By Usman Muhammad Minna
The Rector, Federal Polytechnic Bida, Dr Aliyu Baba Haruna, and leadership of the Students Union Government of the Institution have denied that soldiers were hired to Invigilate the institution’s ongoing second semester’s examinations
The Institution’s Director of Security and Related Matters, Amb. Kpanga Collins Kpanga has also denied the allegations which he described as ‘cheap blackmail’.
In an interview with Education Monitor, the Rector who described the claims as simply failed attempts by some detractors and internal foes of the Polytechnic that are bent on smearing its good name and reputation, the Rector said it is unthinkable and inconceivable to hire any cadre of security personnel to enter even the premises of the institution, let alone enter examinations hall to Invigilate examinations.
On the issue of the picture that went viral showing gun wielding soldiers in a class in the midst of students writing examinations, the Rector said the picture was generated using artificial intelligence. He emphasized that anybody familiar with AI images knows that that so-called, blurred picture is not a real picture.
The Rector revealed that the person that posted the AI image in question who happens to be a junior staff of the institution has been identified, and vowed to take disciplinary measures on the staff as stipulated by the laws of the Polytechnic to serve as a deterrent against such irresponsible action in the future.
Responding to the suspension of strike by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics of the institution, who asked their members to resume work immediately, the Rector was not only indifferent on the union’s decision, because according to him, their strike which was meant to ground the examinations did not succeed, therefore whether they suspend the strike or not, their actions can not affect the ongoing examinations which are even on the verge of completion.
He thanked the more than 70 percent of the lecturers that ignored the union’s decision to join the strike who were actively involved in the examinations.
Dr Haruna also thanked stakeholders and entire members of the Polytechnic community for their support and cooperation that led to the successful conduct of the examinations
The Students Union Government’s President, Comrade Alex O. Emmanuel, who, accompanied by the duo of the Treasurer and Director of Sports of the Union, Comrades Saidu Sherifat and Kasa Luka, told Education Monitor that soldiers did not participate in any of the examinations in the Polytechnic.
The trio of the President, Treasurer and Director of Sports however called on both the Rector-led management and the leadership of the union to find an amicable way of resolving their differences for the smooth resumption of academic activities in the institution.
They said, “as Parents, major stakeholders and leaders of the institution, their harmonious relationship is vital in keeping the school running.”
To buttress his claim, the SUG President gave our reporter an official statement that the union issued on the issue:
Commenting, the institution’s Director of Security and Related Matters, Mr Kpanga Collins Kpanga, said the generated fake stories of soldiers’ involvement in the examination which was planted to spoil the name of the institution, however, turned out to be unsuccessful.
Mr Kpanga also shared an official statement that his Directorate issued to clarify the issue:
Education Monitor reporter who was in the institution on a fact finding mission, visited almost all the halls where the examinations were written, but did not see any uniformed personnel in any of the halls, none was also spotted even in the premises of the institution.
Our reporter who also visited all the offices where the examinations are administered, witnessed several very busy personalities who were introduced to him as senior management staff of the Polytechnic, who were seen working with different categories of people that were also introduced as members of staff on duty.
