Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
The University of Port Harcourt has denied ever granting any permission to the Ohaneze Ndigbo to hold its purported Annual Convention on the campus of the institution.
In a press statement by UNIPORT signed by Williams Wodi, Deputy Registrar Information, Publications and Public Relations of the
University said “It has come to the notice of the authorities of the University of Port Harcourt that certain faceless individuals or groups have gone on air to announce the convening of an “Annual Convention” purportedly scheduled to hold in the University on Friday, September 29, 2017. The said announcement is being made in the name of Ohaneze Ndigbo and Indigenous People of Biafra.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the authorities of the University wish to state quite categorically that no individuals or groups had applied for permission to use any of its facilities for purposes of holding the purported “Annual Convention” as the announcements in the electronic media appear to indicate to unsuspecting members of the general public.
UNIPORT management clarified that individuals or groups are not authorised to make use of facilities in the University of Port Harcourt without first applying and obtaining permission to do so.
The general public is, therefore, advised to discountenance the ongoing announcements for whatever intent or purpose it was meant to serve. The faceless elements behind such an embarrassing announcement are totally unknown to the authorities of the University and have absolutely no permission to hold such an event on our campus. The facilities of the University are certainly not available for the purpose stated in the said announcement.
Wodi further stated that even if the organisers/announcers have an intention to gather in the University of Port Harcourt, it remains a mere intention that cannot be actualised without the express permission of the authorities of the University.
” It is our hope that those making the post-haste announcement have no plans to drag the University of Port Harcourt into any controversy that is capable of distracting it from its core mandate of research, teaching and public service.”
It would recalled that the Secretary General of Ohaneze Ndigbo,Uche Okwukwu had vowed that body must hold its convention in Port Harcourt on September 28 and 29 and nobody can stop it as it has not violated any law.