The management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), in Edo State, has suspended Students’ Union of the institution indefinitely and with immediate effect.

CAMPUS GIST reports that the suspension of the Students’ Union is following the incident that happened at the University’s Senior Staff Club on Friday 12th April, 2024.

Members of the Union were said to have invaded an interactive session by staff of the university with the Edo 2024 governorship candidate of Labour Party, Olumide Akpata and in the process reportedly demanded a halt of the event, over alleged claims that they (Students’ Union) were not informed of the event.

In the process, a senior lecturer and member of the institution’s Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), was reportedly attacked, injured and eventually landed in the hospital.

But, the Students' Union leadership had denied any wrongful doing, claiming to have responded to a tip-off that students were gathered at the staff club restricted to only registered staff members at an ungodly hour.

Following the incident, management of the university announced the set up of a panel to investigate the incident with a view to unraveling the immediate and remote causes of the incident.

The UNIBEN ASUU had last week threatened to boycott resumption and to embark on indefinite strike, if members of the Students' Union were not sanctioned for reportedly attacking their member, claiming their lives were in danger.

They claimed that the incident was a security threat on campus, while citing a 2021 incident where the current Vice Chancellor, Prof Lilian Salami was forcefully removed from her residence and forced to walk on foot by students protesting against N20,000 late school fee payment charge.

Consequently, in a statement signed by A. A. Bobola, Registrar of the university, Monday night and made available to CAMPUS GIST, he said the Vice Chancellor has approved the suspension of the University’s Students Union after due consideration of the Panel’s report.

The statement partly reads: “The suspension which is indefinite, takes immediate effect, that is, from today, Monday 29th April, 2024.

“Accordingly, all Officers of the Students’ Union are to handover all properties of the Union in their possession to the Dean, Students’ Affairs not later 4.00pm on Tuesday 30 April, 2024.

“In the interim, a Caretaker Committee composed of representatives of Faculties, Schools and Institutes has been approved to coordinate students’ activities during the period of suspension.”

“The above directive of the Vice Chancellor is hereby communicated for the attention of the University Community and compliance of the erstwhile Union Officers as appropriate.”

Reacting to the development in a terse statement made available to CAMPUS GIST midnight Monday, the President of the suspended UNIBEN Students' Union, Comrade Alpha-King Lemuel Osahon, called on the students to remain calm, saying, 'we are on the matter.'

immortalcrown:
This is a power tussle between corrupt staff members and corrupt students.

Why would the staff members have a meeting with a governorship candidate? Is the candidate a staff of the school? Is the school a private one owned by the candidate?

The corrupt students wanted to be carried along in the bribery process.

emkz:
Olumide Akpata, this is not a good way to start.

You have just made enemies of Edo students of Uniben. Do not repeat that mistake in Ambrose Alli Unuversity.

Whether you like it or not, the student population have numbers and influence you don't want to lose.

At this time, you need a seasoned election campaign manager and image maker. You need a strategist to plot the road for you. One of your first major outing should not have ended in bad press.

A seasoned campaign manager would have met the SUG leadership, had a chat with them, give them money for drinks and negotiate with them not to disrupt things. You must anticipate these things. It is sadly the way of our politics.

You need to know the opinion leaders in these institutions and if you can't get them to support you, get them not to disrupt you or those who support you.

So far, your entire campaign reeks of inexperience and lack of tact.

immortalcrown:
This is a power tussle between corrupt staff members and corrupt students.

Why would the staff members have a meeting with a governorship candidate? Is the candidate a staff of the school? Is the school a private one owned by the candidate?

The corrupt students wanted to be carried along in the bribery process.

BleedingPen:


https://metrowatchxtra.com/2024/04/30/breaking-akpata-uniben-suspends-students-union-indefinitely-metrowatch/

thatigboman:
what are u saying? Can't a governorship candidate visit a university? Do u know that in advanced countries, presidential debates are held in universities

elvisco10:

Stop jumping on subject you don't know...PDP candidate was there days b4 LP.nxt is APC...sku management is inviting leading candidates..

BleedingPen:
Thoughts?

BleedingPen:


https://metrowatchxtra.com/2024/04/30/breaking-akpata-uniben-suspends-students-union-indefinitely-metrowatch/

immortalcrown:
Were you told the candidate was in the university for a governorship debate? Since when did such a debate become the affair of only the university staff?