’Yinka ADETUNJI
Alayede royal family, Ayede in Ogo-Oluwa local government has expressed its desire to host the federal polytechnic recently approved for the community by the federal government on both temporary and permanent bases.
This is coming in the wake of a proposal gaining momentum that the polytechnic will take off on a temporary basis in either Ajaawa (headquarters of Ogo-Oluwa local government) or Idi-Ayin (a community under Iresaapa in Surulere local government).
About 100 hectares of land had been allocated for the institution in Ayede but since buildings cannot be commanded to grow out of the ground and there are no facilities to be converted into use on a temporary basis within the community, the town is on the verge of losing out in the short term as academic activities are billed to commence by October this year.
Ogbomoso Stakeholders’ Forum headed by Dr Saka Balogun, had constituted a technical team, under the headship of Senator Ayo Adeseun, to identify suitable places for the temporary takeoff of the polytechnic so as to forestall delay in commencement of academic activities, with the technical team coming up with three suitable places i.e. Government Technical College, Ogbomoso (GTCO); National Youth Development Centre (NYDC), Idi-Ayin, Iresaapa; and Community Grammar School (CGS), Ayede.
However, due to some intrigues, Baptist Secondary Grammar School (BSGS), Ajaawa, zoomed into reckoning, while GTCO was knocked out of contention as the Oyo state government, which owns the institution, declined its release. It also refused to release CGS, Ayede.
Thus, when members of the technical team from the Federal Ministry of Education and National Board for Technical Education visited in March, they were only at the NYDC, Idi-Ayin and BSGS, Ajaawa, aside the permanent site.
The NYDC, Idi-Ayin, is currently undergoing renovations courtesy of Chief Sunday Dare, Minister for Youths and Sports, under whose ministry the facility is. The project facilitated by Senator Adeseun during his sojourn in the National Assembly had been abandoned half-way into completion, so, the exigencies of having a temporary site for Ayede Poly triggered the release of the funds by the Agbaakin of Ogbomosoland.
So, fearing it might lose out in hosting the institution temporarily and perhaps permanently, the Ayede royal family has raised alarm, consequently conversing with Senator Adeseun, who is the “initiator, facilitator and coordinator” of the siting of the institution in Ayede.
During a visit by members of the local technical team, led by Senator Adeseun, to the residence of Alayede of Ayede, Oba Solademi Akanni Adewuyi, at High School area in Ogbomoso, recently, this issue arose.
Adeseun making a remark congratulated Oba Adewuyi over the siting of the institution in his domain, while praying that the monarch would live long to reap the benefits of his endeavours.
Adeseun also thanked Olori Oladunni Abike Adewuyi as well as the people of the community for their contributions noting they had all been up and doing in ensuring a smooth takeoff of the institution.
However, the former chairman, House Committee on Appropriation in the House of Representatives, expressed displeasure over certain elements he said are trying to hijack the process of kicking the polytechnic into life, positing, “When we were cooking the soup they were nowhere to be found but now that the soup is ready, they are making frantic efforts to scoop all the soup, that will not be allowed.”
He assured that everybody will be made to benefit, averring, “It is a massive meat that cannot be exhausted. Some will secure jobs at various levels in the school, and those who cannot, will have opportunities of selling goods within and without the premises of the school, all we need is patience.”
The former chairman of the House Committee on Banking and Other Financial Institutions, also added that the technical committee he led proposed three centres for the takeoff of the polytechnic on a temporary basis but that some people in Ajaawa used their influence with Governor Seyi Makinde to thwart the use of GTCO so that their community would be in contention to host the institution while encouraging Ayede people to work towards putting classroom blocks in Ayede so that the town would have a chance of being considered as a temporary site.
He affirmed that it would take years before the permanent site would be ready for use, stating, “This assertion is premixed on past experiences; takeoff at the permanent site will not be quick and this is because of our budget system. It took about 23 years before Federal Polytechnic, Ede, began to use its permanent site; so also it was 26 years before Federal Polytechnic, Offa, moved to its permanent site. Activities at the permanent site might thus take long and so, for Ayede not to be considered for hosting a campus in the temporary site arrangement will be like the case of women that only hear the sound of Oro but never beheld it, but structures must be on ground for this purpose and for the goal to materialize.”
Talking on behalf of the Alayede family, Mr. Adeyanju Olatubosun reiterated the allegation that some people blocked the use of GTCO in Ajaawa revealing that the same people made representations to him to support the use of BSSG but that he declined.
Adeyanju now urged Adeseun not to abandon Ayede towards having a taste of the temporary site, noting, “It will be a disgrace if nothing happens at Ayede. And if the institution does not begin at Ayede, it will be a failure on the part of Senator Adeseun as well. “
Other people who spoke on behalf of Ayede such as Olori Adewuyi, Prophet Samuel Morakinyo a.k.a. Ekundayo, Mr. Peter Awoyemi and Mr. Gbadero all assured that the community would swing into action towards putting up buildings that can serve the purpose.
