By: Ade Adeleke

The Ondo state Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), has appealed to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissione (EFCC) to investigate alleged financial recklessness levelled against the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), Mr Banji Alabi.

The allegations were levelled by the leadership of ASUP at the institution.

In a Press Statement signed by the PDP Director of Publicity, Mr Zadok Akintoye, the opposition party said, “We call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to immediately investigate the allegations raised by ASUP against the management of the school, in a bid to ensure that the efforts of heroes past and present in seeking the success of our state institutions, be not in vain.”

HERE IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE PRESS STATEMENT:

PRESS RELEASE

RE: RUFUS GIWA POLYTECHNIC, OWO

It has come to our attention that the management of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo has allegedly closed the RUGIPO Staff School (under the auspices of the institution), against public outcry that the same institution which serves as a place for the education of the children of staff of the institution and the public at large, be kept open.

It is indeed disheartening that a government that promised free and qualitative education less than three years ago, has become a tyrannical, anti-people, anti-poor government which has placed unprecedented financial burden on citizens, all in a bid to solidify the war principle of impoverishing the people to make them more easily governed.

The recent outcry of members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) gives credence to our long held position that the APC-led Ondo State Government is an anti-people, pro-elite government, hell bent on widening the gap between the rich and the poor while forcing the impoverished masses to pay for the luxury of the rich and affluent.

The allusion to providing free education in Ondo state, has been proven as false and insincere with the surreptitious demand for school fees in all secondary schools in the garb of “collectibles” and fictitious levies.

No longer is the state providing free education to the citizens but it has also increased all levies payable by the poor and needy in a bid to ensure that education becomes a revenue-generating service to government.

We call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to immediately investigate the allegations raised by ASUP against the management of the school, in a bid to ensure that the efforts of heroes past and present in seeking the success of our state institutions, be not in vain.

We demand that the Ondo State Government rescinds its decisions on the privatization of the Polytechnics’ only education support system to staff (the staff school) and its victimization of citizens of Ondo state working in that institution.

We reiterate our support to all members of staff of the Polytechnic and assure them, that the lost glories of that citadel of academic excellence, shall be returned when this government exits in 2021.

Thank you.

Zadok Akintoye
Director; Media & Publicity, PDP Ondo State.