by Adeola Balogun

 

Angry youths from Owerre-Eze Orba, host community to the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka yesterday barred motorists and pedestrians from entering the university for several hours.

The angry youths, who marched round with placards with various inscriptions, such as “VC, Prof Bartho Okolo why do you hate us”; “We are tired of your empty promises”; “VC restore our electricity”, “We did not commit a crime in giving out our land to UNN”,  were protesting alleged neglect by the University authority.

The swift intervention of team of policemen from Nsukka Police Division led by the DPO, James Nwokolo and the Chief Security Officer of UNN, Cyrus Uzoma, prevented the youths from marching into the institution.

Speaking to journalists, the President of Owerre-Eze-Orba Youths, Mr. Ndukwe Agbo, accused the University authority of breaching agreement it reached with the community.

“Part of the agreement our people had with the University is that our people should always be considered for employment and admission, and to extend electricity to our community, but the University has failed in all these.

“For the past eight years, the University disconnected us from its electricity. UNN management told us to get our own transformer, but we have bought the electricity transformer; then, reconnecting us becomes a problem.

“We want UNN to reconnect our electricity and carry out every responsibility it owes our community”. He stated.

The UNN Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Prof Malachy Okwueze. Who spoke to newsmen after  a meeting said “We are happy they reasoned with us; the community is our neighbour; we have discussed with them and we will continue to discuss with them”, he said.

But, the president of youths who was part of the meeting disclosed that “the University said it has no money because of ongoing ASUU strike.

“They told us that the VC is not around and that he will be briefed before any action is taken”.

He expressed unhappiness with the outcome of the meeting, stressing “I am going to tell the youths, their reaction will determine our next line of action”.

 

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