Proscribed Auchi poly SUG accuses rector of fraud, tyranny

THE proscribed Students Union Government (SUG), of the Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State, has appealed to the Federal Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, to look into the financial records of the Polytechnic since the appointment of Dr Sanusi Jimah as rector, alleging that several corrupt practices were ongoing in the higher institution.

The student body that was proscribed in September also called on the Education Minister to prevail on the Dr Jimah to stop using army officers, hunters, vigilante groups and police on the campus, saying their lives were no longer safe as result of the intimidation, harassment, and threat from the security agents.

President of the erstwhile Students Union Government of the institution, Mr Samson Okoduwa, who was in company with the Speaker of the students Representatives, Mr Unuareluokpa and the Secretary-General of the Union, Mr Obukoowo Favour, at a media briefing in Benin, said the rector planned to impose a tyrannical administration, hence his refusal to organise SUG election.

The group further appealed to the Minister to release the result of the interview conducted for a new rector for the institution so that a substantive rector could be appointed for the polytechnic.

The students alleged that the authorities of the institutions unleashed security men on them during a peaceful protest calling for the conduct of the SUG election and in the process, majority of the students were molested and injured.

However, in a swift reaction, the Rector through the Chief Public Relations Officer of the Polytechnic, Mr Mustapha Oshiobugie, denied the entire allegations saying that the Students Union Government has been proscribed.

He explained that modalities have been completed to conduct the SUG election which he said was only postponed for security reasons and for the conduct of the semester examinations.

He also announced plans by the institution to commence the issuance of Identity Cards to the students in response to the allegations by the students that the sum of N1,500 each were collected from the over 35,000 students of the institution for an Identity Card.

Also, the Dean of Students of the Polytechnic, Mr Shola Eshiobo, while denying the allegations by the students, said a table time for the election has been put in place, adding that the election will be conducted immediately after the semester examination.