..as Students Protest Against Cleric’s Remarks on Rector’s Appointment
By Uzo Ugwunze
The Chairman of the 12th Governing Council Federal Polytechnic Oko, Sen Dr. Barnabas Gemade has reiterated that the council will continue to do the right thing in the interest of the management and students of the polytechnic.
Gemade gave the assurance during a polytechnic visit to mark the Rector’s 100 days in office at Oko, Anambra State where he met a protesting crowd of students pledging their support for the Rector of Federal Polytechnic Oko, Dr Chioma Awuzie.
Speaking during the peaceful protest, the Student Union Government President, Comrade Odimegwu Chinaecherem Emmanuel said that the students wanted to express solidarity to their working Rector showing disapproval on certain remarks made by a prelate against the Governing Council, Management and Students of the polytechnic.
According to Odimegwu, Bishop Samuel Ezeofor during the Anglican Synod of Aguata diocese made derogatory statements against the Governing Council, Management and Students of Federal Polytechnic Oko saying that the way our rector was appointed was not right or did not follow due process, that she is not doing well and that the polytechnic students are not doing anything about it.
“Please, let the bishop leave our Rector alone to continue her good works in our institution. The students are happy with her. We are in peace in this institution. Dr Irene Awuzie brought peace to the polytechnic. She hears the students cry and always inquire to know and meet our needs.
“She is a magician and messiah of Federal Polytechnic Oko. No form of discrimination regarding gender or religion.
” You can see the inscriptions on our placards – “Appointment was made out of Merit’. “We appreciate President Tinubu and the Governing Council Chairman for appointing Dr Chioma Awuzie as our Rector ‘. ‘Dr Awuzie has revived Fed Poly Oko’. ‘We have additional laptops’. ‘Bakery, Water factory, Printing press, Ufuma campus revived ‘. ‘ We Students are solidly behind our rector’.
Responding to the protesting students, Senator Gemade commended the students for expressing their support for the school management saying that the Governing Council will continue to do the right thing and take decisions that will foster development in the polytechnic.
“Today you have come out to prove that this Governing Council has done the right thing at Federal Polytechnic Oko.
“If your demonstration is support of the good things the new Rector is doing to revive the place that is quite commendable and we are very happy to receive you people. What you are doing is customary and in order.
“It is becoming clear to me that polytechnic community is extremely happy with the recent development going on in the school.
“There has been great changes from when we came here, from the day Dr Awuzie took over the administration of this polytechnic.
“As you have shown on your placards, so many new things are happening. So many dead things have been brought back to life. Students are happy with the new lease of life.
“On the other hand, it appears that some big people outside this polytechnic community but who seek to benefit from here are not happy with what is happening within the polytechnic. Some kind of terrific ignorance being expressed by some outsiders, by very big people. It is unfortunate.
” I charge you to go out there to educate your parents so that can educate those ignorant people who are making statements that are totally unbecoming of their status.
“We thank you students and the SUG for coming enmass in appreciation of the Governing Council and school management in the face of some of those unnecessary remarks made within the top hierarchy of this society. You are not under them, you are under the administration of this polytechnic. Keep calm and continue imbibing knowledge and character to be good ambassadors when you leave this polytechnic,” said Gemade.