Aquila Is Pushing Us Away From Supporting The Governor- Agggrived Students Leaders

By Bassey Willie

But not for the prompt intervention of the security operatives in the state, particularly men of the Nigeria Police, serious crisis would have occurred in Uyo last week, as some aggrieved students leaders were set for a showdown with the Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Students matters, Comrade Otobong Acquilla, for barring them from attending a town hall meeting organize by her office for Akwa Ibom State Students at the Governor’s office annex.

When the said town hall meeting was going on inside governor’s office annex multipurpose hall, some renowned students leaders were sighted outside, as heavy security operatives comprising of the men of the Nigeria Police force and men of a private security outfit barred some people from entering the hall while those whose names appeared in a prepared list were given accelerated entry.

Those barred from entry included Comrade Akwaowo Clifford, the Chairman of Joint Campus Committee, who doubles as the Zone B Coordinator of the National Association of Nigeria Students, NANS, Comrade Sunday Etim, stakeholder and a for aspirant for the Financial secretary in NANS, Hon. Aniedi Michaels, Speaker National Association of Akwa Ibom State Students, NAAKISS worldwide, Comrade Ikobong Ekette, SUG president, Akwa Ibom State University, while the Worldwide President, National Association of Akwa Ibom State Students was also sighted outside.

Speaking with our correspondent, the Joint Campus Committee Chairman, Comrade Akwaowo Clifford expressed surprised at the attitude of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Affairs, Miss Otobong Aquilla Akpan for convening a town hall meeting without the invitation of the authentic students leaders, adding that any decision reached in the tele-guided town hall meeting is not binding on the students.

According to him, “This is impunity of the highest order, we the students leaders will not subscribed to this clandestine move by Otobong Aquilla, we will never be intimidated, we reject this meeting and anything discussed in totality, that is not the position of Akwa Ibom State Students”.

Another students leader, Comrade Sunday Etim said, “I was invited for a town hall meeting here, but i am not allowed in, rather, Aquilla mobilized fake students to come and endorse the governor for a second term.