Appoint substantive rector for Fed Poly Oko based on merit,

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The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to appoint a substantive Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra State, based on merit.

NANS Southeast Zone F Coordinator, Comrade Charles Ijeomah Obinna, made the plea at a press conference held in Awka on Wednesday.

According to Ijeomah, “Our attention has been drawn to a series of petitions, open letters, and agitations against a substantive Rector for Federal Polytechnic Oko. Our independent enquiries have revealed the following: The recently concluded rector selection process by the governing council of Oko, under the able leadership of Distinguished Senator Engr. Barnabas Gemade, was transparent, competitive, and has been acclaimed as one of the best in recent times in the Rector’s selection process of Nigerian Polytechnics.”

“All the 18 candidates that were shortlisted for the selection interview were imminently qualified to contest.”

“The present petitions and agitations flying around are tools of mischief makers and individuals who do not intend well for the betterment of the prestigious citadel of learning.”

“Our further environmental study reveals that a certain cabal, who have held down the progress of the polytechnic and have continued to misappropriate the resources of the institution, are behind the unwarranted push to scuttle a peaceful and recently concluded process.”

“The present push to appoint a candidate other than the topmost candidate is only a plot by clannish and sectional individuals from a region that has already decided the principles of the polytechnic.”

“The petitions, open letters, and court actions by faceless individuals parading themselves as alumni members or staff of the institution are false, baseless, and actions of the enemies of the Polytechnic. Those going to anti-graft agencies, ICPC, or any of the court cases should desist from doing so because we acknowledge the chairman of the governing council, Distinguished Senator Barnabas Gemade.”

The Southeast Coordinator further noted that, “In view of the foregoing, we recommend as follows: the appointment of a substantive Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Oko should be based on merit to reflect objectivity in the appointment of public officers and in line with the vision of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

“Secondly, the federal character principle should be applied in this appointment to reflect equity and fairness.”

“Thirdly, the Honourable Minister of Education should be firm in his recommendation to the President on this appointment. Therefore, all the agitations and open letters aimed at blackmailing and scuttling the recently concluded processes lack merit.”

“We, therefore, call on the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to appoint the substantive Rector of Oko Polytechnic based on merit. Let the best candidate win. This will ensure sanity, academic excellence, and a turnaround for the hitherto institution, which has been held down by those who did not mean well for the students.”

Marking his one month in office, Comrade Ijeomah equally urged the President and the Southeast Governors to attend to the deplorable road conditions in the Southeast geopolitical zone and review the transportation scheme for students of tertiary institutions, which will ease their movement from home to classroom and equally provide some security for the students.

“We plead with Professor Soludo and other Southeast Governors to look at us with pity and review the transportation scheme of NANS. We want the student bus fees to be subsidised, and we want a roundtable discussion to make these things possible for students,” he said.

Also speaking, NANS National Director of Sports, Comrade Ernest Obinna Okafor, said there is a need to review the tax on student buses. “Our drivers are leveraging us on certain protection that we give them because we mandate them on a certain amount. We are agitating for the state government to renegotiate the taxes of our bus drivers because the burden is much on us,” he said.

On his part, the Vice President/Coordinator of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS), Comrade Umezuluorah Chukwuebuka, called on the Minister of Education to give Federal Polytechnic Oko the best candidate for the Rectorship position. He maintained that the best candidate selected by the school council should be supported for maximum service delivery. He also advised the students to apply for the Federal Student Loans rather than dropping out of school due to a lack of finances.

Also speaking, National Vice President of the National Association of Nigeria Colleges of Education Students (NANCES), Comrade Obi Christian Chukwunecherem, thanked President Tinubu for the student loan while urging students to ensure that they partake in the student loan scheme.

Meanwhile, the Southeast Coordinator, Comr. Obinna Ijeomah, while commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his fatherly advice to Nigerian students, appreciated him for approving the student loan to help combat the number of out-of-school students and those facing challenges in paying their fees, as well as the approval of CNG buses for NANS structures across the Federation.

“We also want to use the opportunity to appreciate President Tinubu for finding our very own Lady Bianca worthy to serve as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,” he said.

He thanked the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Chukwuma Soludo, for the free education in Anambra State, and the newly appointed Minister of Education, Hon. Tunji Alausa, while declaring to work with him for the overall welfare of students.

Adding, he appreciated the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Gov. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, for providing an enabling environment for NANS during the convention that brought him and his excos to power, and the working Governor of Abia State, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, for his giant strides in infrastructure, as well as the newly appointed Vice Chancellor of Abia State University, Uturu Okigwe, Prof. Ndukwe Okeudo, Pro Chancellor Rt. Hon. Agwu U. Agwu, and the Governing Councils.

He further lauded the global National President of NANS, H.E. Lucy Omoneye, and the Senate President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, for their efforts in repositioning NANS and the welfare of the ideal student union.

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