Cross River Students in search of a way forward

Recalling the event the former NACRISS President said, “on that day after delegates finished voting the military men of the Quick Intervention Squad (QIS) that were sent to secure the premises forcefully escorted the electoral members with the ballot box into their van and drove to their office which angered students into challenging them, after a lot of stone throws, the QIS Commander came and addressed us saying the election was cancelled but to our dismay Mr. Hilary Bisong, S. A. to the Governor on Student Affairs and the electoral members drove away with the ballot boxes to an unknown destination by a QIS driver”.

Adding that, “we hurriedly split into groups for peaceful demonstration. I and others went to Cross River Broadcasting Cooperation (CRBC) protesting about the conduct of the election. The management assured us that no result will be announced since the election ended the way it did.

“But to our greatest surprise the next day, the State Government owned media announced an opaque result which lacks democratic model. “No agent of the candidates nor the candidates will be able to tell where, when and how the votes were counted. The election was rigged and those involved are the First Lady in person of Mrs. Obioma Imoke and her cohorts; the S.A. to the Governor on Student Affairs, Mr. Hillary Bisong, the Legal Adviser to NACRISS World Wide, Barrister Gilbet Agbo and Barrister Chris Nja”.

Comrade Machinery Ene while recounting the event said, “I’m just recovering from the serious beating I received from the security men for defending my right to a free and fair election”.

They both thumped-up Comrade Akwaji Henry, for his courage to petition the electoral committee on the conduct of the election rather than resorting to violence or other extra judicial methods describing him as a true democrat.

While Mr. Nkamonke Ubi, the Press Secretary to the First Lady, Mrs. Obioma Imoke said “Madam is too occupied doing other things to want to get involved in students politics. Please leave her out of such matters. For all I know, she is a mother to all of them and would not want to favor one above the other”.

He called on all Nacrites to support the new government urging the new executive members to work as a team. “I appeal to every Cross Riverian to support this new administration in all ramifications and to you my successors, I charge you to work in unison for the good of all because without working as a team no goal of yours will be easily achieved.”

Claiming that her election was not rigged, in her acceptance speech, the newly inaugurated President, Comrade Odah Philomina Agwaye expressed her gratitude and pledged to lead by serving. “I stand this moment to say that I am happy for this opportunity given to me to pilot the affairs of this union for the next two academic sessions. I promise to carry everyone along to the promise land with the best of my ability.”