Academic activities were disrupted at Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue as youths from the host community on Monday protested against what they term as ‘acts of nepotism’ and high tuition fees in the newly University in Otukpo.
The youths under the aegis of Otukpo Redemption Movement, Otukpo Youth Forum and Otukpo Accountability Forum began their protest from Edikwu Junction, opposite former Otukpo Stadium protested against the Vice Chancellor of the University and the Chief Medical Director of the University teaching hospital.
The protesting youths carried placards with various inscriptions such as; “FUHSO VC runs school as private entity,” “FUHSO VC has no regard to the host community policy on employment,” “No management meeting in FUHSO for four years,” “FUHSO VC and the MD have no regard for federal character principle,” among others.
The spokesman of the youths, Alechenu Adah accused the VC and CMD of neglecting the host community in the area of employment of staff, particularly, junior staff.
Adah alleged that the Chief Medical Director of the teaching hospital, Dr Silas Ochenjele had given out all the available positions to his Agatu kinsmen to the detriment of the youths of the community.
He, therefore, said the protest will run for 14 days until their demands are met.
According to him,. “A society that has impartial and effective justice system will eventually become a peaceful society but a society that allows bias in justice system can only create an illusion of peace.
Otukpo district seeks for justice.
“Today, we want to let the world know the nepotistic attitude at Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo and the practical institution; the FUHSO teaching hospital are manifestations of partiality against host community Otukpo.
“Since this imbalance has become a norm which is an aberration from the true justice the world crave for, this act of modern colonialism is evident in appointments at both FUHSO and teaching hospital Otukpo.
“FUHSO VC runs school as private entity, no university management meeting in four years.”
The protesting youths accused the Vice Chancellor of contracting security and environment sections to his relations to ensure host community is completely deprived of employment opportunities.
Adah further alleged, “How do we explain this: head of administration, head of procurement, Chief Nursing Officer,, Chief Accountant Chief Pharmacist and Chief Laboratory Scientist, all from Agatu LGA
“FUHSO is the most expensive Federal University; this has deprived peasant farmers the opportunity of sending their wards to learn at FUHSO.
Addressing the protesting youths, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Professor Stephen Abah appreciated the youths for the peaceful protest and promised to initiate dialogue between the varsity management and the youth leadership to resolve the issues that were raised.
The deputy VC said, “We will sit down and invite you to come and sit at the table with us and we dialogue.
“Everywhere in the world people want peace. So, if you want peace and I want peace then we don’t have problem again. You don’t need to come here and stay for 14 days. I will respond before 14 days.“
and then