The whereabouts of some students of the Abia State University, ABSU arrested for protesting the withdrawal of the Bachelor’s degree certificate of a former Governor of the state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu remain unknown.
The students were arrested by a combined team of soldiers and riot policemen who dispersed the peaceful protest of the students on Friday.
Efforts by some of the parents and guardians of the arrested students to locate them as at press time on Sunday were not successful as the Nigerian Army Brigade in Abia State and Mopol 28 Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, which jointly carried out the arrest,reportedly said they do not have the students.
The students had shown their objection to the sitting of the Senate of ABSU on Friday with the intention of withdrawing the certificate.
They said they were worried that such a decision could be contemplated after the degree was awarded.
Their major concern is that with the politicization of the award of the institution’s degree, the certificate of the school may no longer be taken serious by employers.
They also argued that if it was the turn of Kalu today, it could also be the turn of any other person in the future.
The students bore placards with different inscriptions to show their displeasure at the development.
Some of the placards read: “NO TO REVOCATION OF OUK’S DEGREE.”
“OUK IS ONE OF US.”
“THIS INHUMAN TREATMENT CAN HAPPEN TO ANYONE TOMORROW.”
“IT IS OUK TODAY, IT CAN BE ANYBODY TOMORROW.”
“GOVERNMENT SHOULD SAVE OUR FUTURE.”
“DEGREE FROM THIS UNIVERSITY MAY NOT BE CREDIBLE AFTER THIS.”
“POLITICS SHOULD NOT BE MIXED WITH EDUCATION.”
A statement reportedly issued by O. E Onuoha, Registrar/Secretary to Senate at the weekend said “On the strength of the findings and recommendations of an investigative panel into allegations of breach of the extant Academic Regulations of Abia state University , in the admission process of the admission and graduation of Kalu , Orji Uzor in the discipline of Government and Public Administration , of matriculation number 00/42226, the senate of Abia state University at its resumed 69th Extra-Ordinary meeting of Friday 1st March 2013 and by a vote of eighty –eight (88) against three ( 3) dissenting voices only, approved the cancellation and withdrawal of the degree result and certificate awarded to him.
“The decision of senate was based on the following grounds among others: The violation of the Academic Regulations of the university on Admission – by –Transfer, which rendered the offer irregular , ab initio.
“The non –completion of the mandatory six (6) semesters ( i.e. three academic years of study), before he was awarded a degree of the university.He spent only two semesters in all.
“The university Senate maintained that its action, aforesaid, derived from the exercise of its onerous statutory responsibility to guard and maintain , at all times, the Academic Regulations of the University, its hard –earned reputation and the credibility of the certificates it awards.
But it is belived this certificate saga is another messy twist in the tale of the rift between incumbent Gov Theodore Orji and former Governor Kalu, with Orji believed to be pulling the strings at ABSU.
