Speaking to Tribune Online exclusively on Wednesday, President of the OYOM, Comrade Etifit Nkereuwem explained that MAN, Oron host communities are desirous of a native of the community as Rector.
According to Nkereuwem, “we are protesting peacefully, in line with the principle of human rights, the appointment of a management committee to head the MAN, Oron in Akwa Ibom State. MAN, Oron is a Federal Government established academy, and the only one in the entire Oro community in Akwa Ibom.
“But it is very unfortunate and unacceptable that since the establishment of the academy 40 years ago, no native of Oro has been allowed to head the academy. That is the crux of our protest. We have been marginalised, cheated, and maltreated over this issue of one of our son’s heading this academy in the last 40 years.
“Despite our contribution to the academy, we have been denied this singular desire of the entire Oro communities to have one of our son’s head the academy. We gave the land and peaceful environment for the academy to thrive, why is government denying us?
“We had hope when one of our son’s, Mkpandiok Ante Mkpandiok was appointed Acting Rector after the former Rector, Engr. Anthony Isiodu died. Mkpandiok acted as Rector while also doing his job as Registrar of the academy for a whole one year, yet no confirmation of his Rectorship came from the Federal Government.
“Instead of government to look at how to confirm the widely accepted management of Mkpandiok Ante Mkpandiok for the academy, the Hon. Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi just recently sacked the Mkpandiok led management and installed a six-man Management Committee to oversee the academy.
“The Minister now went further to appoint his in-law, Retired Commodore Duja Effedua to take over as the substantive Rector after the Management Committee is done with its works. The action of the Minister is what we are opposing and rejecting.
“Appointment of a Management Committee to head and steer the affairs of MAN, Oron is not in the enabling Act of the academy. This is the position of Oro youths and the entire Oro people in Akwa Ibom State. That we are in the minority does not mean our rights should be trampled upon.”
When reminded that as a Federal institution, a native of Oro heading the Maritime Academy of Nigeria might not be tenable, the OYOM President explained that all the Federal Institutions in the Niger Delta is headed by natives of the area were such institutions are situated.
In his words, “University of Calabar is headed by an indigene of Calabar. University of Uyo is also headed by an indigene. Even the proposed Maritime University in Okerenkoko is headed by a Delta man. Why should MAN, Oron’s case be different? It is unfair. Our rights have been trampled upon for the past 40years.”
It would be recalled that the Honourable Minister of Transportation, Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi recently appointed a six man Management Committee headed by former Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Adebayo Sarumi, to run the affairs of the academy. Amaechi also appointed Retired Commodore Duja Effedua to assume the position of Rector of the academy after the Management Committee completes its term of reference.
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