SIR: On January 29, 2021 the Muhammadu Buhari administration approved the establishment of Federal Polytechnic, Ayede in Ogo Oluwa LGA of Oyo State vide a circular number: DHE/POLY.49/C.1/II/351 and addressed to the governor of Oyo State. Before its establishment, there was no federal institution of learning in the local government. Therefore, the indigenes and residents of the council area were obviously elated. Their joy began to wane when months after, no visible structure was erected on the site with cacophony of information being peddled about its take-off, recruitment of staff and the commencement of academic activities.
And as a confirmation of the rumour, events in recent days revealed that those in the privileged political and societal positions have cornered the process. They have forced their will by relocating it from its permanent site in Ogo Oluwa LGA to a youth centre in Surulere LGA. And at the same time, they have ‘shared’ the appointments of staff among themselves.
It is not known whether a clique of people can dare the federal might by singlehandedly relocating a federal institution from one local government to another. It is appalling that the visitation panel from Abuja was hoodwinked into believing that there is (are) no suitable place(s) that can serve as its temporary site in Ogo Oluwa LGA. The host community, Ayede and Ajaawa, headquarters of Ogo Oluwa LGA have suitable places. There are other adjoining communities that are less than three/four kilometers from the permanent site.
On the recruitment of staff, the percentage allegedly allotted to each state remains suspect. Because it was revealed that Osun State which already has a federal polytechnic and federal college of education is given 24 per cent against Oyo, the host state 27.2 per cent. Some people insinuate that this is due to the fact that two top management members are from Osun State. In all of these, Ogbomoso has been further shortchanged as many of those chosen from there are non-indigenes.
In the meantime, we do not know if Oyo State government is involved in it as the host state; otherwise few individuals would not sit in a corner to usurp the legal authority of a state government
We would like to know the inputs and/or involvement of Oyo State government in the new institution.
- Sanni Ogunmodede,
Ajaawa, Ogo Oluwa LGA, Oyo State.