21st May, 2010
The Students Union Government (SUG) president, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Comrade Nelson Mayor Omunugha, has denied the report that he locked the three main gates of the institution, thereby preventing students from entering the school premises.
An online newspaper recently published an article on its website that the students leader called for a congress on 4 May at the school’s popular Garuba square, and the students failed to show up for the congress. This, according to the report, infuriated him and his executives.
The report further stated that in order to get the students’ attention, Comrade Omunugha ordered that the school three main gates should be locked for two hours, which disrupted the students’ activities for the day and made mostof them miss their afternoon lectures.
Speaking with Campus Square on phone, the Mass Communication student denied the report. He said it is the handiwork of his political opponents and nobody contacted him on phone as claimed by the online newspaper.
He said the three main gates were locked not because the students did not attend congress, but because it is the tradition of the institution to lock the main gates during congress, so as to allow students to actively participate.
“We had a successful congress with an impressive turn-out. We even ate and danced after the congress. I don’t know where the online newspaper got its report,†he added.
In the release made available to Campus Square, the president of the union thanked the students for their great turn-out, conduct and support so far. He advised them to be of good behaviour for which they are known and desist from examination malpractices, cultism, and other social vices.
While stressing the need for the students to continue to be supportive at all times, he promised to rekindle true unionism by constructive implementation of programmes and policies that will promote students’ welfare.