By Prof Eleanya Asoya
It is no longer news that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President BOLA AHMED TINUBU on September 10th, 2024, appointed the 9th substantive Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, in the person of DR. BASILIA IGBOKWE.
This meritorious appointment of the President followed well supervised and conducted interviews and selection process by the Polytechnic Governing Council, under heavily secured and monitored atmosphere (records are available in various formats to verify the process), in which Dr. (Mrs.) Basilia Igbokwe emerged in the first position.
For the records, it is worth mentioning hitherto that, there was, prior to the final selection by the Polytechnic Governing Council, a previous election for the same purpose, conducted by the Governing Council, in which Dr. (Mrs.) Igbokwe also emerged as the Primus Inter pares, but was met with toggery and violence orchestrated by unscrupulous elements who were “obviously sponsored” by a few deviant members of the Polytechnic Community, to overturn the outcome of the free and fair process. The Kingdom Human Rights Foundation Int’l are conspicuously now, playing the same script on the outer stage. The general public should beware, and please take note.
It is imperative to state that, there is no breach of the peace, chaos or distractions WHATSOEVER looming or happening within the environment of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri at the moment. If there is any perceived and expressed feelings to report, it is the fact that students, non-academic staff, academic staff, management staff and the general Polytechnic Community are overwhelmed with expressed feelings of joy and satisfaction that the Polytechnic has been favoured with such a God-sent in the person of Dr. (Mrs.) Igbokwe as the Rector. According to the students in one of their jubilations around the school environment, they chanted in songs: “the good days of Dr. (Mrs.) Njoku, former Rector of FedpolyNek have returned”; “the days of hope have returned”.
We therefore condemn in the strongest possible terms, the negative efforts of any person or group of persons, within and/or outside the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri Community to cause confusion, return the school to backwardness and dash the hopes of the entire happy Polytechnic, Nekede. Such elements are no doubt, the enemies of the school, enemies of progress, enemies of the Government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and of course, enemies of God. They can strive, but, evil shall not prevail over good.
DR. (MRS.) BASILIA IGBOKWE remains the 9th Substantive Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, with credence of the office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Prof. Asoya, is the National President, Integrity, Accountability & Transparency Group (IATG)