... proposed protest over hiked service fees by school management suspended
By Favour Afunanya
Students of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, FPNO on Thursday expressed immense happiness following the Imo State Commissioner of Police, CP Aboki Danjuma's intervention on issue they said could jeopardise their academic pursuit.
Recall that some leaders of the National Association of Nigeria Students, NANS had in a recent memo threatened to mobilize the FPNO students to protest against increment of service fees by the school management.
The NANS leaders described the action of the school management as inconsiderate, undue and insensitive, given the current economic hardship in the country.
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However, the CP's intervention, Society Mirror gathered was in a bid to to forestall action that might lead to the breakdown of law and order at the institution, if the issue was not properly managed.
The Imo Police boss, had through the Area Commander in charge of Owerri Urban, ACP Micheal Abattam reconvened a crucial security meeting with the concerned NANS leaders, the FPNO's Student Union Government, SUG and representatives of the institution over the matter.
Speaking, ACP Abattam disclosed that, the meeting centered on peaceful dialogue, was aimed at addressing the concerns of the FPNO students as well as dissuade them from embarking on the proposed protest.
Abattam expressed worry that the protest may create opportunities for criminally minded elements to destabilize the improved peace and security that is currently being enjoyed in the Institution, Nekede, and the State at large.
The police chief after listening to the concerns, positions and pleas of all the parties invited urged them to embrace peace and mutually dialogue the issue for the overall interest of all concerned.
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Responding, the representative of the FPNO management and Deputy Dean, Students' Affairs Department, Dr. Uche Enete; NANS National Ex Officio 2, Comr. Anderson Chimezie; NANS Vice President, Special Duties, Sen. Valentine Ahaneku; Fmr. Deputy Cordinator, NANS, Zone F, Comr. Ejike PraiseGod; FPNO SUG president, Comr. Obediah Anointing; NANS Zone F, Comr. Chizzy Achebe; NANS JJC, Imo State, Comr. Ijeh Anthony; among others applauded CP Danjuma for his fatherly concern and leadership ingenuity in handling the matter.
They unanimously agreed and promised to amicably resolve the matter within themselves as well as pacify any aggrieved party.
The FPNO SUG President and the school management representative also disclosed that there is an ongoing discussion between the students' leadership and the school management over the matter and expressed optimism that in no distant time, the said increment issue would be resolved.
Also present at the meeting included the Divisional Police Officer in Charge of Nekede, CSP Osifo Stanley; the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Okoye Henry; FPNO Chief Security Officer, Mr. Ekpe Christopher and his assistant, Mr. Gidi Yusuf; FPNO SUG Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ekwegbara Johnbosco; FPNO SUG Vice President, Comr. Chimoma Cynthia among many others.
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