Federal Polytechnic saga * How Ibiono lost to Ukana – Ita Enang * Fingers Akpabio, Education Minister Wike

* Says I wept when it happened

The member representing Uyo Senatorial District at the red Chambers of the National Assembly, Senator Ita Solomon Enang said yesterday that he did not at anytime trade the proposed federal Polytechnic that was meant for Ididep in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area for Ukana. He said at no time did he ever make such moves and that he can never trade anything for a federal Polytechnic that was meant for his senatorial District.

Ita Enang spoke while addressing newsmen in his Ewet Housing residence yesterday (Monday) morning. He maintained that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan had in his magnanimity approved one federal Polytechnic in Akwa Ibom State and was meant to be cited at the prestigious Senior Science College Ididep in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area. He denied knowledge of the betrayal of Ibiono for Ukana in Essien Udim Local Government Area.

Enang who is the Chairman of the rules, ethics and business committee of the Senate of the federal Republic of Nigeria however informed members of the Press that he wept profusely for many days and many nights when the Governor Godswill Akpabio hijacked the Polytechnic to Ukana stressing that it is unfortunate that the Polytechnic is no longer in Ibiono or anywhere in Uyo Senatorial District but that he is grateful to God that the Polytechnic which is his brain child is being cited in Akwa Ibom State.

The Uyo Senator had informed that as the Chairman Senate Committee on Business and ethics, he was privileged to get a notice on the proposed establishment of nine universities in the country by President Goodluck Jonathan. He said he then sent a memo requesting that a university be established in Akwa Ibom State as well in the year 2012 since the University of Uyo does not have the capacity to admit qualified students seeking admission into institutions of higher learning. He said that the President could not approve to another University in Akwa Ibom State citing relevant reasons amongst which was that the University of Uyo was still relatively new. Ita Enang maintained that he then opted for the Polytechnic when he proved to Mr. President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that a federal Institution in Akwa Ibom State will seek to attend to the numerous deficit of students admission into institutions of higher learning. He noted that he then presented statistics of students’ applications into Uniuyo and the number that is always admitted. He said he cited an instance were well over thirty five thousand students had applied for admission into the University of Uyo but that at the end of the day only four thousand were admitted leaving the other thirty one thousand frustrated due to lack of admitting capacity by the institution.

Ita Enang said when he was able to convince President Goodluck Jonathan on the need for a federal institution in the state in addition to the University of Uyo, the PPresident then obliged him the citing of a Federal Polytechnic in Akwa Ibom State. And that since all the federal Institutions of higher learning in the state were Teachers  Training College like the University of Uyo, Maritime Academy and even the School of Nursing in Eket, he had opted for some centres in Ibiono amongst which was the Senior Science College, Ididep. He said, Governor Godswill Akpabio had opted for the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic Ikot Osura but that he was able to convince the Governor that the idea was not to scrap an already established institution but to begin a virgin Federal Polytechnic in the state. At this point, Ita Enang said, the approval was granted for the establishment of the federal Polytechnic and that upon the instruction of the President, the then Minister for Education, Prof Ruquayatu Rufai approved a federal Polytechnic for Akwa Ibom State and then sent some delegation from the Federal Government to come for inspection of any suitable site in Akwa Ibom State for the federal institution. 

Ita Enang said when the delegation from the federal Government arrived, the Governor who was not in town had directed the former SSG Obong Umana Umana to lead the state Government delegation to the site inspection. He said the team visited Akwa Poly Ikot Osura and also the Senior Science College Ididep in Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area maintaining that he had insisted that the idea of the federal Polytechnic was not to scrap off any existing institution, the team was able to finally approve Ididep for the Federal Polytechnic. He said the idea of Ukana being the host community for the Federal Polytechnic did not come into the picture. But it was however believed by the Senator that Governor Akpabio and the supervising minister for Education Nyesom Wike must have had an untoward pact that cost Ibiono Ibom and the people of Uyo Senatorial District the institution.

He however said, despite what happened, he still gives glory to God and with is grateful to President Jonathan for approving a Federal Polytechnic on his honour for the state. He appealed for all to remain law abiding that he believes in the Biblical injunction that says gives thanks to God in all and at all conditions.