Yesterday the atmosphere of the Tuskers Republic, the Student Union of the University of Uyo, Nigeria became tensed following the outcome of the plenary of the Students Union House of Representatives, the Legislative arm of the Students Union Government that impeached the President of the Union, Comr. Ndianabasi Ekong following what the house considered as gross misconducts.
To explain the law of Karma, this paragraph is necessary. The incumbent SUG were elected into offices on March this year. Comr. Ndianabasi Ekong emerged as the winner of the Presidency in the elections – a process many described as selection as the popular aspirants Comr. Isaac Udofia from the Faculty of Engineering and Comr. Mfon Umoh from the School of Continuing Education were allegedly screened out by relevant authorities without reason in order to favor Comr. Ekong. They were not called to appear before the Electoral Board for investigations or fair hearing on any form(s) of petition against them that might have warranted their disqualification. In the House of Representatives elections, Comr. Ekong was alleged to have worked so much against the emergence of Hon. Comr. Idara Bassey from the Faculty of Engineering as the Speaker of the House as he suspected that Isaac Udofia and the Engineering Faculty must have sponsored Hon. Comr. Bassey to become the Speaker and help frustrate his government. At the in-house elections, Hon. Comr. Bassey on suspecting fowl play had called for a recount of votes but Comr. Ekong rose against a recount and proceeded to install the incumbent speaker.
According to a Member of the House of Representatives, the House found it proper to impeach Comr. Ekong to save the Union after several allegations against him were found to be true. On the first allegation, Comr. Ekong, he said, has withdrawn over N900,000 from the Union purse without the consent of the House. The first withdrawal he claimed was reported to the House and Comr. Ekong was warned and forgiven, this second withdrawal showed his lack of regards to the Legislature. It is worthy of note that the constitution stipulates the President can only withdraw a maximum of N5,000 without the approval of the House. On the second charge he said, that Comr. Ekong has been hijacking the Union to dump on Macro Politicians platforms and impersonating the office of the Speaker and some Executive members in the process. In quotes he said “Imagine the President going on courtesy calls to politicians to get money. One of such was a visit to OBA and he was like… I am the President, this one is the speaker of the House, this one is a Director, this one is the Secretary General… when in fact the speaker has not appeared in any of those meetings…”. On the third charge, the House also accused the President and the Attorney General of inaugurating the Judiciary again without the approval of the House. The Union constitution mandates the House to screen the nominees for the Judiciary and approve of them before they could be sworn in. These and many more accumulated to the impeachment of the President.
On contacting a member of the Executive Council who promised to publish her own side of the story soon, she maintained that Comr. Ekong remains the president. In her words “It is a rumor. We are having serious issues with the parliament. They now prepare budget for us. They impeach anytime they feel like. Things are not just going well… Yes they issued us a letter that he (Comr. Ekong) has been impeached. One on the grounds of going out on visits. Two on the use of Union’s money without approval from House. Three that Excos members complain. Four that He inaugurated the judiciary without their approval. But the problem is that a person can only be impeached when he is found guilty. He was never called to appear before them, no commitment to investigate, no fair hearing, they just sit with a few members of the House and impeached the President”.
At a meeting with a prime supporter of Isaac Udofia Campaign Group a week ago, he said “If you check very well, all the people that stood to disqualify Isaac Udofia unfairly are being punished by themselves, all of them. I will not count them but we know them. Check very well. Those that screened him out to favor Ndianabasi are being marginalized by the same Ndianabasi. Mention them. All of them. Even Ndianabasi is walking on people’s doors collecting money in the name of courtesy call… SUG President! We know how much we spent and the prayers we prayed. It is not finished. They ain’t seeing nothing yet. They still have time to cry in the government.”
Meanwhile the School Management led by two Deputy Vice Chancellors and the Dean of Students have called for a meeting with the Union Officials. The hope of the meeting is unknown. But the questions now are: Will the House reverse her decision? What integrity will be accorded the Parliament if they do so? Does the constitution make provisions for House U-turns on decisions? Will Emerald Ekarika the Vice President of the Union make history by becoming the First inaugurated Female President of the Tuskers Republic?
The law of Karma states that whatever you do unto others will be done unto you…
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