The outgoing Rector of the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osurua, Dr Moses Umobong has described as baseless, the rumour of his attempt to influence the appointment of a successor from his ethnic group.
Umobong said he lacked the powers to influence such appointment stressing that only the Executive governor of the state has the sole and constitutional powers to appoint Rectors of Polytechnics.
A statement gaining traction online endorsed by a ‘Concerned Annang Citizen’ had claimed that the Rector in collaboration with leaders of the three unions in the Polytechnic: Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions, NASU, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics, SSANIP, and the Ibibio Union, is sponsoring a preferred successor from his ethnic group, Ibibio, thereby marginalizing the Annangs.
The Concerned Anang Citizen’ said such move if allowed would not only cause disharmony among the ethnic groups in the institution but would lead to institutional crisis by ultimately burying the only state-owned institution of higher learning located in ‘Annang land.’
Addressing journalists who visited to know his side of the story at the Polytechnic premises on Wednesday, the Rector wondered how someone whom he described as “faceless” could come up with such allegations knowing fully well that in the case of State Polytechnic, all appointments of Principal Officers are made by the Governor.
Umobong regretted that someone could be playing politics of ethnic sentiment in institution of higher learning instead of championing excellence and academic growth.
He noted, “My job is just to write officially to the governor, telling him when I’ll be exiting, which I have already done, and obtain permission to advertise. When that approval is granted, an advertisement would be placed and the council will conduct interviews.
”The NBTE is the regulator, they have set up some guidelines for the appointment of a Rector, which must be strictly followed. So how do I come in here, he asked?
“During my time, we were eight that applied or contested. We sat for the interview, fortunately for me, I was appointed the Rector. So, are you saying that somebody should be a sole candidate? Well, if no other person is interested, fine, but if there are other interest groups, they have the right to apply. All these allies are supposed to go to the governor and say, Governor, I warn you, you must appoint this person from this particular ethnic group. To show your supremacy, to show your powers.’
However, Umobong said he would not be distracted by such speculations recalling how he was able to secure 100 percent accreditation of all the courses and programmes of the polytechnic since assumption of office; thereby placing AkwaPoly from the 99th ranking position to 2nd position as the best polytechnic in Nigeria.
His words, ‘At the time I took over, the Polytechnic was in the national ranking on the 99th position, 99th position out of a total number of 110 Polytechnics, signifying that there was something professionally wrong. So with the corporation of all the staff and all of us, we were able to put all our efforts together, work hard together.
After two years, the ranking came again. In The third year of my tenure, we achieved 18th position. And in 2023, We were ranked second best Polytechnic in Nigeria. Polytechnic Illaro came first, we came second. By the grace of God, the State government has been very supportive, funding us and so on.
The Rector while announcing his exit on November 2025, thanked the governor, Umo Eno and his predecessor for their supports and attempts to reposition the polytechnic and put it in an enviable height and prayed that his legacies in the institution would be sustained.
