Auchi – There has been an uneasy calm in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo, following the re-appointment of Auchi Polytechnic's Rector, Dr Phillipa Idogho, for a second term.
Mobile policemen and men of the State Security Service (SSS) have been drafted to the area to avert any possible breakdown of law and order in the polytechnic and the entire Auchi community.
Also tension sparked on Monday morning when a group, Auchi Youth Forum, planned to stage a mass protest and threatened to disrupt academic activities in the polytechnic.
The group had earlier threatened to make the institution ungovernable if the Federal Government went ahead to re-appoint Dr Idogho for another term in office.
It complained about the alleged marginalisation of Auchi indigenes in the appointment of the polytechnic's rector.
Mr Marcus Braimah, the Secretary of Auchi Youth Forum, said that "the community has often been sidelined in terms of appointment of rector, employment opportunities and admission in the polytechnic.
"It is time we say no to all this. We are the host community. Just like what obtains elsewhere in the country; we deserve more from the government,'' he said.
NAN reports that the youths had earlier staged a demonstration in February over the contentious issues, vowing to make the polytechnic ungovernable for the management if nothing was done to address the issues.
However, the polytechnic's spokesman, Mr Mustapha Oshiobugie, said that the presence of security personnel on the polytechnic campus was a normal security precaution.
He denied any knowledge of the planned protest by the youths.
Oshiobugie also confirmed Idogho's re-appointment by President Goodluch Jonathan, adding that his first term in office ended on March 15. (NAN)
Vanguard Nigeria