Stakeholders of Mubi Emirate Council, Adamawa North senatorial district has kicked against what they described as ‘the brazen attempt’ by a top official at the Federal Ministry of Education to undermine and override a presidential approval for the siting of a Federal University of Agriculture in Mubi.
The Adamawa North senatorial district stakeholders noted that the presidential approval and directive for the university to be sited in Mubi was conveyed through a letter dated 18th April, 2023 which was signed by the then chief of staff to the president, Prof Ibrahim Gambari.
They also said that the letter was very clear and unambiguous in siting not just the Federal University of Agriculture, Mubi, but three other universities and three new Federal Colleges of Education in different locations across the country.
These were contained in a statement signed by representatives of the six local governments areas that make up the Adamawa North senatorial district namely; Dr Umar Duhu (Madagali), Hajiya Bilkisu Talatu Ahmed (Michika), Mr John Papka Kaigamma (Mubi North), Hon Ahmad Sajoh (Mubi South), and Hon Daniel Maksha (Maiha).
According to them, more worrisome is the flimsy, lame and untenable excuse given by the official in charge that already there is a polytechnic in Mubi.
“The top official unilaterally and in flagrant disobedience of established norms, relocated the university to Hong as if a polytechnic and a university are same Institutions.
“Consequently, he directed that the university be relocated to Hong. We find it both funny and lamentable that a senior civil servant of that rank could unilaterally override a presidential directive in a democracy.
“This excuse is frivolous and unacceptable because there are Federal Polytechnics and Federal Universities in Bauchi and Damaturu. There are four federal institutions of learning in Yola, a University, a College of Education, Government Girls College and an Airforce Institute.
“In addition, half of the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi is still located in Yola. Places like Zaria have a University, an Aviation College, a Federal College of Education and an Institute of Transport Technology. Daura has about four institutions including a university and a Federal Polytechnic all recently established.
“The proposed place of relocation equally has a federal government institution, a Federal Medical Centre recently established in the place. A Tertiary Medical Facility is equally a training Institute.
“So, if on the strength of just the presence of a Federal Institution in a location, then they too are not qualified for the institution. But that is not enough reason at all,” the statement said.
The stakeholders further recalled that during the administration of Late President Shehu Shagari, there was a pronouncement to site a university in Mubi, adding that as is the case today, some people came up with the lame excuse that Mubi was not a state capital.
