From: Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin-Kebbi
The Patigi Emirate Development Union (PEDU), of Kwara North Senatorial district, has urged the Kwara State Government to halt its planned transfer functioning machines in Government Technical College, (GTC) Patigi, to the newly-established International Vocational Training Centre at Ajase-Ipo.
The Union, threatened mass protest against the plan if Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed goes ahead with the plan.
National President of the Union, Umar Bologi Salihu, in a statement made available to journalists in Birnin-Kebbi, alleged that his community got wind of the plan through Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Ayinla Yeketi, during his visit to GTC Patigi for the ongoing Certificate Screening Exercise, on Thursday March 16.
The commissioner was quoted to have said that apart from equipment transfers, some of the technical oriented staff would equally be transferred to Ajase-Ipo Vocational Centre.
According to the union leader, Yekiti, he disclosed at the inspection tour that a team of inspectors to be headed by Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic would visit the GTC Patigi soon to ascertain the machines that would be evacuated from the school.
“We the youths and indeed the entire people of Patigi Local Government Area condemn in its totality and entirety. This act is not only anti people but also rubbing Peter to pay Paul which is unacceptable to us.
“As if all these were not enough, now they want to completely cripple our dear school and by implication, Patigi as a whole.
“This, youths and good people of Patigi will do everything within the armpit of the law to see that it doesn’t see the light of the day because we are blind folded by the desire to protect the sanctity of our motherland.
“We wonder while Kwara State government having known that the said Ajase Ipo Vocational Centre does not have the required equipment, why didn’t they situate the said International Vocational Institution in Government Technical College Patigi where the required equipment are in abundance.
“Or is it because we are not Yoruba speaking people? Or because we are too peaceful and loyal to the government? Or because of what?
“It is against this background that we call on our political stakeholders, traditional council and all well minded people of Patigi to stand up against any and all forms of cheating directed to Patigi. We also urged the State Government to have a rethink on the purported plan to avoid hitting the polity because 2019 is around the corner and our voter’s cards are still in our possessions.”