UNICAL GRADUATE STUDENT LEADERS SWEAR OATH OF SERVICE

Agbor (left) receiving a hand over note from Mbakwe

The newly elected executive council members of the Post Graduate Students Government (PGSG), University of Calabar (UNICAL) has been inaugurated. 

The election which was conducted on the 24^th day of April, 2015 to fill up the executive offices of PGSG, Unical was the beginning of the transition process for the post graduate students in Unical. But, the transition did not go down well with the previous Executive Council as the regime did not enjoy a formal dissolution as usually the case.

The former Executive Council led by Oduba Eyong Ikwa as the President was abruptly disbanded by the Unical management, following the orders from the office of the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Eyong Ubana Eyong. In a letter signed by Prof. Eyong, he ordered the immediate dissolution of the graduate students’ government pointing out the “inability of the Executive and the Senate to hold her Congress and sittings respectively and the serious security reports as a result of the leadership crisis rocking the government”.

The letter dated 20th February, 2015 also contained the names of 5 persons who were appointed to serve in the Electoral Committee. The committee was given 2 weeks to conduct election for the Union. Before the election, the Secretary of the Committee, David Ekpenyong told Campuslife that the committee was not formed to protect the interest of anyone. He said: “as I speak to you, the management has not single interest in this election. We, the members of the Electoral Committee didn’t come into the committee with anyone at heart. People should disbelieve the rumor that the Dean of Students or any management official is interested in who looses or wins after the election”.

The election ended as Comr. Prince Agbo M.SC Linguistics and Communication Studies, was declared the winner of the office of the President of PGSG which he keenly contested with Comr. Oliver Ally, M.Sc. Policy and Administrative Studies. Agbo pulled 143 votes while his colligue, Ally chased him with 129 votes. There were 4 void votes.

There are ten offices in all but 5 out of the ten were unopposed. Emem Patrick M.Sc Human Physiology won the office of the Vice President as she contested with her colleague, Chioma Perpetual.

Present at the inauguration ceremony were former leaders of the union, representatives of management officials returning and newly admitted post graduate students in Unical.

The Senate President of the Union, Patrick Ukatu administered the oath of office to the new executive members. Ikechukwu Mbakwe, a PhD student is the chairman of the Electoral Committee.  He was called up to perform the formal handover ceremony. He handed over all the union’s files and documents to the new President and thanked God for a successful election. “There was no bloodshed. 

There was no fight or quarrels. Everything went on smoothly and nobody took us to court afterwards. We thank God and we pray that the good God will be with the new government”, said Mr. Mbakwe.

Before presenting his acceptance speech, Prince Agbor, quickly dissolved every standing committee of the union. He lamented that time was already far spent and there was no single time to waste doing nothing. He said the new executive will commence action immediately without delays. He said that the new government is devoid of tribal influences; “This government will work with every category of people irrespective of their tribal or ethnic identity. We don’t mind if you are from Yoruba or Igbo or Hausa; we shall work with anyone who is interested in the progress of the union. We will not victimise anybody but we shall bring unity in PGSG”.

L-R: Nkanta (Secretary General), Emem (V.P.) and Agbor (President)

The outgoing president, Oduba Eyong welcomed the new executive council and urged them to be transparent at all times. “ I urge you to maintain transparency in everything you do and carry every single student along in all your programs’’.

In his remark, the dean of Students Affairs advised the graduate students to follow the constitution. “The union has a constitution. I urge all of you, both the elected and the electorates to follow the constitution in dealing with every matter that concerns the union. When everyone follows the constitution, there will be peace and understanding”. He condemned embezzlement of union funds and challenged the union leaders to maintain accountability to those who elected them. He noted that one of the serious challenges that is facing Nigeria is lack of accountability, a situation where political office holders spend public money without any show for it. He bade the union God’s assistance throughout the time line of the regime.

Emem Patrick saw her election into the office of the Vice President as a good opportunity to serve her fellow students. She told CL Media that “I will utilise my individual virtues and values for the service of this union. I will give a positive projection of the Union and leave a legacy that is worthy of emulation”.

In a chat with CL Media, Prince Agbo passionately appealed to those who contested together with him and other members of the newly elected council to bury the hatchet and put all hands on board to move the union forward. He reiterated that one of the major problems of the Union is lack of accountability. “Money has been a major problem. I want to assure every graduate student that every single money belonging to this union shall be used in the interest of the union. No one will embezzle the union’s money and we will ensure full accountability”.

In a chat with CL Media, Ejesi Edwin M.Sc Philosophy, one time Secretary of PGSG, disclosed that calmness has resumed in the union following the election of Prince Agbo who he described as a loyal and humble servant. He advised union members to always learn to toe the path of peace in dispute settlement, noting that crisis and chaotic arena does not experience any progress.

While advising the new leaders, Prof. Emeka Okwueze who is the Dean of Graduate school, urged them to consult senior authorities before taking decisions. He spoke against hasty decision making. Prof. Okwueze promised his cooperation to the new executives and advised them to always come close to him as his door is always open for them.