Serial arson at Delta poly: ASUP president intervenes

THE national president of Academic Staff Union of Poly-techinics (ASUP), Dr Chibuzor Asomugha, has intervened in the face-off between lecturers at Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-uku and the management, over the recent fire outbreak which gutted the exams and records office.At least 17 of the 200 lecturers, deputy rector, Mr Steve Osafina and five non-academic staff had been quizzed by the police, in connection with the incident.ASUP president, accompanied by the coordinator, Zone D (South-East and South-South) of the union, Anderson Ezeibe, at the weekend, met with the management of the institution, to broker peace and seek ways to smoothen the rough edges.Dr Asomugha described the serial fire incident within a short space of time as worrisome, in a situation when the institution was yearning for development.However, the new rector of the institution Dr Edna Mogekwu, told the Nigerian Tribune on Sunday that the lecturers were personalising the issue, while he accussed them of employing the weapon of intimidation, blackmail and lies against her.The rector said when the first fire incident occured in May, she was invited by the police alongside two deans to clear the air and wondered why the lecturers were threatening her with court action.In another development, students of the institution have expressed shock at the arrest of two of their colleagues for kidnapping.Twenty-three-year-old Ogheberukome and Ohwadua Elohor, 22, were paraded for abducting one Michael Ifechukwude Isitua, a 17-year-oldpre-degree student of Delta State University, Abraka, on June 25 in Asaba.Most of the students who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune at the weekend said it was unbelievable that the duo could involve themselves in the crime.
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