Ahead of the meeting with the Resident Minister in his office in Kenema, the AIG East engaged the Student Union President and his executive at his Regional Office in Kenema. In that brief meeting, the AIG informed the executive members about the present situation in the country which has warranted his prompt intervention. He however took them to the Resident Minister where the rest of the engagement successfully took place.
The 28th August 2020 meeting which took place at the conference Hall of the Resident Minister, came shortly after the Student Union Government put out a notice of invitation calling on all students of the said College to meet on campus. The police however interpreted the invitation as one which has the propensity to create unrest and draw the attention of stakeholders.
By every indication, the meeting called by the Student Union executive members cannot be unconnected to the present strike action taken by the lecturers of the Eastern Polytechnic which has rendered the final year students hopeless as they approach their NCTVA Examination.
In his briefing to the Resident Minister in his office, the proactive Police boss AIG TM Lahai disclosed that the police in Kenema was seriously concerned with the proposed Student Union Executive meeting with the student body on campus on the 29th August 2020.
Mr. Lahai was quick to remind the student Union President and his executive members to consider the current security situation of the country, more especially when it is battling with the Covid19 pandemic and trying to cope with its enhanced Regulations which stated that people should not gather.
He admonished them to use a more accurate and professional mechanism in putting their grievance out to the public, as unscrupulous people may be tempted to hijack the true meaning of such a course to their own advantage
The Resident Minister in his fatherly tone admonished the Student Union president and his executive members that their ultimate goal as student is to go through their academic work successful. He further admonished them of Government’s effort to address the concerns of the lecturers of Easter Polytechnic Kenema.
He appealed to their sense of reasoning to put aside the meeting and further assured them that the issue will be addressed in a more diplomatic means. Dr. Mohamed Kanneh who is the current Principal of the College, made a similar sentiment where he further informed the Student Union body that there will be a meeting in Freetown on the 29th August 2020 where the meeting will primarily look at the present situation of the lecturers at Eastern Polytechnic c College, Kenema.
At the climax of the meeting, the President of the Student Union Government, Mr. Juana Saffa assured the Resident Minister, the AIG Eastern Region East, the Principal and other members who were present of his executive commitment to peace and stability of Kenema city and by extension Eastern Region. He promised to counsel the proposed meeting while they await the outcome of the proposed meeting in Freetown. Consequently a public notice was issued on all local radio stations and social media platforms terminating the meeting thereby stopping and barring all students from attending the said meeting
