Tension In Federal Polytechnic, Oko Over Re-Appointment Of Prof Godwin Onu

There was continued tension at Federal Polytechnic Oko, Orumba North yesterday when the Traditional Ruler of the Community Igwe Laz Ekwueme led other prominent sons and daughters of his Community to protest the alleged re-appointment for the next four years of the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Prof Godwin Onu.

 The community insisted that Prof Onu must not return as the Rector of the Polytechnic and should he do the community would take over the Polytechnic premises until he is removed as he has caused bad blood and divided the community as never before.

They added that the police should be ready to shoot all of them if Prof Onu returns to the Polytechnic, adding that the Former Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme is strongly with their position on the Rector but would not want to use his position when not necessary.

The press statement signed by traditional ruler of Oko Community HRH Igwe Prof Laz Ekwueme and the President General of Oko Peoples Union, Mr Ike Nwammuo was read by the National Legal Adviser of Oko Peoples Union , Hon Uchenna Okonkwo Okom, a lawyer.

They were flanked by the National Leader of Umuada Oko (women married outside Oko) Mrs Pauline Izuegbunam and National President of Oko Peoples Union Women wing, Lady Carol Okeke, the former President General of Oko Peoples Union , Mr Christopher Obiorah among others.

Part of the Oko release read: ‘’On our part, Oko Community has resolved to occupy the Polytechnic if Professor Godwin Onu returns and would not vacate the premises until he is removed. He is notorious for engaging in excessive use of police might to enforce his unpopular actions and we hereby humbly notify the government that Oko Community will not be prepared to allow the return of Professor Godwin Onu UNLESS he is prepared to shoot all of us to clear his way.          

‘’Oko Community with full sense of responsibility and in continued discharge of her duties as host community of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, drawing from the foregoing reasons and more, has come to the conclusion that continued stay of Professor Godwin Onu as Rector, Federal Polytechnic, Oko does not augur well for the polytechnic, militates against her development and has been rejected by all stakeholders in the school, the entire staff, students and the host community and therefore his tenure should not be renewed and or should be terminated forthwith. All staff unions in the Polytechnic have vowed to continue their strike if Professor Godwin Onu is allowed to return as rector under whatever guise.

But reacting to the allegations against him, Prof Godwin Onu said he was highly disappointed by the people of Oko in calling for his removal when he remained the best that happened to the Polytechnic since his appointment 5^th March 2010 to the end of his first tenure 4^th March, 2014 before President Goodluck Jonathan re-appointed him for a second term.

Prof Onu said he has constructed 17 structures and has tarred a 15 kilometer road with an ultra modern medical center with 3 Medical personnel employed from India used by both Polytechnic community and the villagers and introduced 25 new programmes and have equally awarded a contract for Aviation school of Technology at the tune of N250 Million.

On the notion that Former Vice President Dr Alex Ekwueme was with the Oko community in the call for Rector’s removal, Prof Onu said : ‘’Ekwueme  will not be part of this. It will be a big surprise if he is because he has not shown this level of rascality shown by the Traditional ruler and we cannot go against Ekwueme’s stand . Igwe demands are too much and we cant cope with his personal interests which is beyond normal.      

The Oko community speaking on the Governing Council said: ‘’ Oko Community notes with utter dismay, the unguided utterances of the Chairman of the Council of the Polytechnic against the leadership of Oko Community during a press conference addressed by the Council on Tuesday, 11th March, 2014. The octogenarian Chairman was quoted as having described the well-considered petition addressed to the Honourable Minister of Education by the leadership of Oko Community as emanating from “a group of Oko people” whom he went ahead to also describe as a cabal, borrowing from the Rector who had also described the constituted authority of  Oko Community as a cabal

They alleged that his appointment in the first place as Rector of the Polytechnic was in error as it was a breech of extant rules. They alleged that Prof Onu not harbour the slightest respects for Oko and her indigenes including the most outstanding personalities within Oko Community.

But, Prof Onu who spoke through the Image maker of the Polytechnic, Obini Onuchukwu added that the Polytechnic has donated two security vans to the community, and having been carrying them along only to be surprised they are calling for his removal, adding that for the Traditional ruler of Oko to be involved was worrisome.

He said: ‘’ the call for the removal of the Rector is politically motivated for the personal agenda of the Igwe….and you can see there is sharp division among the community leadership over this issue. Their agenda is geared towards destabilizing the Polytechnic. They have been looking for one favour or the other which the Rector is not forthcoming with and they are clamouring for his removal.

‘’Renewal of the Rectors appointment for the next four years by Mr President will jeopardize their business as usual , we have no problem with the community , the youths have been calling for the renewal of the Rector’s appointment but a cabal calling for the Rector’s removal has penetrated the Community’s leadership . The traditional ruler should allow the Rector to do his work. He should implore maturity and the level of intelligence befitting of his status as the custodian of tradition in Oko and stop inciting the community against the Rector. The youths are wiser…….’’.

The Rector went ahead to say that the Polytechnic is not owing compensation sequel to the 2012 students rampage to anybody as everybody has been paid, adding that the victims were paid directly because they suspected some people wanted to divert the compensation meant for Oko people .

He further said that the campaign for Rector’s removal is the handiwork of fallen political angles for their personal agenda adding that the removal of the Polytechnic should be an act not an oral thing .

Meanwhile the leadership of the Oko Peoples Union , Youth Wing  had protested in front of the Igwe’s palace against the community and later addressed a press conference inside the office of the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Polytechnic Oko against the call for Rector’s removal.

President of the youths, Evangelist Hilary Tochukwu Ezeokafor said they are disappointed with what is going on between the community and the Polytechnic as he has not seen the sin committed by the Rector , Prof Godwin Onu that warranted the call for his removal.