The Coming Of FUMHSK And The Glory Of A Shame (OPINION) By O.S. Ogokuni
Thursday, May 11, 2023, saw the Social Media and the Air Waves awash with News about the Presidential Approval for the establishment of the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale (FUMHSK).
It was a feat that dazed everyone who heard about it. Forlorn, doubtful and unconvincing were the general feelings that made the late-afternoon news unexciting for even a repeat thought. This was because the development took people unawares and was least expected when it happened, especially coming from a Facilitator who had been thrown under the bus for failing to actualize a long awaited promise in that direction.
As questions were being asked, and phone calls being put across; one of which came from Chief Henry Okechuku to an Abuja high office, where I was at the material time, the truth of the development began to gradually unfold and jolted everyone into a frenzy of being benumbed. One good revelation about it all, is that the development was orchestrated by the man everybody calls the Iroko of Delta politics, and the Hope of a prosperous Delta, H E Augustine Ovie Omo-Agege, the Deputy President of the Nigerian Senate, and the 2023 Governorship Candidate of the Delta APC, who currently represents the good people of Delta Central in the National Assembly, but bestrides the entire Delta State as his Constituency in project attractions among other developmental impacts.
Before now, the people of Ndokwa East, Ndokwa West and Ukwuani Federal Constituency have bemoaned the indignifying absence of a tertiary educational institution in the land, and have lost sleeps over the need to have one established. Diverse organised efforts have been carried out in the past to address this critical need to no avail. The pain of the sorrowful deprivation was recently heightened when the Government of Delta State established three new Universities without sitting one nor having any of the campuses domiciled within the Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency. The shame that came with it after widespread futile protests and counter agitations were only left for God to address. This was the painful situation when the glory of God manifested in answer to our cry through the presidential approval given and received for the establishment of the FUMHSK. This Approval orchestrated by the Iroko of Delta politics, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege in consultation with the indefatigable Rt Hon Ossai N Ossai, and the vision-gifted ‘Organised Ndokwa Effort’ (ONE), is certainly the glory of a shame.
I have read certain sponsored posts in the social media struggling to put down this great glory for the envy that it didn’t come from the ruling Party in the State, the 24yr-old prevailing PDP Governments of Delta State. One of the funny attacks they give is that there was no Legislative backing for the FUMHSK. In their crass ignorance, they forget that Institutions can be established and managed by Government until legal processes are completely put in place. The Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effuru (FUPREE) was established and running for years until H E Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege initiated the legalisation of the Institution through a legislation. Ex President Jonathan also established many Universities, especially in Northern Nigeria few years before their Establishment Acts were enacted. This therefore cannot inhibit the funding of this our Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences in Kwale. To God be the glory, and gory shame to the enemies of Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency. I therefore call on all Stakeholders to quickly come together to have an interface with the Distinguished Senator and Iroko of Delta State Politics on the way forward.
Hon Barr O S Ogokuni, wrote from Abbi, Delta State.
