From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
The newly inaugurated members of the Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic, Oko Anambra State have hit the ground running few weeks after they were sworn in at Abuja.
The council members, led by the Chairman, Hon. Lasbry Amadi, recently toured the polytechnic community where the Rector, Prof Godwin Onu gave them a rundown of the real situation as it affects academics, facilities and infrastructure in the Oko, Ufuma and Atani campuses of the Polytechnic.
Satisfied that the institution is on course positively, members of the Governing Council said they would raise the tempo of development at the institution.
The team recently paid courtesy calls on Heads of Security Agencies in Anambra State. They sought the support of the agencies and expressed willingness to strike a synergy in the fight against cultism, which the members noted was causing untold damages in various higher institutions in Nigeria.
The first port of call by the team was at the Department of State Security (DSS), Anambra State Command where the State Director, Isyaku Yusuf, received them.
Amadi said the Governing Council considered the courtesy visit very important, explaining that security was key to achieving any meaningful development in the institution.
He said Oko Polytechnic had zero tolerance for cultism in the institution, adding that an anti-cult unit had been formed on the campus. He urged the DSS to help them sustain the tempo.
Amadi explained that a better presence of DSS operatives on the campus would raise the level of security consciousness within the campus and forestall any sinister plot from any angle.
Responding, the State Director, Security Services, Isyaku Yusuf commended the Governing Council team for the move to partner with the DSS. He described such as a unique innovation.
He said the service was promoting government’s efforts to prevent criminality in higher institutions. He also noted that the DSS was aware of the existence and activities of cultists across Nigeria’s various higher institutions of learning and had also done a lot to stem the tide.
“Oko Poly has done well in this regard, and we see it as a primary duty to provide the campus with a conducive atmosphere and environment devoid of any form of insecurity for learning and other academic activities,” he added.
At the Police Command Headquarters, the Commissioner of Police, Garba Umar also received the delegation, along with other senior officers of the Command,.
Amadi, in an introductory speech, thanked God for the reunion with the Commissioner of Police who he said was a personal friend when he served in Rivers State.
He told the police boss that Oko Poly, as a tertiary institution, was serving both Nigerians and foreigners because of the Chinese Confucius Institute domiciled there.
He said the council was seeking police cooperation as well, noting that the police had the primary duty of crime prevention and control.
The state police boss, Garba Umar, commended the polytechnic authorities over their commitment to zero tolerance for criminality on the campus, especially in the area of cult activities.
He disclosed that of the 180 students recently arrested in connection with cultism in various campuses across the state, none was from the polytechnic.
“You are not just working for the government as an institution; you are working for humanity and posterity. I assure you of maximum cooperation and prompt response anytime our assistance is needed,” he said.
The Commissioner of Police also noted that the command was ready to work with any institution and members of the public, hence the reason he established the Police Public Complaints Unit in the command so that there would be more effective interaction with the public.
Other members of the Governing Council in the delegation included Festus Adebayo, Simon Okafor, and the Deputy Rector of the Polytechnic and a representative of Governor Willie Obiano in the Council.