FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC: YEWA DARES FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
By Adetokunbo Fakeye
A simmering crisis that may snowball into serious feud is brewing in Ogun West Senatorial District of Ogun State between Yewa indigene, authority of Federal Polytechnic Ilaro and Federal Government.
The bone of contention according to a warning and appeal letter written to the Honourable Minister of Education by Yewa Amalgamated Youth Forum centered on appointment of leadership of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro.
In the letter signed by the duo of Alhaji Akorede Fatai and Ajibola Taiwo; President and Secretary, the Forum asked the Education Minister to consider a Yewa indigene as the next Rector of the Institution in other for peace to reign.
“Yewa Amalgamated Youth Forum passionately wish to seek the attention of the Honourable Minister of Education to consider a Yewa indigene for the first time as the next Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro in 35 years.
“We also wish the Honourable Minister call for the leadership of Polytechnic since 1979 when the Institution was established, it’s crystal clear that no Yewa indigene has ever been appointed for the Registrar of the Institution in the last 35 years.” The letter read.
According to the Forum, several indigenes of Yewa with quality qualifications had always been abandoned for outsiders with inferior qualifications and grades.
Present Rector according to them will vacate the seat in the coming month and all strategy have been put in place by the cabal running the institution to have their stooge as the next Rector at the expense of the following indigenes who had applied for the post but not shortlisted: Mr. Fagbohun Philip Oyewole of Yaba College of Technology, Yaba, Lagos and Mrs. Akinkurolere Olufunke Olanike of University of Ekiti.
The Forum stated further. “While we also at this junction wish to inform the Honourable Minister of Education that Yewa people are majority PDP loyalist as evident in the last general election when they overwhelmingly voted a PDP Governorship candidate – General Adetunji Olurin. The effect of the voting strength of our people for PDP is now being experienced with a serious marginalization of Yewa towns in infrastructural development of the present government of APC in our state”.
In the letter, it was noted that their fathers in the late 70s, despite their little or no education at all, freely donated their lands of over 700acres which is their heritage for the location of the Polytechnic which is without mincing words have brought no direct development to Yewa Indigenes, but rather non – Indigenes who have turned the Polytechnic to a family enterprises.
Sounding a note of warning of an impending major crisis, the Forum said, “Sir it is worthy of NOTE that the land (GBOKOTO AND ITOLU) where the Polytechnic was cited has some gods, named, “ONITOLU” and OOSA NLA GBOKOTO”, the ancients gods which the indigenes and staff appeasing to ensure peace at all time. Now that the gods are about to revenge for the way the indigenes are being maltreated in their father land, we strongly and passionately appeal that Yewa indigene be considered as the next Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro. The Forum submitted and adding, “We hope it will not get to a situation where the school will be deserted”.