Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron spits fire over report

The Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron has described the news report on a state based tabloid, not THE INK as the rantings of frustrated individuals whose stock in trade is to whip up public sentiments in matters they are ignorant of.

The institution also viewed the opening paragraph of the contemptuous and sponsored article that the academy was enmeshed in fraud and frustration from the Management and the Federal Government as laughable, baseless, misleading and wondered how a disgruntled individual or group of persons have become investigating agencies that could have found an administration, which is rapidly transforming the school into an international best standards for a Maritime University status, rather than misdeeds.

 In a statement signed by the Media Consultant to the Academy, Elder Edet Okpo, the institution noted that it was funny for somebody to imagine that the Academy is indebted to contractors to the tune of Three Billion Naira project, adding that to say the least, is the figment of the article sponsors’ imagination and hallucination.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Academy is not a multi-billion oil firm that doles out contracts. We challenge the sponsor of the misleading story to produce evidence to buttress his frustrations and disappointments.

 According to the statement, the alleged eighteen Directors purportedly said to have been suspended in the First Bank of Nigeria for having guaranteed the imaginary contractors, is intended to pitch First Bank of Nigeria, against the Academy, challenging the sponsors to publish the list of the affected Bank Directors who may also be part of the cooked article.

 On the allegation that the Rector does not stay in the office, and comes to work as he likes, the institution said it does not hold water as the astute administrator is generally known as a workaholic who has dedicated himself to the holistic repositioning of the Academy and to place it on the path of progress as evident in several institutional collaborative initiatives to secure mandatory sea time training for cadets of the Academy.

 “Could a man who has so much respect for royal fathers, stakeholders, and members of the host community as well as other relevant stakeholders in the state be construed to be lousy, cocky, inhuman, or insenate as alleged in the bundle of falsehood spewed out for the consumption by the gullible in the society?

The institution maintained that it is not true that the establishment of a Maritime University in Delta State is adversely affecting the upgrading of MAN, Oron into a degree-awarding institution; explaining that the federal government is not enticising lecturers of the Academy to abandon their jobs for Maritime University in Delta State as alleged by the author of the jaundiced news report.

Reacting to the alleged placement of Oro youths on salary to protect the rector, the institution stated that the Rector of the Academy is not holding office at the convenience and mercy of the youths of Oro to place them on salaries as alleged in the publication. “it must be placed on record that Oro nation youths, royal fathers and elders have at different fora passed a vote of confidence on Mr. Joshua Okpo in view of his sincere and unwavering commitment to the development of the Academy, especially in restoring peace in the once two warring communities of Idua Ukpatta and Udung Okung all in Oron local government”.

On the report that Governor Akpabio has released the sum of 400 Million Naira to the institution recently, the Media Consultant explained that in the history of the Joshua Okpo-led administration, Governor Godswill Akpabio whether in cash or kind, has never donated a dime to the Academy.
“But it must be noted that during Mr. Nseyen Ebong’s administration, Governor Akpabio had graciously donated 300 Million Naira as compensation to the host communities who donated land required by the NUC for the upgrading of the Academy into a degree- awarding institution. In the final analysis, the Joshua Okpo led administration has zero tolerance for corruption and bribery in all its ramifications, as can be attested to by staff working under him. Due process is strictly followed in the award of contracts, conducted by the Tender Board, not the Rector”.

The Academy however described the article   embroiled in spurious allegation as nothing but a distraction, and a calculated attempt to smear the good reputation of Mr. Okpo with the tar brush, noting that the Joshua Okpo led administration cannot be distracted by enemies of progress.