[OPINION] The Man Called Dr. Muftau Olatinwo And Unholy War Of Internal Strike By ASUP leadership

By Omuiyadun Yah Omuz Hammed

Let us take a moment to pay tribute to Late Dr. Muftau Olatinwo, the former and long serving Rector of Federal Polytechnic Offa. “A man of peace, a soul so kind,
Touching lives, leaving a gentle mark behind. With compassion and love, he leads the way, Inspiring harmony, every single day-his legacy of peace and love endure, a shining example, forever pure.”

May the gentle soul of “a man of peace at all cost” rest in perfect peace (Amin)

On the 21st of July, 2012; I was elected as the 15th substantive SUG President and the first indigene of Kwara State and northern extraction to be so elected in the history of Federal Polytechnic Offa. My regime was unarguably the longest due to the incessant internal ASUP strike and a year long national strike in the year 2013.

On a faithful day, I was so disturbed to know the rationale behind the incessant internal strike by ASUP leadership led by Engr. KK due to the outcry of my teaming students who are not only perplexed but obviously frustrated for spending almost 4years for a course of study that ordinarily should be less than 2 years. As a passionate leader, I humbly requested for a meeting between SUG and ASUP leadership held at Stella Obasanjo Hall where the secretariat of the union situated. During the marathon meeting with the ASUP leadership, we were made to understand that every actions of the union were taken in the best interest of the students while the ASUP equally seek for the students support in pressing home their demands. After several attempts and appeals from the SUG to the ASUP leadership led by Engr. KK to suspend the strike for our teaming students to proceed on semester examination, the ASUP leadership persuaded us to also talk to the management to oblige their demands.

Lò and behold, our further findings about the said demand of ASUP leadership led by Engr. KK that warrants such incessant internal ASUP strike was an agitation to give about four (4) laptop computer to ASUP among other frivolous demands that has nothing to do with students. Because of the frustration of our dear students, we (SUG) proceeded to meet the then rector, Late (Dr) Muftau Olatinwo who explained the management sides of story to us while later subscribed to Students Union appeal through marching order to the polytechnic store to release the said four (4) laptops to ASUP leadership and the internal strike was suspended.

Unfortunately, that same man who could ordered his members to proceed on internal strike as ASUP chairman because of 4 laptop computers is now at the helm of affair as the Rector in the same polytechnic where series of staff demands were not only denied but as well adopting victimization, oppression, divide and rule against the union he once led and highly benefitted. Students welfare is in a state of comatose, obnoxious increment of school fees and unholy introduction of different charges not minding the economy challenges, unkept and inhabitable learning environment, slave-like salary package for the ad-hoc staff and privatization of the polytechnic properties are now the order of the day. Oh lord, why did my Alma matta deserves all these ?

Alas! A man who once led a battle and killed people by sword does not want a son of sword-smiths in his environment- what’s an irony of a lagateric leader (a Lagata-like attitude in Saworo-ide)

Fortunately for justice, the internal people can be oppressed and victimized but people like us who have a great stake in the betterment and stability of the polytechnic as our Alma matta can neither be oppressed nor subsumed.

May God bless FEDPOFFA!!!

Omuiyadun H.D (MRM) the first indigenous SUG President writes from the National Assembly, FCT Abuja.