BenPoly: Purge yourself of ethnic favouritism – Group tells Alia

The Idoma Intellectual Forum (IIF) has urged Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State to ease the growing tension within the Benue State Polytechnic community by promptly appointing a substantive Rector for the institution. In a statement released on Friday in Abuja by Dr. Sunday Ochigbo, the National Secretary of IIF, the group expressed support for Governor Alia’s commitment to revamping the educational sector in Benue State.

While acknowledging the governor’s decision to dismiss all heads of state-owned higher institutions with the aim of bringing in more qualified individuals, the group expressed concern over the delay in filling the vacancy at Benue Polytechnic, Ugbokolo. They noted that despite the swift appointment of a substantive Provost for the Benue State College of Education, Oju, and a Rector for the Alfred Akawe Torkula Polytechnic, Makurdi, the process for Benue State Polytechnic has been protracted.

The group criticized the composition of the management team at Benue Polytechnic, describing it as unfavorable to the Idoma people and contrary to the principles of state representation. They highlighted the dominance of Tiv individuals in critical management positions within an institution situated in Idoma land as unacceptable.

Moreover, the IIF condemned the removal of an Idoma Rector and the installation of a Tiv acting Rector by the Alia administration. They denounced what they perceived as a deliberate effort to marginalize and disadvantage the Idoma people across various sectors in Benue State, including within a state-owned Polytechnic located in Idoma territory.