A group, Mubi Concerned Citizens, has called the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, to disregard a petition over the recent election of Dr. Abdurrahman Isiaka as rector of Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa State.
In a counter-petition signed by the Chairman, Kabiru Inuwa Kolere and Secretary, Bitrus Gavo, the group described the allegations raised in the petition as false and malicious.
Dismissing the petition by Adamawa Concerned Citizens Forum as a sponsored move to bring primordial sentiments into the matter, the group called on the education minister to disregard it and allow due process to prevail.
The letter, sighted by our reporter described the election as credible and devoid of favouritism or bias and that the governing council had invited resource persons from as far as Kwara and Lagos to ensure transparency while all contestants were given equal opportunity to participate.
“Federal Polytechnic Mubi is a federal institution situated in Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The petitioners are out to localise a national interest. All the processes required in the appointments are enshrined in the Polytechnic Act, 2019 as Amended”.
“On nepotism through the resource persons, the interview for rector and bursar is a national issue, hence resource persons can be brought from anywhere,” the letter stated.
The group also said the composition of the interview panel cut across ethnic and regional groups with membership comprising of Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Nupe and Ijaw as well as representatives of relevant agencies.
The group, therefore, expressed concern over “The unfortunate use of local political jobbers from the host community to interfere in the administrative and academic matters of a federal institution,” noting that such trend, if left unchecked could destroy tertiary institutions in the country.
