Wilson Adekumola
Concerned residents of Ekpoma shut down Ambrose Alli University in protest to register their displeasures over the poor administration of the school.
It was gathered the the protesters who came out in their numbers, on Wednesday, urged the government to as a matter of urgency sack Austin Osakue, a member of the Special Intervention Team.
Tribune reported that the aggrieved residents who displayed different placards with various inscriptions like “Osakue must go” among many others, charged the government to quickly address the challenge the institution is facing.
According one of the protesters who does not want his name in print expressed worries over the poor administration of the school, adding that the way the school is being run could cause problem in the community.
He explained that they were concerned citizens who do not want the dignified concept of the government for the school to be misinterpreted..
According to the protester, “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 has indigenes we cannot take it any more,” the protester added.
However, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Marcus Onobun, who was at the scene sued for calm, promising that the sack of the lecturers has 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 his Excellency, 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 revitalise the university.
“We handed over to this management so that the mess in the institution will be cleared.
“For those who have received sack letters and those who are on the list, they should put their minds at rest. The government has said the sack is null and void. I am also here to say so too.”
When contacted, Osakue did not take his calls and didn’t reply to the message sent to him.
