Petroleum Training Institute's Principal is a drunk - Youths

The city of Warri has been relatively peaceful compared to some years back when people dread Warri and its environs. The people of Uvwie community in Warri took the city back to what it is known for 'violence' but this time for a cause. The Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun a federal government owned technical institution established to provide technical training for those in the oil and gas Industry headed by Mr. Jacob Erukele (Principal) and Mrs. Angela Ewere (Registrar) started a recruitment process last year December.

The host Community has allegedly sent warnings to the management of the institute before the commencement of the recruitment to be given about 10% slots but the management didn’t heed to their warnings. Read more and view more pics after the cut...


Today March 12 the host community started a protest at around 4am all gates to the institute were barricaded staff and students were prevented from gaining entry, also residents of the institute were prevented from leaving the institute. Protesters which include both young and old were seen carrying placards.

Deduction from Inscriptions on placards were that the Principal of the institute employed his family and friends leaving both qualified people and the merited ones out, also that the some of the new in takes didn’t even participate in any of the recruitment process but were given appointment letter. According to a community youth; this was part of what angered the host community aside the slots they weren’t given, some said the north had more employed candidate than the south.


Speaking with one of the youths with a placard that had “Mr. Joseph Erukele principal of PTI is a drunkard he misbehaves” inscription on it. Speaking in Pidgin English the Principal drinks a lot that’s why he made such irrational decision, chose his people and sold out the remaining slots. He said.

The priest in charge of the community shrine who reported doesn’t come out of the shrine was present at the protest. A dog was sacrificed to their gods at the main entrance of the institute the head was placed on a coffin with its blood used to make signs on a white piece of cloth which signifies war.

The protest was fun with a lot to eat for protesters. A DJ was present to entertain the people with music protester eased the tension by dancing.

Jamb which has the institute as one of it CBT centers had its candidates prevented from gaining entry into their exam hall. It took the intervention of the DPO of police of Ebrumede division through the local government chairman to appeal to the ‘ready to kill’ youths to permit students take their exams but not until 5hrs after the exams should have commenced.

 

 

In the words of some participants of the recruitment process and people within the institute who spoke anonymously:

“I was the only one that got to the last stage of the recruitment in my department. I was given a high mark during the interview to my surprise someone entirely different got the appointment letter”

“What is the essence of the Exams, and interview when those who went and passed weren’t called but those that didn’t participate where given appointment letter?”

“God has answered our prayers we have been cheated and nobody to run to, this demonstration is just an answer to our prayers at least the federal government will hear this”

“Recruitment in Nigeria is understandable if we have maybe 20% connection and 80% merit, but this recruitment had not merit it was 100% connection”

“The Human resource department head is a northerner, so he admitted more of the people from the north leaving the host community and other part of the country sidelined”.

“The federal government should come to our aide, this recruitment is no different from the immigration only that no casualties was recorded, this recruitment should be cancelled and done afresh or the merited ones should be given appointment letter”