Wannune Polytechnic: EFCC asked to probe N2bn take-off grant

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been asked to immediately commence investigation and probe of the N2 billion approved for establishment of the Federal Polytechnic Wannune.

It is one year and three months since President Muhammadu Buhari approved the establishment of Federal Polytechnic Wannune with the release of the sum of N2 billion as take-off grant for the polytechnic.

Making the call in a statement on Wednesday, the Zone B Youth Alliance, slammed the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator Senator George Akume for keeping sealed lips over the failed Wannune polytechnic project?

Ternenge Bendega, President of the group, who signed the statement, urged the Federal Government to give clarifications on the polytechnic contract and also tell the people where the N2 billion went. The statement reads below;

A visit to the supposed site of the Federal Polytechnic Wannune shows that no structure has been provided. The signpost mounted on the roadside of the site has become a crop cultivation area with maize and other crops grown all around it.

As youths from Benue’s North West Senatorial District, we are deeply saddened by this development, and we find it necessary and expedient to raise the following concerns.

What is withholding the take-off of the Federal Polytechnic Wannune? Is this not another white elephant project designed to cajole the people to believe that President Buhari loves us?

Why is Senator George Akume keeping sealed lips over the failed Wannune polytechnic project?

Who is the contractor handling the project? Why is the contract deal being shrouded in secrecy?

What has happened to the N2 billion approved for the project?

There are suspicions and allegations that Akume and his conspirators have shared the project funds among themselves. Why is it taking him so long to clear the air on the matter?

Why the haste to appoint principal officers for the polytechnic even before the establishment of the institution? Was this not aimed at creating a false impression that the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs is giving his people appointments at the federal level?

Our Demands

We task the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC to immediately commence investigation and probe of the N2 billion approved for establishment of the Federal Polytechnic Wannune.

We challenge Senator George Akume to hold a press conference and give explanations on the polytechnic project, the same way he held a press conference in Abuja to insult Benue people that we were the ones killing ourselves and not Fulani jihadists.

We urge the Federal Government to give clarifications on the polytechnic contract and also tell the people where the N2 billion went.

We expect that these demands will be met on or before Monday 21st March, 2022, failure of which we will be left with no other option than to picket the Federal Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs and the Ministry of Education, until our demands are addressed.