Rugipo is in need of Deliverance by Fidelis

*RUGIPO: AN INSTITUTION IN NEED OF DELIVERANCE*

By : *David Fidelis*

If Silence never won rights,if rights are not handed down from above, if rights are forced by pressures from below, then, I will continually use my pen to fight for the right of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic,Owo Students and the entire Nigeria students at large, because an act of injustice against one is an act of injustice against all. What affects the part also affects the whole. If you beat my neighbours child it is as good as beating mine and consequently I have a duty to defend that child.
That is the essence of journalism, humanity and chivalry: to speak up for those that are voiceless, to speak up for those that are being persecuted, to defend the defenceless, and to fight for those that are too weak to fight for themselves.


Now, let  me go straight to the point.
Do you agree with me that Rufus Giwa Polytechnic is in need of deliverance?
 Do you agree agree with me that RUGIPO has been suffering from  insensitivity of  government towards the collective goals and aspirations of the institution which is the oldest institution in Ondo State? Do you agree with me that RUGIPO has been suffering from decay of infrastructures for more than a decade?

Now, let me dissect and juxtapose my position. As a Christian you must
definitely be familiar with the concept of deliverance right?
Just in case you are a non-Christian and you don’t
know what it is to be delivered,the Publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu in one of his articles  explain that "a man or woman who requires
deliverance is presumed to suffer some spiritual
attacks or demonic afflictions;the problems are such that can’t be tackled and
resolved through conventional means. In traditional
societies, the families, and sometimes friends, of the
afflicted often run to a Babalawo who has oracular
powers of the third eye and is able to see, diagnose
and exorcise the demons worrying the victim of
spiritual oppression. There are Pastors, especially of
the Pentecostal denomination who have the capacity
to expel or banish the demons and ghosts assaulting
the afflicted and restore normalcy to the supplicant.
Some people get delivered while some cases are too
protracted and defy every power of prayer and
restoration"



Obviously and Undeniably, this seems to have been the likely situation with
Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo. The institution's case has become so desperate that most of the staff and students
have virtually become hopeless and helpless believing that only deliverance can solve crisis and anomalies in the institution.


Now, who do we call to deliver RUGIPO from this state of helplessness? Is it Pastor W. F. Kumuyi?  Is it Pastor Adeboye?  Pope Benedict?  Pastor Felix Adejumo?  Pastor Suleiman?  Pastor Oyedipo? Chris Onyeakilome or who do you think can do the deliverance once and for all?

It could be recalled that aside other previous industrial action, RUGIPO ASUP had on the 31st of August,2017 officially declared total and indefinite strike action which was reported to border on the excruciating, debilitating and precarious situation of the welfare of the academic Staff of the institution, demanding for the Payments of 10 months unpaid staff salaries for the months of June  2016 to January 2017 as well as July and August 2017;
Payments of 2015 and 2016 promotion arrears
Total compliance with court order in respect of  ASUP members that suffered political persecution from the former administration through non  payment of their outstanding salaries of reinstated acedemic staff among other demands.

Admittedly, students of the institution have protested on various occasions carrying placards with various inscription to the governor,  Royal Fathers, high profile personalities in the state, even, they've went to Babalawo and Alphas. However, all their efforts have remain fruitlessly fruitless.


How else can you explain a government that fails to
pay its workers at the end of each month not to
mention one that does not pay for months
and still expects dedication, forthrightness and
loyalty from its civil servants?

Can any state or country develop and grow without paying ample attention to the citizens education? If no!! then, the Governor of Ondo State Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN must find a way of resolving the much more elongated industrial action embarked on by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics of the institution.

Government and ASUP must find a lasting solution to the impasse and note that incessant strikes by lecturers of the institution may unarguably undermine the credibility of graduates produced by institution.

Government must show serious commitment to agreement reach with the ASUP; the government should start from somewhere; it may not implement 100 per cent of the agreement at once, but it must show considerable commitment.

It has been often said that idle hands are the devil's workshop. In view of this, ASUP on its part should show patriotism and stop adopting strike action as the last option for pushing forward its demand.
More so, the two parties must reach a compromise anchored on constructive dialogue and engagement to steer through and permanently end the incessant and chronic industrial action in my dear Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo,Ondo State.
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*Fidelis David O.* is a Practising Journalist, Feature Writer and a Public Relations Practitioner based in Ondo State. He is the Vice Chairman/ Editor - in - Chief, RUGIPO Press Council. He also doubles as the President, Faculty of Social Sciences and Communication Studies, RUGIPO.
@07060835375
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