The uncertain clouds over Kebbi Poly

Scepticism hinged on subjective or objective opinion often trails new policies or events depending on individual interest or concerns. Such has been the case of the nascent Kebbi State Polytechnic located in Dakingari, that has, since the exit of its founder, the erstwhile Governor Nasamu Dakingari, been the object of multitudes of arguments and counter-arguments. […]

Scepticism hinged on subjective or objective opinion often trails new policies or events depending on individual interest or concerns. Such has been the case of the nascent Kebbi State Polytechnic located in Dakingari, that has, since the exit of its founder, the erstwhile Governor Nasamu Dakingari, been the object of multitudes of arguments and counter-arguments.
What fundamentally brought into play elements of scepticism to the long-term viability of the institution after the former governor left office, are the likely personality differences between Daknigari governor and his successor, among others, having been political opponents, with Dakingari town being the former’s home place, which, based on objective reasoning, can safely be classified as subjective and parochial.
On the positive premise of scepticism being entertained by some quotas, like most states in the federation, Kebbi State needs and deserves its own polytechnic, what with the undisputable and dire quest of the indigenes of the state to catch up with the rest of the learning world, although the lingering argument that because of the backwardness of the state in education has rendered it unable to even fill its’ quotas in several tertiary institutions in its catchment institutions like Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDUS), Sokoto, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero; and even the just flagged-off Federal University Birnin Kebbi, located at Kalgo near the state capital, can readily be used in any counter -argument with reference to the development of even the premier university in Northern Nigeria, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria.
When Sir Ahmadu Bello, the then Northern Regional Premier established ABU, the cynicism and scepticism with which the initiative was held could best be imagined.  Questions like, when could Northerners ever fill it to the standard or status of a university? was asked profusely then, but with the ever-exploding population across the nation, is the story the same today?
Similar patterns of antagonism were extended to second and third generation universities in the north or even in the entire country that included virtually all the currently existing ones from Sokoto, thorough Obafemi Awolowo to several other universities in Mid-West and Eastern Nigeria. Further, their existence with whatever pluses or minuses has not deterred the proliferation of private universities by the day.
Looking objectively through the kaleidoscope of the emergence, growth and future of Kebbi State Polytechnic, Dakingari, factors, no matter the degree of scepticism or cynicism from any quarter, cannot be overlooked or disputed. First, the intent and purpose behind establishing the institution, which is to equate the state with its peers educationally; second the large expanse of land upon which colossal sums of the state funds have been sunk with virtually all the necessary infrastructure needed in a polytechnic, either nearly completed (such as road network and water systems) or in advanced stage of completion such as academic buildings, student hostels, administrative complex, medical centre, Engineering Workshops, lecture theatres, library, entrepreneurship development centre, staff quarters and some others, therefore moving these structures or converting them into any other uses than academic is unimaginable.
For close to two years of the polytechnic’s statutory existence vide Law No. 8 of 2013 passed by Kebbi State House of Assembly, it operates at the Nassarawa Campus Annex that is as good as permanent. The temporary campus has departments that are either fully or partially equipped and have been functioning with integral facilities such as laboratories, information and communication technology (ICT), management information system (MIS), conventional and e-library, furnished classrooms awaiting the arrival of students, multi-purpose hall and barely empty hostels, while skeletal and necessary staff members employed are only waiting for the first intakes to commence academic work and other programmes. Besides, the experience of the pioneer Rector with 13 years of polytechnic administration behind who from the scratch laboured tediously to bring the Institution to what it is today being supported by other principal officers with varied experiences cannot be discarded overnight.
The singular raging question in the lips of all stakeholders; the citizens of the state, the would-be students, the already employed staff, those to be employed and the rest of the prudent and sane minds everywhere is: upon all the logic of educating indigenes behind the project, the colossal sums already spent, the employment of well evaluated and qualified staff in these suicidal days of unemployment is, should the polytechnic live or die for any other reasons than sectional parochialism devoid of any objective reasoning?  All eyes are on the current administration of the state to see how it would resolve the matter without compromising the long-term interests of the people, and to be true to its motto in which the state prides itself as being the “Land of Equity”.
Sanusi Dakingari wrote from Birnin Kebbi