September 01, (THEWILL) – VEHICULAR and economic activities were grounded on Wednesday as a group of Persons Living With Disabilities, PLWD, took to the streets of Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital to protest the alleged suspension of a deputy bursar who is a member of the group by the authorities of the state owned Niger Delta University, NDU.
Commuters traveling to the university town of Amassoma and Tombia in Southern Ijaw and Yenagoa Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State were stranded for hours along the Edepie corridor as the protest lasted.
It was learnt that the deputy bursar of the institution was allegedly barred from contesting for the vacant position of a substantive bursar of the institution on account of his physical disability.
The peaceful protesters who converged at the popular Tombia Roundabout where they staged their protest were led by the State Chairman of Persons Living With Disabilities, PLWD, Mr. Eric Ikilowei.
The protesters brandished placards with various inscription such as “VC Prof. Samuel Gowon Edoumiekumo immediately lift the malicious suspension meted on the disabled deputy bursar,” “Prof. Samuel Gowon Go We don’t want you again,” “NDU VC is high handed,” “Save Our Souls Governor Douye Diri,” among others.
The policemen on ground it was learnt fired teargas canisters to disperse the protest after failed attempts by some senior officers to bring the protest to a halt.
The Chairman of PLWD, Mr. Eric Ikilowei, said the protest was called after several efforts to reach out to the state government to wade into the made matter did not yield any fruit, noting that the last time they protested and was invited by the Commissioner of Police, he was detained and taken to court.
He, however, appealed to the Bayelsa state Governor, Senator Douye Diri, to wade into the matter and call the Vice Chancellor of the NDU Prof. Samuel Edoumiekumo to order and reinstate the deputy bursar of the institution.
