BusinessDay... the voice of business:  Traditional ruler stripped at AAU convocation

Traditional ruler stripped at AAU convocation
================================================================================
IDRIS UMAR MOMOH on 12 May, 2008 02:00:00
 
It was a show of shame, weekend, at the 17th convocation ceremony of the Ambrose
Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma as a traditional ruler in Edo Central Senatorial
District, was stripped naked by the institution’s security personnel and the
police.
Trouble started when the security men led by the institution’s chief security
officer (CSO), in their usual manner, barred  visitors from the school premises
on the excuse that the governor was already inside.
As a result, thousands of students, invitees, including journalists and the
traditional ruler said to be from Eimuhi in Esanland were refused entrance by
the security men.
In protest, the traditional ruler who had identified himself, decided to block
the road thereby preventing motorists from driving out of the gate.
In retaliation, the security men swooped on him and stripped him of his white
“buba” shirt; his traditional beads and detained him in their guard room
till after the convocation.
The action of the security men led to protest by students who condemned the
treatment meted to the traditional ruler.
Students  who spoke to City Scope described the decision of the school
authorities to bar people from being part of the convocation ceremony as an
affront and  infringement on the fundamental rights of the people of the state
and the entire institution’s community.
According to them, “this is the first time this will be happening in the
institution, where people are prevented from going to the convocation ground.
Nobody has ever prevented relations, invitees and visitors from witnessing any
ceremony of sort in the school on the excuse that the governor is already inside
the school,” they said.
Efforts to get the school deputy registrar (information and protocol), Chris
Adamaigbo to comment on the development proved abortive as his phone cell was
switched off.