From Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, Nnewi
Lobbying has started on who replaces the outgoing Rector Federal Polytechnic Oko, Anambra state, Prof Godwin Onu.
Onu will be going on his annual leave by December this year after four years in office. He is due to bow out March next year as Rector of the Polytechnic unless he is re-appointed by the President Goodluck Jonathan on recommendations of the Governing Council of the Polytechnic to the Minister for Education.
Prof Onu wants a second tenure and all efforts have been geared towards that but there is a hitch as the absence of a governing council made it impossible for Prof Onu to present himself.
Some of the men jostling for his job are Dr Obi-Okpala, a Chief Lecturer immediate past Director Academic Planning ; Rose Nwankwo immediate past HOD Public Administration .
Other contenders who have seen it all in all positions of authority in the institution including Heads of Departments, Deans of schools and Directors but for Rector and probably Deputy Rector as well as Registrar are Dr JC Aroh , Dr AB Azuka and Mr Emeka Afugbuem.
But that was were the hitch is , there is no Governing council to recommend who becomes the next Rector after a thorough interview from all the applicants including the incumbent. The Governing council of Oko has not been re-constituted since other were constituted following high powered politics against the dissolved council not to come back.
A source at the Polytechnic told the Nation that the tension is being caused by the scheming by Prof Onu for a second term.
‘’the Rector Prof Oni wants a second term and many others here wants him back to the University because we have many qualified people here who can be Rectors.
‘’Rectors seeking for a second tenure need not present themselves but may be considered on the recommendation of a governing council and relevant interested parties in the institution.
‘’Prof Godwin Onu majored in Political Science which is not contained in the courses offered by Polytechnics. This matter was exhaustively discussed in the Federal Ministry of Education and it was resolved that Prof Onu should serve for one term only.
‘’The inputs of the Rector and that of the expanded management committee were never sought or considered in the recommendation of Rectors.
‘’Given the level of petitions in the Ministry of Education and the Senate including petitions written differently by over 50 students , many accusing the Prof Godwin Onu led management of fraud and mismanagement and accusations from unions in the institution , the rush for a second tenure is being looked into critically as we are bent on due process which is Governing council first and other things would follow.
‘’All the Unions here are no longer happy with developments here but we are waiting for the appropriate time to explode………’’
Based on this the Academic staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) of Federal Polytechnic Oko led by Dr Onyeka Uwakwe lamented the delay in the inauguration of Governing Council of Oko over six months now. It frowned on the un explained delay in reconstitution and inauguration of a governing council for the Polytechnic.
The Non Academic staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) led by Comrade Ik Ezenwankwo accused Prof Onu of flagrant disregards of federal Polytechnic rules and regulations and lamented the absence of Governing council in the polytechnic. They therefore demanded from Federal government immediate constitution of a governing council for the polytechnic.
Both unions lamented failure of management led by Prof Onu in implementing agreements reached with it in respect of union .
