By Emma Amaize
WARRI- YOUTHS of Ogwashi-Uku in Delta state, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku chapter  and other stakeholders of the institution have called on the governor of Delta State, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan to follow due process and uphold merit in the appointment of a new rector for the institution.
 
The call by the Ogwashi-Uku Youth Leaders Forum, signed by the president general and secretary, Messrs. Chukwurah Paul and Ilechie Federick was contained in a letter, dated October 20, to the governor, while the ASUP, Ogwashi-Uku in separate letters  to the governor and Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon Victor Ochei, signed by its chairman and secretary, Nelson Ogonwa and Emmanuel Akpoveta respectively,  said the candidate that came out first in the interview conducted by the governing council of the polytechnic should be appointed.
 
Also, the Students Union Government, SUG, of the polytechnic in a letter jointly signed by the president and secretary, Ikechukwu Loveth and Enete Precious stated, “We want to use this medium to call on our dear governor, in the interest of peace, equity and justice, to appoint the very best candidate that came first in the selection process and not allow outside influence, no matter how highly placed in the society to change the goal post”.
 
In a related development, a community leader and prominent member of the Ogwashi-Uku Development Union, ODU, Prince Raphael Nti has also debunked reports that the union was opposed to the re-appointment of the former rector, Prof Andy Egwunyenga.
 
A dependable informant told Vanguard, few days ago, that Prof Egwunyenga came first in the interview conducted by Prof-A.E Ekoko-led governing council and that his name and two others, who came second and third respectively, had been forwarded to Governor Uduaghan for appointment.
 
ASUP in its letter to Uduaghan noted, “The interview has eased the process, ASUP did not conduct the interview, neither did it sponsor a candidate, but its position is rooted on merit. ASUP, therefore, demand Sir, that the candidate that came out first in the interview be appointed”.
 
Its words, We wish to state that the Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku is not a community based polytechnic nor is it community-owned and funded.

Therefore, the alleged rumour by a group to produce a community rector is most unacceptable to ASUP and will be resisted by the union with everything within the ambit of the law. What we need is a rector that will sustain the pace of development and industrial harmony the institution has experienced these four years.”