-By Michael Ekokoruwe:
Isoko women in their numbers staged a peaceful protests over alleged relocation of 100 level engineering students from Oleh campus in Isoko South local government area of Delta State to Abraka by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Victor Peretemode on science courses based lecturers at Abraka.
The women chanting songs with plarcads having various inscriptions as “Peretemode Stop killing Oleh campus”, “Okowa call Peretemode to order”, Moving Oleh100 level engineering students to Abraka is Oppression” among others, matched from the Law faculty gate to the adminstrative office of the institution.
Speaking on behalf of the women, Mrs Polina Ashoma said, to meet the requirements of Nigeria University Commission and COREN for the accreditation of programmes in the faculty of engineering, laboratories were built and equipped for physics and chemistry to serve the 100 level and other students of the faculty.
She added that, a standard engineering drawing studio has been completed for the students, noting that creating double accommodation for the 100 level engineering students by implications, becomes a burden to the parents and subsequent poor academic performance.
The women also matched through the roads and streets of Oleh to HRM Anthony William Ovrawah Omogha 1, the Odiologbo of Oleh, the chairman of Isoko South council, represented by the secretary Mr. Kola Obrogo and the President General of Isoko Development Union, Chief Iduh Amadhe at Isoko unity house to register their complaints.
Reacting to the women protests, they both condemned the alleged relocation of the 100 level engineering students to Abraka by the vice chancellor of the institution, stressing that it’s easier for the science based lecturers to come and lecture the students at Oleh campus than relocating the students to Abraka for lectures, assuring that Isoko nation will bear the costs of any movement by the lecturers.
They appealed to Senator James Manager representing the South Senatorial District to prevail on Professor Victor Peretemode to rescind the division or risk not been voted for by Isoko people during the 2019 general election. Chief Iduh Amadhe while positing that the plan is meant to kill Oleh campus of the institution, maintained that Isoko people have contributed over two hundred and seventeen million naira towards the development of the campus since 1995.
He stated that recently, about seventeen million naira equipment were supplied by N. D. D. C through the commissioner representing Delta State Dr. Ogaga Ifowodo, adding that presently five departments of engineering faculty are equipped.
Amadhe cautioned the vice chancellor not to promote animosity between Isoko and Ijaw people, noting that we are brother in one senatorial district.
Also speaking, Oleh Community Development Union protem president general, Comrade Ufih Fredrick said, all the facilities required for learning are available at Oleh campus, noting that the alleged relocation of the 100 level engineering students portend risks of movement and additional financial burden and could also lead to carry – over of courses, counter – productive and inimical to the development of the engineering faculty and the University in general.
While responding, Professor Stephen Emosairue, Provost of Delta State University Oleh campus said, it is purely the institution administrative issue which according to him will be handled administratively even as he has received the message and will be carried to the vice chancellor professor Victor Peretemode.
