Oro Youths Wants Nigerian Maritime Boss Removed (By our reporter)

 

Youths under the aegis of Akpakip Oro Youths Vanguard have called on the President through the Minister of Transport to immediately relieve the rector of the Nigerian Maritme Academy, Oron Mr. Joshua Okpo of his appointment.

The youths who made the call in a letter addressed to the Minister of Transport Senator Idris Umar and made available to newsmen titled “SAVE MARITIME ACADEMY OF NIGERIA, ORON FROM COLLAPSE AND MALADMINISTRATION OF MR. JOSHUA E. OKPO” said the appointment of Mr. Okpo as rector of the academy was fraudulent. They accused him of high handedness.

According to the protest letter by the group, they averred that the rector has been running the Academy with high handedness ‘nourished by his selfish instincts to perpetuate and continually hold on to power without minding the implication of the progress of the Academy’

The letter which was signed by Chief O O Anwana the President of the Youth Vanguard amongst other executives accused the rector of personalization of the office of the Rector, Entrenchment of discrepancies in payment of staff salary and wrong placements of staff.

Other issues which the group accused the Rector of the Academy of engaging in includes fraudulent, irregular and lopsided employment of staff, misapplication of funds of the Academy, Suppression of the process of upgrading the Academy to a University status as well as immorality and corrupt practices.

The Akpakip Oro Youth Vanguard specifically asked the Transport Minister to investigate the case of immorality and corrupt practices of the Rector of the Nigerian Maritime Academy. It said “the antecedents of Mr. Okpo coupled with what is been witnessed points to the fact that Mr. Joshua Okpo is morally bankrupt with questionable character which automatically makes him unfit for leadership position of any sort”

The group stressed that the “Rector shamelessly sleeps with female staff of the Academy with particular interest on married staff irrespective of their social status”.

All attempts to reach out to the Rector proved abortive as messages sent to his lines were not replied. He also refused to pick calls that were put through to his lines.

The Akpakip Oro Youth Vanguard which threatened violence if the Rector continues to remain in office said it will soon expose more corrupt practices of the Rector so Nigerians will be aware of who he is. The letter was also signed by Barr. Philip Enyongekere (Secretary) Chief Mrs. Affiong Etifit, Ekanem Ezekiel, Hon. Mkpesit Mkpesit, Prince E E Antai, Dr. E B Ekpeyong, Princess Beatrice Okon Okpoi, Mr Lawrence  Ifang and Mrs. Emilia Okon Okpoi on behalf of the people of Oro Ethnic nationality.