UNICROSS Acting VC reiterates commitment to always respect the rights of students

 

By Mr Cornelius Ellah

The Acting Vice Chancellor of UNICROSS, Prof. Francisca Bassey, has reiterated her commitment to always respect the fundamental human rights of students, including the right to freedom of speech.

She reiterated this commitment during an exclusive chat with me in her office, against the backdrop of some misleading reports in the social media that have unfairly accused her of stifling the voices of students.

The accusations followed the recent arrest and detention of Mr. Eyam Martin Oyama, a graduate of UNICROSS.

The Acting Vice Chancellor explained that she did not play any role in that arrest.

She said: "There was a voice note that was released last Thursday.

The person who released the voice note made statements that attracted the attention of security personnel.

Before that voice note was released, there was tension in Nigeria because some persons planned to organize a protest against what they consider as bad governance.

For that reason, security agencies were very alert during that period.

Recall that ENDSARS started as a peaceful protest before it got hijacked by miscreants.

Remember too that the last time there was a protest in our University, there was mass destruction of property and all students, including innocent students who didn't participate in the protest, were asked to pay for the damage.

Students are right to express themselves and to protest peacefully, if absolutely necessary.

I respect that right.

But we are in a neighborhood that is porous.

Vandals from the neighborhood can infiltrate and hijack protests.

Security personnel can't allow that to happen.

Therefore, they proactively trailed the person that released the voice note and picked him right here on campus.

Those security personnel were doing their work.

They were everywhere, not only in UNICROSS."

The Acting Vice Chancellor further disclosed that she only got informed two days ago that Eyam Martin Oyama was locked up in Afokang Prison.

She added that she also heard that before that time, nobody went to bail him from prison.

Meanwhile, the latest update on Mr. Eyam Martin Oyama indicates that he has been released unconditionally and all charges against him have been dropped.

This is a good development.

It is also good to know that the Acting Vice Chancellor did not play any role in his arrest.

Her motherly disposition to students has never been in doubt, judging from her impeccable history of service in UNICAL where she always fought for the rights of her students and sometimes offered scholarships to some of them.

I suggest that next time matters of that unfortunate nature arise, those who write news reports about Professor Francisca Bassey should get ethical and professional in their reports by speaking with her directly to get her side of the story.

Balance demands this.

Fairness demands it too.

Fortunately, she is always very accessible.