₦airaland Forum

Resumption: Fedpoffa Rector Pays Unaware Visit To Departments, Lecture Halls To Inspect Covid-19 Compliance By Staff, Students





The Rector of The Federal Polytechnic Offa, Dr. Lateef Olatunji has taken a lead role to tour round the Polytechnic campuses to inspect the level of Covid-19 compliance by staff and students of the institution.

Following the Federal Government's directive that all tertiary institutions should reopen with strict adherence to covid-19 protocols, the Management Task Force for Covid-19 has therefore set up a weekly monitoring team in order to ensure Covid-19 compliance. The team include all the Principal Officers and members of the management staff of the Polytechnic.

The Rector, Dr. Olatunji accompanied by Deputy Rector administration and Polytechnic Chairman of Covid-19 Technical Committee, Dr. Olarongbe Afolabi, Dean of Exams, Dr. S.A. Alayemi, Dean of Research and Development, Dr. A.S. Mohammed, Dean of Students Affairs, Mr. Gbenga Aleminu and Director of Information, Public Relations and Protocols, Mr. Olayinka Iroye were stationed at the Polytechnic entrance to ascertain the operation of security personnel and monitor the level of compliance of staff, students and visitors to all the Covid-19 protocols.

Recalled that the Management in a press release had earlier enforced the Polytechnic publics to always use face mask, hand sanitizer and at the same time make use of hand washing and sanitizing machines placed in strategic locations on both campuses. The Management therefore emphasised on the need to always be on a safer side by getting familiar with the new system occasioned by the pandemic.

The Rector also visited different lecture halls and departments to check the sitting arrangement in line with physical distancing order and charged students to continue to embrace all preventive measures as stated by the Management Covid-19 Technical Committee.

#BusyBrain



When men in khaki announced their operation crocodile smile, Nigerians already knew and much more aware that the smiling of these crocodiles will be targeted at peaceful protesters. Well meaning Nigerians and civil societies had sounded note of warning to Federal Government against using Army to stop the already escalated protest but the military denounced in a release that the operation was not meant for Nigerian Youths on the streets.

Of course, many never believed Nigerian Army could fire at protesters and that's why protesters were advised to hold the bloody Green-Red-Green flag and keep singing the national anthem to stop Army from shooting. I don't know if this work in other countries during protest but in Nigeria, the story at Lekki Toll Gate was not palatable. Sobs!


Tuesday night was brutal. The kind of wickedness being displayed could not be measured. I lost my sense of sleeping, I was gripped by fear having seen innocent Nigerians at hospital awaiting burial by installment. People sang National anthem with flags in their hands but they were helpless. They were shot, murdered and thrown in the pool of blood.

Some mind blowing questions have not been answered yet, who ordered the man in jacket to detach cameras at toll gate? Who instructed them to detach the light and who gave the men in uniform order to shoot when they were not at war ? Who invited the thugs seen in tinted jeeps and 18-seater buses to attack protesters ? Who...?

The above questions need not to be answered anymore as it has pointed out the sponsors of Lekki Massacre and hoodlums attack on protesters. Before you run a stinky and derogatory mouth to accuse the protesters of defying curfew, ask yourself where were the hoodlums when the protest began; initially, the protest was peaceful, why the sudden intrusion of hoodlums and who recruited them to maim the peaceful protesters?


Now that crocodile has stopped smiling at the armed bandits, kidnappers, and killer herdsmen, their wicked smiles on Nigerians would not be forgotten in history. May woe betide killers of innocent souls across the country. Some easement we require, unarguably though we argue against desire. Sobs!


What a country that negotiated with Boko Haram for rehabilitation into the society but unleash mayhem on unarmed citizens. The whole world is aware!



Busy Brain is an Opinion Writer, Poet, Journalist and Public Relations Practitioner

#Monday4Opinion By Busy Brain



If anyone asks me of the best moment in Nigeria with reasonable and worthwhile sensation, I will definitely be happy to tag this period that speaks of unity and togetherness among Nigerian youths. The present moment is a clear indication and harbinger to actualize Nigeria of our dream.

The nefarious grandeurs and political elites' divide and rule policy is being buried in a shallow grave. Initially, the government thought it would be a usual obloquy and opprobrium where people will shout for two three days on social media and rest. This time around, people did not only rant on social media, they took it down to the broken streets to demand for justice against inhumane act of the evil men in black.

In my last opinion titled ' Big Brother Naija and cheap prophecy ' published in Nigerian Tribune on September 26, 2020, I was moved to castigate the negligence of Nigerian celebrities when it comes to matter affecting the poor masses. I asked how the celebrities have helped the masses who keep buying their music albums, downloading their lyrics and following them on various social media platforms. I was pissed and irksome to say they were useless when only few Nigerians rose to protest the obnoxious increment in petroleum price and electricity tariff and the protesters were teargassed, harassed and detained without any support. Actually, I only said my mind, I did not know that a master protest that will arouse international reception is on the way. l'm marveled with the massive turnout of our celebrities against SARS' brutality on Nigerians. Since the inception of this struggle, I have retracted my statement. Our celebrities are wonderful and not useless. They have proven themselves to be valorous at both national and international levels. Kudos to all the protesters for standing for what is right.

Obviously, SARS officers have misused their chances; they abused power because of greediness and covetousness. Using POS, telling suspects to do transfer or taking suspected fraudsters to the ATM stand for settlement is not only abuse of power but absurd to a despicable extent. Irrespective of your sanctity, you cannot win SARS when you are with a big phone, laptop or riding an exotic car during their routine stop and search. Waspishly, security operatives charged with the responsibility of protecting lives and properties turned to be the killer of hope, killer of dreams; sending young minds to eternal rest. Absolutely, Nigerians have endured many pains and pangs from reckless and feckless men of the underworld.

The kind of vim and vigour incorporated in #EndSARS protest is a message of hope and liberation from the manacles of oppressors. If this tempo can be maintained from now and beyond, the recyclers touring round the corridor of power would be sent to the oblivion.

Surprisingly, despite the public outcry and furore on SARS brutality, the protest seems not to mesmerize the attention of Northerners. As much as people clamour for better Nigeria through peaceful protest and demonstration, the version of protest staged in the North is for the support of SARS, the protests staged in the South-south and the South-west states are being given political colouration. The southerners do not want SARS simply because of their loathsome way of extortion and extra judicial killing; the North wants SARS because the operatives dare not to act funny in their region. In the North, is it no nonsense and no-going area for police outlandish operations. Or has there ever been record of extra judicial killings by members of SARS in the North? I doubt it. If it happens there, the #EndSARS protest would have taken place for long. Their negligence is conspicuous. It is only illogical to speak against the protesters who have been fed with brutal soup for years. The protest is already a success; Nigerians have woken up from the juvenile slumber.




( Busy Brain Writes in Kwara State, on October 19, 2020 )


Busy Brain is an opinion writer, poet, journalist, Public Relations Practitioner

Usmanissa247@gmail.com

The Management of the Federal Polytechnic Offa through Directorate of Information, Public Relations and Protocol has embarked on Advocacy Campaign to further strengthen the already made efforts of the institution against the novel virus.


The Campaign took place on both campuses and was taken to the nooks and crannies of the Polytechnic's ambience to sensitize students on safety precautionary measures to be taken to protect themselves from coronavirus.

While addressing the students, the Deputy Rector Administration and Polytechnic Chairman of Covid-19 Technical Committee, Dr. Olarongbe Afolabi reemphasized the existence of coronavirus in Nigeria and charged the students to always be cautious and embrace all preventive measures.

According to him, "On behalf of the school Management, I welcome you all back to campus. We have put in place and provided preventive measures in consonance with World Health Organization ( WHO) directive such as Hand Washing and Sanitizing Machines ( Automated and Manual ), face mask, hand sanitizer, liquid soap and antiseptic disinfectant ahead of resumption because your safety is of highest priority to the Management. If we can be bothered about your health as our students, sons and daughters, you should also be concerned by taking all rules and regulations into practice as stated by Presidential Task Force ( PTF ) on Covid-19 and Nigeria Centre For Disease Control ( NCDC).

The Director of Information, Public Relations and Protocols, Mr. Olayinka Iroye also commended Mass Communication students for taking active participation in the campaign and admonished students to take note of their lecture days in order not to run foul of the rules and regulations of the Polytechnic on Covid-19.

He said: "The Management has scheduled lecture days for students to conform with social distancing order. The HND ll and ND ll students are to be in school on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays while HND l and ND l students are to be on campus on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays respectively. All these measures are put in place to avoid crowd and unnecessary gatherings."


Meanwhile, the HOD of Mass Communication, Mr. Wole Alawode lauded the proactive approach of the Management led by Dr. Lateef Olatunji, the Polytechnic Covid-19 Technical Committee led by Dr. Olarongbe Afolabi to curtail the spread of Covid-19.

He added that the Solar Automated and Manual Hand Washing and Sanitizing Machines placed in strategic places for staff and students' use are working perfectly. He therefore enjoined students to continue to adhere strictly to all Covid-19 protocols as stated by the Management to avoid penalty.

Anytime I take a walk through the land of virtue and see the beautiful and mega schools built by Governor Rauf Aregbesola, I always think Osun State has had enough of infrastructure and of course, the coming Governor would not have enough to do. Governor Aregbesola for eight years really tried his best. He transformed the state from the aged statue to modern day land. All these awe inspiring transformation in Osun is a good legacy of Ogbeni.

Fortunately, the emergence of Governor Oyetola is another version of Messiah in State of Osun. Like Aregbesola, Governor Oyetola is riding on a good legacy.

The first thing that mesmerized my attention in the administration of Governor Oyetola is the continuous payment of state allowance to Osun state corpers. Obviously, the country's economy has relapsed from bad to worse with the outbreak of the novel virus. Covid-19 has crippled almost everything in the country. Economic, religious, educational and social activities have been stemmed and gloomy. While states struggle to maintain stability in the area of economy, Osun state government led by Governor Oyetola not only paying full salaries of workers, corps members are also smiling in the land of virtue.

Also, Oyetola's administration has performed wonderfully in putting the roads in its best shape. The road projects that are being carried out in nooks and crannies of Osun State are visible to the blind and audible to the deaf. Roads in Ede to Ejigbo, Iwo, Ara, Awo, Ido-Osun, Masifa, Sekona, Ofatedo, Ile-Ogbo, Kuta, Oluponna among others, are wearing new looks due to the drastic and concerted efforts of government to turn around the economies of the affected communities, towns and villages.

Furthermore, the general maxim of health is wealth sounds dearly to the ears of the Governor. Governor Oyetola's administration values health of the people that dwell in the unique state. He revitalized 332 Primary Healthcare Centers through the $21 million support from the Saving One Million lives programme.

The health infrastructure initiative was extended to the then-moribund General Hospital, Ejigbo and the construction of the 150-bed and 50 doctors quarters at the state Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo. .

Governor Oyetola's mind blowing achievements cannot be measured on paper. One good turn really deserves another. I wish Mr. Governor happy birthday, more prosperous years in the land of virtue.



*Busy Brain is an opinion writer, poet, journalist and Public Relations Practitioner*


Usmanissa247@gmail.com
08169197486