Despite several pleas from various quarters and individuals, the Senate of Akwa Ibom State University, AKSU, Ikot Akpaden is yet to recall a 200-level student of the department of Performing Arts, Faculty of Art placed on indefinite suspension for allegedly ‘insulting’ the Vice Chancellor of the institution in the social media.
The student, Joy Ufot Nkanang, suspended on May 9 for allegedly calling Eno Ibanga, a professor and AKSU Vice Chancellor “That foolish VC” on her Facebook timeline stands the risk of being sent packing by the the state-owned institution.
Already, Miss Nkanang from Onna, the home local government area of Akwa Ibom Governor Udom Emmanuel, has missed one academic session of the university and her fate still hangs in a balance.
She had on May 5 penned on her Facebook page: “AKSU what is happening? A dry cleaners shop was robbed last night along college road….”
“No…. we don’t want to spoil the schools image…. foolish vc,” Ms Nkanang wrote on the social media site, in response to the call for protest.
Ms Nkanang’s Facebook post made veiled reference to increase in secret cult activities and insecurity around the university campus.
The university’s attention was drawn to her “foolish vc” comment which the authority, in the suspension letter, described as “gross misconduct” and a “breach of matriculation oath.”
Recall that Mr. John E. Udo, the University Registrar and Secretary to Senate, signed the suspension letter entitled ‘Indefinite Suspension for gross Misconduct.’
In the letter, Udo directed Miss Nkanang with the registration number AK17/ART/FPA/024 to proceed on an indefinite suspension with immediate effect pending the outcome of investigation into the matter.
It was gathered that at a meeting of principal officers with the Dean of Students Affairs, Chief security officer, Ag. Head, Department of Performing Art, and Students Union President held on Monday, May, 06, 2019, the girl had admitted to the act.
The letter reads in part, “In line with the University rules and regulations enshrined in the students information handbook the Vice Chancellor has directed that your studentship should be suspended indefinitely with effect from the date of this letter, for this act of gross misconduct which constitutes a breach of matriculation oath.
“This suspension is pending the outcome of the investigation by the students’ disciplinary committee. Also the Dean of your Faculty as well as the Head of your department are hereby informed to ensure strict compliance with this decision.
“The security officer is by a copy of this letter directed not to allow you entry into the University campuses during the period of your suspension unless you are expressly invited by the authorities of the University.”
However, a source who witnessed the meeting proceedings said the student was not allowed to make any comment when she appeared before the officials.
“They just asked her where she’s from in Akwa Ibom and who her father is.”
A senior lecturer of the university who spoke on condition of anonymity with Straightnews lamented that the girl has missed examinations of two academic semesters owing to the suspension.
According to him, “The girl is an orphan from Onna. She was sponsored by a foster father. And the man is not happy that the Vice Chancellor masterminded the suspension of the girl, though he did not justify the ‘insult.’ Some people in her family including the foster father deliberately hid the girl and barred her from speaking to the press for security reason. Since the girl was suspended, I have made frantic efforts to talk to her but to no avail.
“Unfortunately, the girl was a victim of cult activities in Obio Akpa campus of the university in Oruk Anam local government area of Akwa Ibom So, she made the comment now seen as insult based on her sad experience and perhaps was peeved by the indifference shown by the institution in finding lasting solution to rising cultism in the campus.”
Another source told Straightnews reporter that “Governor Emmanuel who is a visitor to the university had sent emissaries to the Professor Ibanga to lift the suspension order but Ibanga has spurned all the pleas. It could be because the Vice Chancellor has a short period to stay in the institution and he felt that nothing could be done to him. But then, it is not right for him to have ignored the governor.
“As a delay tactic, Prof. Eno Ibanga has set up another disciplinary committee to look into the girl’s suspension. As it is, he wants to frustrate the lifting of ban on the suspension as a way of causing the girl to forfeit her admission. I think it may take divine intervention for the girl to be recalled or the mercy of another vice chancellor to lift the suspension on the girl.”
The vice chancellor, accvording to him, was heard boasting that if he had successfully crushed the threats posed by Danielson Bamidele, the President of National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, to call students in the state to embark on strike unless he quashes the suspension order on the student, then there is no fight again he could not defeat.
Yet, another academic condemned the vice chancellor for suspending the girl over the Facebook’s comment, saying “The vice chancellor is expected to be well-taught in character and in learning by not succumbing to the sentiment and pettiness. He should be more accommodating to all sheds of opinions and criticisms because he is heading an academic community.”
Akaninyene Ibanga, the spokesperson of the Akwa Ibom State University, once told PREMIUM TIMES, Ms Nkanang may be recalled or expelled from the university when the case is “determined.”
Efforts to reach Professor Nse Udo Essien, the state Commissioner for Education, who is also a member of the University’s Governing Council was unsuccessful. Straightnews reporter called him severally, but his telephone was switched off. Again, he did not respond to text message sent to him.
