Oron monarchs extol president Buhari over Okpo’s reappointment – Sue for proper funding of the Academy

BY NSEOBONG DAVID

The Oron Traditional Rulers’ Council and  the entire people of Oron Local Government Area have expressed gratitude to His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari for reappointing their son, Amb. (Dr.) Joshua Okpo as Rector, Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron for a second term of four years.

 
Briefing the Press recently in Oron, His Royal Majesty, Offiong Odiong Akan said that the reappointment of Dr. Okpo as Rector was the best thing that has happened to the Maritime industry and the Academy which would afford Dr. Okpo an ample opportunity to consolidate and surpass is massive infrastructural renaissance and other developmental projects spread across the length and breadth of the Academy.

“This development is an eloquent testimony to Mr. President’s detribalized disposition in rewarding hardwork, excellence and dedicate quality service delivery which has been the hallmark of Mr. President since his assumption of office”, HRM Offiong said.   He reiterated the monarchs’ readiness to cooperate and support Amb. Joshua Okpo’s unbending determination and commitment towards upgrading the Academy to a degree-awarding institution, and repositioning it on the path of progress and growth for global competitiveness.  

 
HRM Offiong Odiong, on behalf of the Oron traditional rulers, commended Dr. Joshua Okpo for not lagging behind in his corporate social responsibility to the host community and full implementation of the Local Content Policy of the Federal Government which is evidenced in the provision of electricity/pipe borne water for the Academy’s host community, empowerment of youths through various skills acquisition training, enthronement of relative peace in the once warring communities of Idua Ukpatta and Udung Okung in Oron LGA as well as employment opportunities for the youths, among others.

 
He added that under his four years tenure, Dr. Joshua Okpo has been able to pull the Academy from the jaw and shackle of underdevelopment and ethnic trappings by doing the following: provision of 24-hours power and water supply; enhanced hostel facilities for male and female cadets; procurement, installation and fully operational state-of-the-art simulator for practical training of cadets and staff, ICTequipments, completion of inherited capital projects, prudent management of resources, priority attention to staff welfare, introduction of jogging to stay fit for higher productivity, introduction of solemn assembly to seek the face of God in the affairs of the Academy, and he constituted the Host Community Relations Committee which has yielded the desired benefits in establishing peace and building a bridge of chivalry with members of the host community.

 
The Royal Fathers frowned at the antics and hate campaigns by some ill-informed, misguided and sponsored youths, especially the latest online publication by one Francis Otioro under the guise of Oro Nation Amalgamated Youth Force, and Oro Youth Movement (OYOM), saying that it is a deliberate attempt to drag the hard-earned image of the Rector and the Academy in the mud, using falsehood and character assassination.  HRM Offiong Odiong said that the Royal Fathers would not fold their arms and watch disgruntled elements destroy the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, which is the only federal presence in Oro Nation, hence they may be tempted to invoke traditional curse upon recalcitrant youths and their co-travellers.

 
The monarchs appealed to the Federal Government to procure a training ship for the Academy to enable its cadets experience sea time.  They also called on the Federal Ministry of Commerce to direct all foreign and indigenous vessels and ship owners as well as the importers operating within Nigeria, to engage at least five cadets of the Academy on sea time, and make it as a policy of the Federal Government.  To the Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) the Royal Fathers solicited increase in its funding to the Academy from the current 5 percent to at least 10 percent, to assist in addressing challenges plaguing the Academy.