By Professor Steve Agwo Okecha
When one Larry Ossai was appointed a commissioner in Delta State, in Ibori’s time, the issue became the talk of the town in Ukwuaniland. Our people rejoiced and rejoiced, bottles of Hero were emptied in beer parlours in some of our towns. After a few days, it became obvious that the man was from Aniocha LGA – from the fish – market town of Isheagu in Aniocha South LGA. We claim winners of laurels readily merely from the sounds of their names. Remember that there are Osakwes in Edo State, Obis in Isokoland, Oputes in Etsako, Okechas in Kenya, and Adas in Plateau State.
The case of Sunday Oliseh is another classic example. The young man has always said, “I am from a tiny village called Abavo in Delta State. I am not Ibo.” But our people spent weeks debating Oliseh’s ethnicity – wasting precious man hours. I know Sunday Oliseh’s real father [not grandfather] from Ebedei. Sunday has his reasons for claiming Abavo. I believe that Abavo is mentioned in all his vital documents. However, our people are not happy with Sunday Oliseh for robbing them of the opportunity to celebrate the “Ebedei” great footballer as an Ukwuani man.
Our people celebrate our politicians endlessly–hailing them with names of rugged animals and trees – which they cherish a great deal.
The heroes of our land are those who dish out “loose” money freely to our jobless and hungry youths. I saw recently the list of outstanding Ukwuani people. No mention of non–partisan politicians who laboured to get Ukwuani LGA created, headquartered at Obiaruku. The creation of Ukwuani LGA is well documented and can be seen in the last chapter of my book titled, OBIARUKU MASSACRE, published in 2005. This chapter was written to prevent some politicians from parading themselves as influencers. No mention of those of us who had assisted in offering admission to hundreds of Ukwuani youths into universities and polytechnics.
I am writing this piece to point out that our people clap too early, jubilate too early, and celebrate too early. Once, we learned that a federal polytechnic was being established at Kwale. We all beat the drum, jubilating. Before long, a Delta State Polytechnic was being established at Aboh. Again, we beat the drum an octave higher. We waited and waited for the two institutions to sprout–bakudaya. Then, came the big one -the federal university of Agriculture, also at Aboh. Aboh – lucky you! The influencers were Senators Nwaoboshi and Omo-Agege, so we were informed. Our people’s joy knew no bounds.
Aboh chiefs and Aboh prominent sons and daughters, all dressed in their Sunday best, trooped to Ibusa to thank Senator Nwaoboshi for a job well done. The university is still in the pipeline, as Nigerians would say.
Now, wait for the real big bang. Exactly two weeks to the end of the Buhari administration, we woke up one morning to learn that a Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences had been approved for Kwale. This time, our drummers, dead and alive came to town, praising Senator Omo-Agege for facilitating the approval of the institution. There was jubilation everywhere in our land. Celebration everywhere.
I remained calm and cool as a cucumber, being rather skeptical. I was not excited. Because no land had been secured and duly surveyed for the proposed university.
Let me make it abundantly clear here that I am not out to discredit Senator Omo-Agege. I respect him more than any other Senator for his courage, bravery, doggedness, brilliance, and focus. Some people accuse him of “maze snatching”- an allegation. Try to snatch the maze yourself, and see if you will last on planet Earth for one hour. In Omo-Agege’s first year in the Senate, he was responsible for ELEVEN bills, when those who had been there for five or more years had nothing to show. Did you read his submission for the request for the Orogun Polytechnic? First-class write-up, I tell you. Love him or hate him, he has no equal among the senators. Perhaps, only Senator Abaribe may be his rival.
The original name of the university was the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale. Now it is called the Federal University of Health Sciences, Kwale. What happened, who deleted the word “Medical”? Or are there TWO different universities? I hope it is not a political game. Those involved in the act should realize that our people have brains for retaining facts. We are not daft, we not fools-certainly NOT.
Before the official announcement of the approval for the establishment of any university is made – be it private or state or federal, a team from the National Universities Commission[NUC], first of all, visits the proposed site – to ascertain the adequacy of the land mass and its accessibility. The game has its rules. The NUC team visited Ogume before Novena University was approved.
When the announcement of the establishment of the university in Kwale was hurriedly made [there was no land for it], some of our people, out of sheer ignorance, started clamouring for the principal officers to be Ukwuani people. I was vehemently against such an unnecessary demand. A few days after the approval for the establishment of the Kwale University, some of our politicians [mainly APC members], swiftly and jubilantly, in our character, went to Abuja to thank Senator Omo-Agege for the miracle he performed for us.
The university system is my constituency. I have served in various capacities in the system: Head of Department, Director of University Consultancy Services, Dean of Postgraduate School, Provost [DVC] of a University Campus, Special Adviser Academic [DVC], Consultant to a University, VC [in an acting capacity, very briefly]. And many, many more functions. I was once a staff of NUC and also served as Technical Adviser to the Federal Minister of Education. This is to let you know that I am truly an insider in the system.
After approval, the university is then built or reasonably built before the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor. The VC is the academic leader and chief administrative officer of the university. The VC is not a foreman. The VC is not a contractor. The VC is not a village headmaster. If the university in Kwale materializes, the federal government will put a Council in place to oversee the affairs of the institution. One thing is certain, the Chairman of the Council will NOT come from Delta State. If we are lucky, one member may be from Delta State, and may not necessarily be an Ukwuani man or woman.
A VC was appointed for the Federal University of Health Sciences Kwale, a nonexistent university! What an absurdity! As soon as the pioneer VC received his letter of appointment, trust our people, there was a spontaneous outpouring of congratulatory messages to him from friends; classmates at St George’s; old boys of St George’s; Ogume, and Obiaruku people; various Ndokwa/Ukwuani platforms. When the VC was given his letter of appointment, it was displayed to the whole world. This is strange. I am beginning to smell a rat. I see ominous dark clouds threatening the existence of Kwale University. I may be right; I may be wrong. The oracle says that there is a very slim chance of survival. The current federal government is NOT interested in funding the already existing federal universities. How then can it fund the establishment of new universities?
Besides, Senator Omo-Agege, who was quite powerful in the Buhari administration, does not appear to be very close to the powers that be now. This is a big blow to us, as he may no longer be able to easily facilitate the development of the proposed university in Kwale. I am only rationalizing.
Finally, I ask: Where is the Federal Polytechnic, Kwale? Where is the Delta State Polytechnic, Aboh? Where is the Federal University of Agriculture, Aboh? Where is the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale? Where is the Federal University of Health Sciences, Kwale? I wish to make it abundantly clear at this juncture, that it will be crazy and unpatriotic of me to, for any reason, oppose the establishment of a federal university or federal polytechnic in our land. What I hate to see on our soil is an obubuyaya institution.
This write-up is not intended to spoil anybody’s day. The piece is intended to cause our people to reflect and rationalize. Period.
