By: Emmanuel Nlewedum
Management of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, IAUE, Rivers State has recalled the two students it suspended two days ago over a post they made on social media.
The two students are Chibuzor Remmy and Sunday Okpokpo who were suspended and their academic years extended by one year over posts they made on social media considered to be offensive by the school.
A situation that sparked several outcries especially on the social media with many calling for the sack of the Vice Chancellor for oppressing free speech.
But the school, in a statement on Friday by it’s Public Relations Office said the decision to rescind the suspension was based on appeals from well-meaning individuals.
The university had accused the two students of publishing materials “on the social media capable of causing public disorder.”
The statement noted that the institution would not fail to punish future misbehaviour by any student.
“The Management, however, warns that henceforth, any student who does anything capable of bringing the University to public ridicule will be disciplined according to the rules and regulations of the University,” the statement said.
Port Harcourt Spectator reports that the two students made a post on the social media where they demanded for additional banks on campus and cancellation of the final year examinations.
However, a source in the institution who pleaded anonymity told this publication that there were genuine fears that some “elements might disrupt the matriculation ceremony of the school billed for November 7th and cause the school graver embarrassment.”
The source said it was to avoid “a bigger and unwholesome situation that the senate decided to stand down the suspension of those two students and allow peace to reign.”
The source who is a lecturer in the school added, “there is tension everywhere right now which is an aftermath of the #EndSARS campaigns and the destruction that followed its hijack by hoodlums.
The state is also still tensed up and anything that would spike this situation should be avoided.
“He (Prof. Ndimele) has been a students-friendly Vice Chancellor. We are surprised that he took such a step over social media posts”, he said.
