..Threatens to abduct, dismiss staff,as
panel investigates Onyeme
…ASUP:No one can Intimidate our members –
There is palpable fear currently ravaging the Imo State Polytechnic, Omuma following the threat to abduct and whisk away a Lecturer in the institution, Collins Osuagwu by a young man who identified himself as the Rector’s third son.
It was discovered that the Rector’s son had allegedly invaded the sitting of a panel set up by the school management, harassing and intimidating staff thereby creating panic in the institution last week. His actions were said to have caused pandemonium aimed at inducing some panel members to issue reports against the staff.
Earlier, the Rector was said to have informed the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Imopoly chapter, Dr. Julius Offurum that he would do everything possible to teach the staff a lesson of his life including using “juju” to force him to explain why he circled his legs in a picture where he woe suit, tie, gown and sandals.
The Rector, in a phone interview with our newspaper said that “a staff of the school, Mr. Collins Osuagwu got access to one of my pictures taken during the last school matriculation where I wore suit, tie, gown and sandals, circled my legs and posted the same in the academic staff platform of the institution ostensibly to mock me or for whatever intention”
According to him, “in as much as I was advised by my Doctors to stop wearing shoes as remedy for my leg problem due to deep pains in my legs, the problem increased beyond proportion since the staff circled my legs. I suspect, the circling of my legs was not ordinary. He should explain what he did to me spiritually”
However, in a swift reaction, the accused Lecturer, Collins Osuagwu denied any knowledge of “juju” or “spiritual” attack on the Rector, adding that he only got the Reactor’s photograph, circled the sandals he was putting on while wearing suit, tie, and gown and forwarded same to the school whatsapp platform when he discovered that the picture attracted cyber bullying.
He maintained that as a result of the act, the Rector constituted a panel and directed that he undergo strenuous investigation aimed at discovering if the circling of his legs was the cause of his swelling of his legs. He described the allegations as an “entry behavior” to terminate his job in the institution
Reacting on phone, Chairman of the panel, Dr. Linus Onyeme said that his committee was still investigating the matter, and promised to convey its committee’s report to the school management after completion.
Regretably, it was discovered that the panel Chairman was said to have secretly connived with the Rector to allow his son attend the panel sitting to be able to show the staff that he has a son of equal age with him, adding that the Rector’s son was escorted out of the panel siting after he concluded his mission of harassment, and intimation of the staff.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Imo State Polytechnic chapter, Dr. Julius Offurum has condenmed the actions of the panel led by Dr. Onyeme for allowing a stranger to the institution to invade the panel sitting, intimidating and harassing the accused staff simply because he merely identified himself as the Rector’s son.
He said that the union would not hesitate to fight any injustice meted at any of the school staff, adding that on the other hand, would not condone any act capable of ridiculing the reputation of the institution. He therefore warned against the witch-hunt of any staff for mere unsubstantiated allegation, appealing to all concerned to apply caution.
In an interview with some staff of the institution who pleaded anonymity for fear of been victimised, decried the action of the Rector who is allegedly known for his high handedness, unnecessary vendetta, vindictiveness and always willing to stifle every inch of opposition to his administration.
Meanwhile, information gathered from some staff indicates that at present, “the institution is sharply tilting into a dangerous clique that is driven by sycophancy appealing to the state government to wade in and stop the Rector’s alleged high handedness.”
“The worst is that we don’t have a governing council to report to” so the Rector behaves and treats us like slaves” he usually boasts that he is the Governor’s inlaw and can run the institution the way he wants.” The source reiterated.