By Ovat Abeng
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 plead at a press conference, held in awka, on Wednesday.
According to Ijeomah, “Our attention have been drawn to series of petitions, open letter and agitations against a substantive Rector for Federal Polytechnic Oko. Our independent inquiries have revealed the following; the recently concluded rector selection process by the governing council 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 was shortlisted for the selection interview was imminently qualified to contest.
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“The present petitions and agitations flying around are tools of mischief makers and individuals who do not intend well for the better 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 processes.
“The present push to appoint a candidate other than the top most candidate is only a plot clannish and sectional individuals from a region which have already certain principles of the Polytechnic.
“The petitions, open letter 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 and any of the court cases should desist from doing so, because we acknowledge the chairman governing council, distinguished Senator Barnabas Gemade.”
The Southeast Coordinator further noted that “In view of the forgoing we recommended as follows; the appointment of substantive Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Oko should base on merit to reflect objectivity in the appointment of public officers and in line of the vision of administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Secondly, the federal character principles should be applied in this appointment to reflect equity, and fairness.
“Thirdly, the Hon minister of Education should be form 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 lacks merit.
“We therefore call 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 turnaround for the hitherto institution which have 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 of 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 Governor to Soludo look at us with pity and review the transportation scheme of NANS. We want the student bus fees to be subsidized, we want a roundtable discussion to make these things possible for students.”
Also speaking, NANS National Director of Sports, Comrade Ernest Obinna Okafor said there is need to review the tax on student buses. Our drivers are Leveraging us on some certain protection that we give them because we mandate them on certain amount. We are agitating for the state government to renegotiate the taxes of our bus drivers because the burden is much on us”
On his part, the Vice President/Coordinator National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) Comr Umezuluorah Chukwuebuka called on the Minister of Education to give Federal Polytechnic Oko the best candidate for 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 lack of finance.
Also speaking, National Vice President, National Association of Nigeria Colleges of Education Students, (NANCES),Comrade Obi Christian Chukwunecherem however
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, approval of CNG buses for NANS structure 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 affair”
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 in 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 welfare of the ideal student union.
