Obini Onuchukwu Told The Polytechnic Story On The Alleged Diversion Of N20M Meant For Oko Polytechnic Staff School

Our story, by Deputy Registrar/Director, Public Relations, Obini Onuchukwu

On Tuesday, April 15, 2014, Education Review published a story titled: Studying Under the Mango Trees: the pathetic story of Oko Polytechnic Staff School. But last week, Mr. Onuchukwu Obini, Deputy Registrar, and Director, Public Relations, Federal Polytechnic, sent a rejoinder to correct what he sees as the wrong impressions created by the story. Excerpts:

I write with all sense of respect and responsibility to express our observation over the report carried in the Daily Sun of Tuesday, April 15, 2014. Though we are quite disposed to constructive criticism, we vehemently stand against deliberate ploy to destabilize the institution through misleading, and uncomplimentary publications against the well-improved reputation of Federal Polytechnic, Oko.

The said publication on pages 25, 26 and 27 of Daily Sun, of April 15, was syndicated to The Sun newspapers by a reporter of The Nation newspapers, one Mr. Emeka Odogwu who had worked strongly against the interest of the institution by moving round and blackmailing the institution's integrity with misleading impressions.

I categorically slate here that I did not grant any reporter from The Sun newspapers such an interview as was quoted in the said publication. I challenge the gatekeeper to produce the reporter of The Sun whom I granted the interview and the evidence. I am very sure the said interview was fabricated to make it look as if the institution was represented in the blackmail.

Again, issues raised in the said publication are highly misleading. My institution was accused of diverting N20 million donation meant for the development of the staff school amongst other allegations. This is ridiculous and unacceptable. Whether the writer quoted his sources or not, it has subjected the image of the institution into disrepute. For record purposes, it is important to note that Chief Jona Eze donated N20 million to build an international school that will be named after him and not for rehabilitation of staff school.

From estimation made so far, the money will not be enough to build the class of school he requested. Hence the money was kept in our endowment waiting for internally generated revenue to make it up, though efforts to put into use the one we have was frustrated by Oko indigenes who prevented work from starting at the extension site because they claimed that they were not paid compensation. We pray you use your good office to find out how factual the claims are, especially the N20 million donation, if it is meant for the staff school or was diverted as alleged. We also pray that the institution's image be put right in The Sun within the shortest period; that the bad impression which has been created about the only Federal Polytechnic in Anambra State, be corrected.