By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
A group of students operating in the University of Calabar under the aegis of Unical Concerned Students, have asked the university authority to disregard some students of the Law Faculty, who protested against the leadership style of the Dean, Prof. Cyril Ndifon.
The Concerned Students expressed shock when they learnt that majority of the students who participated in the protest, led by the President, Unical branch of Law Students Association, LAWSAN, Comrade Benedict Otu, were cajoled to participate in a protest which they knew nothing of.
The protesting students said that they were only persuaded by the LAWSON President to participate in a meeting with the Vice Chancellor to discuss certain issues about the faculty, with out knowing that they were going to take part in a protest..
The Concerned Students stated that upon arrival at the Vice Chancellor’s office, the LAWSON President brought out placards bearing different inscriptions, kike ‘We are tired of buying Law Journal;’ ‘Ndifon Must go!;’ ‘Ndifon had been running the faculty as if he were an emperor!;’ ‘Girl-child not safe in the faculty.;’ “The Dean Should Not Be Marking Scripts;” aming others.
Speaking with our correspondent during a telephone chat yesterday in Calabar, the leader of the Concerned Students, Law Faculty, University of Calabar, Mr. Emmanuel Williams, kicked against the protest, stressing that allegations of sexual harassment levelled against the Dean were baseless and complete blackmail to pull down the Dean.
He said, “The question is that, if Ndifon actually harassed any of the female students can’t such female students come out boldly to raise alarm? Even when they are law students?
“We are all law students, undergoing training to fight injustice in the system and above all seek redress, whenever we feel oppressed. Couldn’t these so called victims raise the alarm, rather keeping mute?”
Also, another law student, Agatha Ayeni, expressed sadness over the protest, alleging that it was a ploy by a faction of guillible students in the faculty, led by the President, LAWSAN, Unical branch, Comrade Otu, to pull the Dean down.
Ms Ayeni said, “The protest is against the wish of the majority of the students in the Law Faculty, because the decision of the LAWSON President did not meet up with two third major requirement before he embarked on the protest against the Dean, who had been working so hard to turn around the fortunes of the faculty.”
Another law student, Sylvester (surname witheld probably for fear of repression, regretted taking part in the protest, stressing that he and some of his colleagues were cajoled to go for a meeting with the Vice Chancellor at her office, only for placards, bearing false representations about the Dean, pulled out from the vehicle and they were persuaded to participate in the protest.
He said, “A critical look at those placards, you would agree with me that the inscriptions on the placards had a handwriting which look as if it’s written by one individual.
“We heard of law journal and sexual harrasment. I think this is a manipulation of gullible students to satisfy a selfish and inordinate ambition.
“One thing I know is that, since Ndifon defeated some heavy weights in the faculty elections, which brought Ndifon in as the Dean, it has not been easy.
“But I tell you, these are lies cooked from the pit of hell just to tarnish his reputation.”
Recall that students of the Law Faculty, led by President of the Law Students Association, LAWSON, Unical branch, Comrade Otu, led a group of students to the Vice Chancellor’s office to protest against the leadership style of Prof. Cyril Ndifon, the Dean of the Faculty of Law, who the protesting students alledged had been running the faculty as if it were his private estate.
At the Vice Chancellor’s office, the VC, Prof. Florence Obi, lauded the protesting students for conducting themselves in a lawful and peaceful manner, stressing that the doors of school management are widely open to students.
When contacted on a telephone for his reaction, Prof. Ndifon refuted all the allegations levelled against him and exonerated himself from any wrong doing.
Ndifon said, “What you have seen is the handiwork of people who had vowed to ensure that they pull me down. I am actually short of words.”
A lecturer in the Unical Law Faculty, who pleaded anonymity, said, “What you saw played out yesterday was masterminded by some principalities, who had been wrestling power with the Dean. There is nothing like harassment of any female student. I also work in the same faculty.
“There is no way something like that would happen and I won’t know. It’s a ploy to bring Ndifon down.”
