About 200 students may have been expelled by the authorities of
Covenant University, Cannanland, Ota,Ogun State, recently for what was
described as “disregard of paramount corevalues.”
Frustrated and angered by the development, some of the affected
students who gave account of what happened battled emotions while
narrating their situations to Saturday Vanguard recently. They however
pleaded with the school authorities to tamper justice with mercy in
order to save their future.
Saturday Vanguard investigation revealed that out of the figure, about
126 were expelled for not attending the ‘departure service’, meant to
sign off from the school after the end of the Semester and
Matriculation of students on November 30. Five other students were
thrown out for smoking while unconfirmed source said additional 60 got
the same fate for violating other rules bordering on the University’s
core values. A few others were given four weeks suspension for failure
to sign the head count that was conducted a couple of weeks earlier.
A letter of expulsion signed by the Registrar, Ntia Ubong,a copy which
was made available to Saturday Vanguard stated that the affected
students contravened Chapter 1, section 30, page 40 of the 2010-2014
Student Handbook.
We gathered that the massive expulsion was predicated on the anger of
the Chancellor, Bishop David Oyedepo who was said to have been
infuriated after seeing students loitering around when they were
supposed to be at the Chapel for the Departure Service.
He was said to have personally chased students to the Chapel and
ordered for a search into all the halls and colleges to fish out those
who did not attend the service.
Several attempts to get the school authorities comment on the issue
proved abortive. The Instituion’s Corporate Affairs Head, Mr Igban
Emmaunel also refused to comment as calls pulled through to him were
unanswered and text messages not replied.
How it happened
A few of the affected students gave account of what happened to
Saturday Vanguard at different points. The similar accountsgo thus:
“On November 30, the last day of the semester, preceding our December
break, there was also a Matriculation for the 100 level students; in
fact some students had their last semester exams on that day,some of
them finished around 3:00pm while the matriculation started around8am.
Some students retired to their rooms to relax whilesome engaged in
some other activities jubilating theend of the semester.
“Some also got drinks from the matriculating students. Even as these
were going on, some students who finished around 3pm retiredto their
halls. By 5pm, they announced that we should get prepared for the
‘Departure service’ which was to start by 8pm. Some students were
already seeing their parents off while some of us were just trying to
relax to get off the stress of the exams.
“Most of us hadn’t gotten through the tiredness of thesleepless nights
of the exams; so, some us stayed back in our rooms. The departure
service is usually aday before we go home andit is usually presided
over by the Chancellor. Before the commencement of the service, they
used to lock up the main doors of the halls so as to prevent cases of
theft. I was not bothered since there were a lot of us in the hall.
Some minutes past 8pm, they switched off the light and all of us in
the hall went into our rooms. Because of the darkness andthe cold, I
slept off immediately.”
He continued: “The persistent knocks on the door woke me up and I
realised that they had come to search for people who had not come to
service. Before I realised what was going on, I found myself with
other students numbering about 30. They took down our names and
counted us to make sure that no one was omitted. They said the
Chancellor wasat the service and we refused to come. I heard them
talking about other halls and they asked us to wait. I didn’t take it
seriouslybecause I never believed in my widest imagination that we
would be expelled. We were later asked to go to our various halls.
“Some of those who went into hiding were lucky as they were not found.
Shortly,those who went for the service returned and told us there was
poor attendance at the Chapel and how students were diving in through
the windows, scampering for seats. In fact,one narrated to us how the
Chancellor jumped through the window to vent his anger on some
students who had jumped in,” he stated.
Another expelled student also gave similar account of the incident. “I
couldn’t go to the service because, I wasnot feeling well which was as
a result of the stress of the exams we had just finished. After a
while, I managed to go but I heard that they started driving people
back around 7:30pmwhile the service was to start around 8pm. I was
surprised because the rule was that you’ve got to be seated 15minutes
to the service.
Again, it was never made compulsory, but they tried to get students
out of the halls to prevent cases of theft. So, because I was not
feeling well, I went back to my room because I needed to rest for a
while.
“I thought it was a joke when they said we are in forexpulsion
because we failed to come for departure service. I have never done
anything contrary to the school laws. I have never faced any panel
before and neither did I have any unpleasant case in my file. I never
thought it was real until letters were handed to me the following
morning.”
Giving account of how letters were handed out to them, the visibly
troubled student said: “By 6am, they announced the names of those who
were caught in halls and colleges. Usually after the departure
service, one can sign out from there and go but because it endedlate
and no one could travel, students had to wait till the following
morning. But the hall officer told those of us whose names were
written down that if we leave, we should be considered gone from the
university forever. That gave us an insight into what was likely to
come as punishment. By 7:45am, we were called once again to
godownstairs for our letters. Those who collected theirs before mine
were crying and I wondered what the punishment could be until I read
the letter stating I was expelled from the university.”
But stampeding them to congregate for service and then expelling those
who did not come is a decision taken too far. For me, if there was
poor attendance, I think the authorities have aresponsibility. They
have notbeen fair in putting the service so close to the examination.
Even God will not do that.”
He however commended theChancellor, Dr. Oyedepo on his vision towards
the education of Nigeria children especially when the government
institutions are failing, but urging him to tamper justice with mercy.
Another parent who was afraid of the press noted that he was still
studying the situation and would not want to comment but noted that
he was reliably informed that some group of parents made frantic
efforts to meet with the Chancellor on the issue but without success.
It was not clear the level of the efforts made. He further hinted
thatsome students have not toldtheir parents about their expulsion,
still hoping that the issue would be resolved.
He lamented that his child had been having sleepless nights, going
through mental torture unjustifiably. “I agree that discipline must
be instilled in the students but it should not be aimed at destroying
the life of the students. Expulsion is too great a punishment for non
attendance of a departure service, without even a warning especially
when thestudents hitherto, had not been found wanting,” he stated.
What the Student Handbook says
The Covenant University Corevalues border on Spirituality,Possibility
Mentality, CapacityBuilding, Integrity, Responsibility, Diligence and
Sacrifice. On the spirituality aspect, it states: “The Christian
ethos underguard our activities and conducts at all time and every
student of Covenant University is expected to exhibit character traits
and dispositions of a Jesus-centered heritage. The Jesus– factor
centered approach to all issues is non-negotiable and central in the
pursuit of our mandate in raising a new generation of leaders and
inthe realization of the objectives of our purpose.
To this extent therefore, students will be committed to maintaining a
high level of spirituality and shall act insuch manner as to
facilitate their spiritual growth as wellas work out ways to evolve
and implement a spiritual development plan. Attendance at Chapel
Services is a compulsory part of students’ spiritual development
where a bible and notebook are essential kits for the service.
Students are expected to demonstrate a deep reverence for God at all
times.”
The school declines comment
Several attempts were made to get the school authorities comment on
the issue. The institution’s Corporate/Public Affairs Officer, Mr
Igban Emmanuel Kalu declined comment. At first, several calls were
pulled through to him but he refused to pick his calls. When the
reporter persisted,he later picked but said he was driving and could
not answer any question. But few hours later, other calls pulled to
him were unanswered. A text message was sent to his phone and up to
the time of writing this report, he did not reply.
I’m not aware —Prof JuliusOkojie, NUC Executive Secretary
The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC,
Prof Julius Okojie said he has not been briefed on the matter.
Prof Okojie stated this during a telephone conversation Saturday
Vanguard had with him a few days ago. “I am not aware of any expulsion
by Covenant University; I will ask the school authorities. Right now,
I am not in Abuja, I left Abuja few days ago and until I return to
Abuja and find out details about the matter, I cannot comment on it,”
he said.
Source: Vanguard
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