By Ejiro Nesisa
Against the background of rumours making the rounds that illegal mining is going on within the premises of Federal College of Education(Technical) Asaba, Delta State, the Management of the college has come to say it is false and therefore called on the general public to disregard such alleged claim saying, they are very much aware of what is going on in the area.
In her reaction to such a story of alleged illegal mining within the campus, the Provost, College of Education (Technical), Asaba, Professor Josephine Anene-Okeakwa, said such an activity which is credited to the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Prof. Chike Edozien is false.
According to her, one of such stories is published in Spade Nigeria, an Online Newspaper with the caption: “Asagba of Asaba Cries Out Over Nefarious Activities At Federal College of Education Technical,”
Prof Anene-Okeakwa, said there has never been a time the Asagba of Asaba or his representative came to the college to find out what was going on within the college as regards to the alleged illegal mining, adding that, they were taken aback when they saw stories flying in the social media accusing some persons of nefarious activities.
She said, to set the record straight, the college authority gave approval place for excavation for the construction of Koka Road and a road behind the college with a view to reclaiming the land thereafter, wondering how a genuine approval will amount to illegal mining.
According to Prof. Anene-Okeakwa,: “They are not miners. Federal College of Education is aware. We gave them the place to excavate for the construction of Koka Road and the road behind the college to reclaim thereafter. Did they try to find out from us? Mr Ofili Mordi, who just came back from where he went to, jumped into selling our land, and claimed that Asagba of Asaba is aware.”
“Does Asagba of Asaba have the mandate to sell Federal Government Land that has a master plan and is lodged with the Town Planning? Their write-up and postings are to scare us and confuse people because they know we are aware. The Federal Government is aware of all our activities as I cannot embark on any illegal act.
We don’t want to join issues with the Asagba of Asaba because he is our father and we respect him. But he should warn those who are using his name to cause embarrassment to the college to desist forthwith as we will not take it lightly with any one bent on dragging the name of the college and my person to the mud.” she added.
Prof. Anene-Okeakwa warned those buying Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba land to desist from such illegal act, adding that anyone colluding with unscrupulous elements within Asaba community to encroach on the College’s land does that at his or her peril just as she reiterated that the college is peaceful as they are not facing any threat from anywhere.