By Sunday Adepoju
There has been an avalanche of misconceptions about the issues surrounding the temporary and permanent sites of the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede, Oyo State which is one of the new institutions established by President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
One of the mistaken beliefs about the institution is that a group of influential persons of Ogbomoso bloc had hijacked it from the original location which, according to the government policy, is Ayede in Ogo-Oluwa local government area of Oyo State.
However, due to the needed infrastructure, the institution has taken off operations at its temporary site, the National Centre for Youth Development, located at Iresaapa in Surulere Local government area of the state. The need to ensure the smooth take off of the institution’s operations made the Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Chief Sunday Dare, to graciously approve the centre as the Polytechnic’s temporary site.
The Governing Council, led by Prof. Dakas C. J. Dakas, and management, headed by rector, Dr Taofeek Abdulhamid, had promised that the institution would commence full operations in September. Now, the staff are already on ground and I opine that the management team is working out modalities for admitting pioneer students; it is also expediting actions on having a good sail, even, from the beginning. This is contrary to the erroneous belief that the site of the institution has been tampered with.
Sadly, the nomenclature “temporary site” is, unarguably, still generating heated debates and misconceptions at various quarters, especially in the Ogo-Oluwa axis of the state. This may not be far from the fear of the unknown. For instance, an online publication in “The Nation” newspaper of July 12, this year, titled “Federal Polytechnic Ayede on a shaky start?” is not a true reflection on the state of the institution. The writer, Kilani Abdullahi, had misrepresented fact, maybe out of his undying love for his council area.
In the said article, precisely second paragraph, he establishes that some eminent Ogbomoso indigenes had altered the original site in favour of Iresaapa. The writer mentions Ogbomoso Stakeholders Forum. The acclaimed group, Ogbomoso Stakeholders Forum, does not exist at all. Maybe the writer of the online publication misrepresented the name.
Against this backdrop, there have been series of rejoinders greeting the opinion expressed by Abdullahi In the article, there is a clear misconception and this has been copiously cleared and re-emphasised at different fora that Ayede remains the permanent site of the institution. This does not need an oracle to be determined.
At the event organised by the OCC, applauses for the doggedness of eminent stakeholders of Ogbomoso and its environs rend the air when the governing council and management team were hosted by the Ogbomoso Consultative Council (OCC) at the Ogbomoso Recreation Club.
Before the demise of the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III, the frontline monarch constituted the group, comprised of eminent indigenes of the community, to see to the overall development of the Ogbomoso as a zone in the state, beyond the issue of the Polytechnic in question. The group is composed of political, business and public service class. In terms of development, the group, through its influence in different spheres of the country, has contributed in the areas of infrastructure, job creation, employment opportunities, empowerment opportunities, behavioural healthcare system, care for the vulnerable, among. others.
Prof. Dakas and others had reiterated that just from the beginning that projects will be on going at the permanent site. However, it was stated that the management and the council will not neglect the need to put necessary facilities at the temporary site because of the urgency it demands.
This rejoinder is to set record straight on the baffling anxiety emanating from the temporary and permanent sites of the Polytechnic. A more reason why people from the Ayede axis should rest assured: the Council Chairman had also disclosed that people should allay fear that the institution had been hijacked from Ayede community. At the reception event, Prof. Dakas spoke extensively that the fear will disappear vanish clear when intervention projects are to be located there, with clarification that for effective operation, such projects will go to the temporary site. On this, I think, there is no cause for alarm.
Therefore, it is imperative for all and sundry to contribute to the success of the infant institution which, I think, will be ‘nourished’ to a world class institution within the shortest period of its existence. Lastly, to the Federal Government, governing council, management, staff, other stakeholders and the host communities, all hands must be on deck to actualise the goals of establishing the Polytechnic.
….Adepoju, formerly with Nigerian Tribune, is Publisher of PanNigerian News (pannigeriannews.com)
pojusunday@gmail.com
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