to disperse the protest after failed attempts by some senior officers to bring the protest to a halt.
