The National Association of Polytechnic Students, or NAPS, has demanded that Dr. Sani Man Yahaya, the rector, be removed from his position in response to the expulsion of a few students from the Federal Polytechnic in Ede, Osun State.
The student body gave the institution’s Governing Council seven days to remove him due to the way he handled a recent student protest.
The students expressed dissatisfaction with the Rector’s leadership style, according to the Southwest NAPS leaders, which included Comrade Obasanya Monday Johnson, the Zonal Coordinator, Comrade Oladipupo Olawale Ridwan, the General Secretary, and Comrade Oyewumi Festus Ayomide, the Public Relations Officer.
Recall that on May 9, 2024, students of the polytechnic protested at the Ibadan Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over the arrest of some of their colleagues by operatives of the commission.
Operatives of the anti-graft agency had earlier stormed Owode, Ede to arrest some students they accused of engaging in financial scams.
However, the students caused some property damage during their protests and demands for the release of their fellow students.
But the NAPS leaders are upset because some of the members of the committee that the Rector appointed to look into the matter claimed that their properties had been damaged, which raises the possibility of bias in the committee’s results.
“Our investigation uncovered concerns regarding bias and conflict of interest as the committee appointed by the management to handle the case included people whose properties were purportedly damaged during the protest.
With these new developments, this act is viewed as completely power-abusive and unethical. All we can do now is demand that the Rector be removed immediately. His leadership has not shown empathy, justice, or understanding; instead, it has chosen punitive measures that jeopardize our colleagues’ futures in their careers and in academia.
“We hereby issue a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Ministry of Education and the Governing Council of Federal Polytechnic, Ede to remove the Rector, Dr. Sani Man Yahaya. Failure to comply will lead to a massive protest as we will mobilize our members to take action.
“In order to avoid interfering with academic activities, we implore all stakeholders to take action and address this injustice.”
