Deputy Governor Booed!
Story by crossriverwatch admin
Students of the Cross River State University of Technology took to the streets in Calabar early today morning bearing green branches and leaves to protest what they described as extortion by the authorities of the institution and general insecurity on the school campus.
The protest organized under the auspices of the National Association of Cross River State Students NACRISS, started from the main gate of the Cross River State University of Technology CRUTECH through Ikot Abasi to Main Street then White House Street on to the Governor’s office. A mild drama ensued at the governor’s office as the students arrived. The Deputy Governor of the State Bar. Effiok Cobham who came out to address them was booed by the students who insisted that it was the Governor they wanted to see.
Crossriverwatch gathered from some executives of NACRISS that the school authorities had told the students a few months ago that the government was ready to give the students their bursary but to be eligible; the students must register with N500 each. After about 3000 of them had registered and no bursary was forthcoming, some of the student leaders said they contacted the Education Commissioner and Special Adviser on Students Affairs to the Governor who told them that there was no bursary anywhere near.
The students are also angry about the general state of insecurity and squalor on campus. They complained that since November last year when their Director of Social was murdered, the authorities have not done anything to track down his killers and two days ago, another thief was caught in the female hostel. They accused the authorities of neglecting the general maintenance of the campus leaving them to inhabit disease infested hostels.
The students vowed to return if nothing is done about their complaints as soon as they expect. They also called on the Governor of the State to come out and make a categorical statement on the circumstances surrounding the bursary so the students will know where to direct their anger.
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