Mixed Reactions Trail Relocation of Taraba Poly to Suntai as Students, Management Threaten Protest

By Andrew Ojih, Jalingo

The visit of Governor Agbu Kefas to Taraba State Polytechnic and his pronouncement that the institution be relocated to its permanent site in Suntai has continued to cause ripples, with management and students rejecting the decision.

Dr Amos Danlami, Rector Taraba State Polytechnic

Some students and management who reacted shortly after the governor departed from the school expressed worry that the decision did not go down well with them.

A senior staff member at the polytechnic, Dr P.K., while speaking to journalists, expressed fear that they had not been granted security clearance to relocate to the new site.

“This decision to move the institution from here in Jalingo to Suntai is not a good decision for us staff. We all know the current insecurity in Taraba State. Imagine, a few days ago, over 80 people were killed in Binnari community. Binnari is a typical village like Suntai, where the governor has perfected arrangements to relocate the institution to. Besides, in the Suntai campus, there are no befitting houses or structures that both students and management can stay in comfortably,” he said.

He urged the governor to reconsider his decision to relocate the institution for the protection of staff and students.

Also speaking, a student from one of the departments, who pleaded anonymity, charged Governor Kefas to tell Tarabans why he chose to relocate the institution at this critical time, and whether insecurity is over.

“Our parents value us. It is inhuman for the governor to play with our lives. Our security is not assured in Suntai,” he cried out.

The Rector of the institution, Dr Amos Danlami, said the government’s position remained his position.