By Christopher Ambe
Buea- A press conference organized on February 12 by the University of Buea
Administration on campus after it quelled a violent student demonstration,
allegedly master-minded by a few
students using the cover of the institution’s student union, UBSU,
provided an occasion for Vice-chancellor (VC) Dr. Nalova Lyonga, and her
immediate collaborators to present to the general public, through the media,
how law-breaking and dangerous the current leaders of the union have become to
the smooth functioning of the varsity.
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| Vice-Chancellor Dr.Nalova Lyonga at press conference |
But, the VC, looking
determined, while addressing the press conference, insisted that, because the
varsity is governed by rules and regulations, LAW and ORDER must reign on the
campus of the University of Buea.
While the press conference was going on, police arrested at
least three students around the campus said to be some of the instigators of
the strike
An angry Dr. Nalova Lyonga even revealed that UBSU
constitution has never been accepted and endorsed by the UB Administration,
noting that the student union has been operating due to administrative
tolerance
It all started on February 6 the day, the VC had planned an
important meeting, to look into some student union election concern raised.
UBSU executives had agreed to attend it. But surprisingly, UBSU foiled the meeting, which was convened by the UB Administration
for all elected executives of the Faculties and instead instigated what
they said was to be a peaceful demonstration. The demonstration later turned violent,
resulting to the disruption of classes and destruction of property and the VC
was held hostage in her car for three hours.
UBSU reportedly claimed that they
were a central body that must control all other executives. “To do that, they
want to hold their own exclusive elections, without the other executives”, Dr. Lyonga
explained, describing their claim as undemocratic
But UBSU had said the strike was intended to force the UB
administration address some problems negatively affecting students’ welfare. The
students’ demands included the reestablishment of on -campus businesses such as
photocopiers said to have been suspended; improved online registration,
dialogue with students, payment of a certain amount as youth day march past dues,
speedy issuance of transcripts, extension of reading time on campus, and
quality food in the restaurant.
The VC said the UB Administration only learned of the students’
alleged grievances on tracts circulated by UBSU.
According to UB administration, “UBSU is
violent; they come to school with clubs and knives to terrorize students and
teachers out of class. It is a dangerous group, consisting of undergraduates,
ex-students, non-students - all persons susceptible to being used by extremists
of all sorts who want political gains and self-aggrandizement”
The Vice
Chancellor was at a loss to understand how UBSU, which is not properly constituted,
would want to dictate to the UB administration and rule over 17,000 students.
“People have to have morals and values. You can
not have a university where a handful of students want to govern over 17000
student population,”Dr Nalova Lyonga said, insisting that “Our doors are open for
dialogue. Our doors for dialogue are very open”
The Vice- Chancellor was assisted in throwing
light on the current state of affairs at the varsity by her aides: Professor
Victor Julius Ngoh (DVC’/c of Research, Cooperation and Relations with the
Business World), Professor Joyce Endeley (DVC i/c of Teaching, Information
Communication Technology), and Chief Professor Sampson N. Abangma( Registrar)
as well as Professor Mbua Efange(Director of Development)
Buttressing the Dr. Nalova Lyonga, UB
Registrar Chief Professor Sampson Abangma, regretted that UBSU refused to
submit to the authority of the VC.
“It is only in Buea (UB) that two or three
students declare a strike, and because the strike is not accepted by the
majority of students, they go in to class rooms and start beating others ready
to laern and chasing them out”, the Registrar said.
Taking the cue, Professor Victor Julius Ngoh,
said businesses on campus were not banned as alleged by UBSU.He said because of
the chaotic way the businesses were being carried, owners were given up to
December 2012 to stop operating and
apply for the renewal of their
authorizations, which he said
were still under review.
He regretted that UBSU was giving authorization
to people to come and establish their businesses on campus. Prof Ngoh wondered: “How can a group of
student lease out University of Buea property?” He showed receipts from owners
of businesses on campus said to have been issued to them by UBSU. He cited the case of a businessman from whom
UBSU collected FCFA 1.6 million and issued him a so-called authorization for
him to run his business on campus until 2019.
It emerged from the press conference that some
102 photocopiers had been operating on campus, and some owners did faulty connection
of the photocopiers to electrical outlets, which caused two fire incidents on
campus.
So frank
were UB administration that they even told journalists that some staff
especially lecturers were strongly behind the disturbances on campus.
“We want
UBSU to exist according to regulations in force…We can’t succeed without the
cooperation of the Government, parents, students and other stakeholders”, Prof Abangma
noted.
In her closing remark, the VC called for
collective responsibility and respect of regulations, noting that it is very
difficult to build but very easy to destroy.
By the time of going to press calm had returned
to UB especially as students will soon begin their end-of semester exams.
It should be noted even as the disturbances
were going on, a determined Dr. Nalova Lyonga, still braved the odds and successfully
laid, last week, the foundation stone for the building of a 2,500 bed-capacity
hostel to house students on campus, a long-term plan for modern accommodation
and a business center
First
Published in The Recorder Newspaper, Cameroon, of February 15, 2013
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