PHOTO NEWS: STUDENTS DRUM SUPPORT FOR GOVERNOR UDOM, AQUILLA
…………………Students of tertiary institutions in the state has expressed support and solidarity to the incumbent governor, Deac Udom Emmanuel for laudable programmes put in place in the state that is beneficial to students, and declared a vote of confidence on the SA on student affairs, Comrade Aquilla Otobong.
Leading the student body, Comrade Aquilla playing host to Online Bloggers and Media Community revealed plans by the student body to host a prayer/thanksgiving convention for all students in the state to gather and thank God for governor Udom’s second year anniversary.
“You see people think we are cultists, when they say students, the image that comes is the vagabonds are coming. As a way of branding our image is to make the world understand that students also pray, and only two percent of the student community that are doing all these ugly things. Ninety-eight percent are very very solidly behind the governor, they know what they are doing, they are intellectually sound, and they can push it from where our leaders will stop.
“So Emmanuel’s prayer is Akwa Ibom students’ prayer thanksgiving convention, packaged to commemorate the second anniversary of his Excellency.”
She added that the choice to pray was born out of a genuine reason to rebrand the student community for good. As 5,000 students will converge on Ibom hall grounds to pray for the state. The event which has a tentative date on August 15 will feature free fasting and counselling in the morning, and an evening of prayers and praise, while the governor is expected as the special guest.
Comrade Aquilla hinted that it is high time the Akwa Ibom student community hit the global stage with their unique selling products and make a name that posterity will remember. She advised campus unions to work on their strengths and develop whatever they have comparative advantage.
Following widespread media attacks on her office as Special Assistant to the Governor on Students Matters, Comrade Aquilla says she is not shaken by the attack launched by media bullies.
Also, students across various tertiary institution in the State have condemned the attacks, calling on aggrieved parties to down tools.
Speaking on behalf of Uyo City Polytechnic (UCP), the Institution’s SUG President, and Dean of Campus presidents in Akwa Ibom, Comrade Udeme Akpan, said over fifteen thousand students of UCP were in support of Comrade Otobong Aquilla, and condemned activities of those calling for her sack.
According to him, “the SA has no problem. If she’s not working, if the Student Union Presidents are not with her, we wouldn’t have been associating with her. This is someone that has been paying fees for students, from her salary, but they don’t care to write about that one, rather they are writing rubbish everywhere.”
While lauding efforts by Miss Akpan at maintaining peace in the Students Community in the State, Comrade Akpan said all the union helmsmen are pleased with her activities at ensuring a united students’ body and appealed to the warring parties to cease fire.
On his part, the President-elect, University of Uyo, Comrade Duff Gabriel, assured the Governor’s Aide of an unalloyed support from his institution, and urged her to concentrate on her primary assignment, while ignoring activities of detractors.
“The SA on Students Matters has no problem in the University of Uyo, we are solidly behind her because we all know there is no government that does not have issues. It is not everyone that will support you, even if you them your last money. That’s why in my government, I’ll look forward and not backwards”, Gabriel said.
Also speaking, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone B Treasurer, Comrade Iberedem Eshiet said it was wrong for students to throw tantrums at the current administration in the State by spreading falsehood against Comrade Otobong Aquilla, adding that the attackers have failed to recognise her contributions to the growth of the students’ fold.
“This (Aquilla) is the Governor’s appointee and for you to be sending your arsenals to fight her, you are fighting the government, because you do even respect the Governor’s appointment.” While calling on the students in the State to cue behind the Governor’s Aide, Eshiet debunked insinuations about his suspension and subsequent impeachment as NANS ZONE B Treasurer, Eshiet said there was neither a formal meeting nor a quorum sequel to that effect.
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