UNIPORT HOD removed for participating in protest against murder of ALUU 4

Human rights groups and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) have called on the authorities of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers State, to reinstate a former Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), UNIPORT chapter, Dr. Andrew Efemini, as the Head of Department of Philosophy.

Efemini was removed as the HOD, shortly after participating in Tuesday’s protest at Choba Junction on the East-West Road, against the murder of four UNIPORT students at Omuokiri-Aluu in Ikwerre Local
Government Area on October 5. The four male victims were Biringa Chiadika Lordson, Year Two, Theatre Arts, U2010/1805036; Ugonna Kelechi Obuzor, Year Two, Geology, U2010/5565149 and Mike Lloyd Toku, Year Two, Civil Engineering, U2010/3010094 and Tekena Erikena, a certificate student in the Faculty of Education, who had not completed his registration before the gruesome murder.

The Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), through its Director of Operations, Styvn Obodoekwe, yesterday in Port Harcourt, condemned the removal of the activist lecturer, which it said was unjust.

ACN on its part said: “We demand the immediate reversal of the removal of Dr. Efemini as the HOD, Philosophy of UNIPORT. The vice-chancellor’s decision to remove him for participating in last Tuesday’s protest is condemnable, irrational, unlawful, ungodly and provocative.”