Businessman-politician, Hon Emma Nwaka has cautioned a group calling itself, 'Old Bende Young Professionals', to desist from any unwholesome act or threats that may lead to breach of peace, law and order at the  Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, MOUAU. 

Hon Nwaka who was reacting to the group's threats to occupy MOUAU over  the promotion of their son, Dr Philips Nto, further urged the group to pursue their grievances if they have any, by following through time-tested administrative due process rather than resorting to theatrics on the social media."I would urge this group to retrace their steps and resort to the time- tested administrative procedure for pursuing such matters rather than resort to social media theatrics which would not be in the interest of their son, Nto"


Hon Emma Nwaka 

Nwaka  further urged them to resist the temptation of attributing loopholes in the bureaucratic process to personal, ethnic or other self-imagined  considerations.

"I was shocked to read a statement on the social media by a group calling 'Old Bende Young Professionals' who were protesting against what they described as  grave injustice and victimisation of their son, Dr Philips Nto.  MOUAU, like other Universities have laid down adminstrative process of ironing out such matters. I would urge Dr Nto and this group to resort to this due process which am sure would proffer solutions to their grievances before they exhaust all the available options. 

"I further noticed that the group rather than addressing the facts of the matter have resorted to gaslighting tactics, by insinuating that the matter is a case of indigenes of Abia State versus Enugu State indigenes, this is most unfortunate and unwelcome development. Dr Nto, with his standing in the academia should avoid the temptation of taking such cheap shots. I earnestly urge him to refrain from the temptations of applying uncouth and unprofessional approach in resolving an otherwise simple administrative procedure", Nwaka stated in a statement.

He maintained that having once served at MOUAU, he stressed that there exists a time-tested administrative procedure for resolving every issues. And further added that as a federal institution, MOUAU offers a conducive environment for people from all nations and ethnic groups to live together as one family in the academic community 

According to the social media post, the group which styles itself as a pressure group has threatened to physically occupy the institution  over the delayed promotion their son, Dr Philip Nto, stating that Nto's delayed promotion is a grave injustice and victimisation allegedly orchestrated by the Chairman of the Governing Council of MOUAU, Comrade Fidelis Edeh, which has been due since 2021.

In the statement signed by the Chairman of the group, Barr. Chima Ogbonna, and the Secretary, Chief Dike Okwara, the group gave the Council Chairman an ultimatum to either approve or reject the promotion of Dr Philips Nto at the next council meeting or face massive protests.

“The lamentation of our hardworking son over the unjust delay in releasing his promotion, when his peers and even juniors have been promoted to professors, was heartbreaking and provocative. We could not believe that a man from Enugu State would come to Abia to oppress an indigene,” they declared.