Ogun Poly: Don’t rescind Ipokia location decision, Group appeals

Ipokia Youth Development Council, has appealed to the Ogun State Government led by Senator Ibikunle Amosun, not to rescind its decision to locate the State Polytechnic at Ipokia, as earlier announced.

The group in a statement signed by Dare Olawin, on Wednesday, in Abeokuta, said it is aware of moves and intense lobby by some individuals in the state to locate the institution at the border town, Idiroko.

It said that any attempt to do so automatically negates the laws that establish the institution.

IYDC recalled that the town failed to get the proposed College of Education in 1982 during the administration of the first civilian governor of the state, late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo.

It said that the proposed College of Education was duly gazetted but for military junta the institution did not see the light of the day.

The development, according to the release, has made the town, the only old local government headquarters in the state without a government educational institution.

The statement reads, “We also wish to inform Your Excellency that all efforts made by Ipokia Community during Governor Gbenga Daniel’s administration to relocate the Tai Solarin College of Education at Ijebu-Ode to Ipokia Township following the upgrade of the College to a University of Education, proved unsuccessful. Instead, the College was relocated to Omu, Odogbolu local government.”

“Similarly, the Government Model School earmarked for Ipokia township being the local government headquarters, is now situated in Idiroko. Thus, Ipokia township remains the only old local government headquarters without a government educational institution.”

“Indeed, to ensure the safety of staff and students, it will not be advisable to locate the polytechnic in Idiroko, a border town prone to sporadic shootings between customs and the smugglers.”

“We want to stress that starting the Polytechnic in Idiroko will be demoralizing to the people of Ipokia and environ, who are already joyfully looking forward to the take-off of the institution. With the establishment of the Polytechnic, the Ogun State government will not only be planting a tower of light tall enough to break the darkest part unknown, but also be providing a better safeguard of liberty for the generality of the youths in Ipokia and its environ.”