In a bid to inform and enlighten Nigerians on the true situation of events in the election violence that rocked the Federal Polytechnic Auchi few days ago, the Coalition of Civil Society Groups on Transparency in Governance led by Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI) has, through a press conference clarified that nobody died in the unfortunate incidence as erroneously reported by some sections of the media and other Nigerians.
At a well attended press conference in Abuja onFriday , the duo Comrade Danesi Momoh Prince and Comrade Igwe Ude-umanta; Convener and Co-Convener respectively, urged politicians and the mainstream media to verify their reports before publishing and desist from heating up the polity with sensational headlines.
The text read in part, “few days ago, there was a disturbing trending video and subsequent media reports of violence during the Students’ Union Government (SUG) election in the Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Edo State. Some of the reports claimed that two students were killed and several others injured. We make bold to say that this is outright falsehood sponsored to discredit the institution and the country at large by people too desperate to verify from the school management or security agencies.
“As condemnable as this unnecessary sensational and unethical practice is, we are appalled to realize that the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 Presidential Election, Mr. Peter Obi engineered the entire ungodly venture. Mr. Peter Obi’s irresponsible utterances heightened anxiety amongst parents, guardians and the public who felt that the students are facing grave danger or dire security challenge whereas the reality was different.
“Though we are aware of Mr. Obi’s political attention seeking schemes, which are within his rights; we are sore worried about why he will post an unverified news, even when he can easily access institutions that can give him the correct information. For a man who always charged us to ‘go and verify’, this is distasteful, because we have now verified and the result is the very opposite of what Mr. Obi posted. Yes, Obi lied; indeed he lied hard!
“If not for some selfish motives, one cannot understand why a man of Mr. Peter Obi’s public and political standing could jump on a bandwagon and totally de-market and smear a thriving institution like Auchi Poly.
The Coalition revealed that, contrary to insidious claims of inadequate security during the elections, the school management had in reality provided adequate security including accredited observers, adding that, what happened was sabotage masterminded by fifth columnists.
“To set the records straight and dispel the darkness of falsehood in the conduct of the SUG Election, the school internal security, Nigerian Police, Department of State Services, National Security and Civil Defence Corp and local vigilante were adequately mobilised to ensure adequate security and a hitch-free election.
“The security reports and report of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) who are officially accredited observers confirm that it was not a question of lack of security or management negligence, but clearly the work of fifth columnists who had concealed ulterior motives. The plan involved sneaking In members of the local community to disrupt the election when their preferred candidate was clearly losing. These mercenaries only had knives and sticks to scare students.
“This is contrary to the false report that they were shooting at students. It was the Mobile Police Force that reportedly shot tear gas to disperse them. In the ensuing confusions, students were running and creaming. One student who is an asthma patient fainted. But she immediately regained consciousness at the School Clinic, and was observed in a matter of few hours before being allowed to go home.
“We challenge anybody with a contrary claim to provide the identity(ies) of any dead student from the sad incident. Deliberately spreading falsehood is unpatriotic, destructive and dangerous for our national life and nobody should ever allow themselves to be used to smear others” the text stated.
While passing a vote of confidence in the Rector, management and Governing Council of Auchi Polytechnic for their maturity and professionalism in handling the security situation, the Coalition called for the “suspension of the the entire SUG election and the setting up of an interim Committee to foresee the activities of the Union until all investigations are concluded and culprits punished to serve as a deterrence to others “.
