The recent wave of sponsored publications and malicious propaganda by Bldr. (Prof.) Emmanuel Achuenu, the suspended Rector of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, and his collaborators, against Hon. Pastor Paul Adingwupu and members of the institution’s Governing Council, is both condemnable and deeply unfortunate.
At the heart of these attacks lies a desperate attempt to divert public attention from serious allegations of certificate racketeering, gross financial misconduct, and administrative malfeasance that have rocked the institution under Prof. Achuenu’s leadership. The publication titled: “Dissolve Delta State Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku Governing Council, as Crisis Looms – ASUP”, allegedly issued by the Academic Staff Union (ASUP), SSANIP, and NASU, levelling accusations of conflict of interest, lawlessness, and overbearing tendencies against the Council and its Chairman, is not only misleading but also a reckless distortion of facts.
It is unfortunate and indeed appalling that a self-styled fifth columnist would accuse the Chairman of the Governing Council of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku of amassing over N11 million under the guise of imprest and allowances. This reckless allegation, directed at a Council Chairman who has been in office for just over a year, underscores a troubling ignorance of administrative processes and a deliberate attempt to malign the integrity of the Council.
Let us be clear: the root of the administrative crisis currently plaguing Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku is not new. It dates back to 2018, but only escalated in recent years following serious allegations of certificate forgery and racketeering implicating key officials in the Polytechnic’s Registry Department. Specifically, the Registrar, Dr. Jude Okocha, and another staff member, Mr. Charles Nduka, were identified as principal actors in these disgraceful acts.
Subsequently, public attention turned to the Rector, Prof. Emmanuel Achuenu, after an investigative report aired on national television linked him directly to these scandals. The broadcast exposed deep-rooted administrative rot, bringing national embarrassment to the institution and casting aspersions on the governance system in Delta State.
These facts, clearly in the public domain, should not be twisted to shield the indicted or to mislead the public. The Governing Council remains committed to transparency, accountability, and the restoration of institutional integrity at Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku.
In line with its statutory responsibilities, which include instituting internal audit mechanisms, promoting accountability and transparency in financial operations, upholding institutional standards, and monitoring the quality of education the Governing Council took decisive steps to safeguard the integrity of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku.
Determined not to compromise the academic credibility of the Polytechnic nor allow the institution to become a symbol of distrust in the eyes of the public, the Council initiated a comprehensive reform agenda. This clean-up effort included the establishment of an investigative panel to probe the allegations of certificate forgery and racketeering. The panel was guided by the principles of due process and fair hearing to ensure that all accused officials were given the opportunity to defend themselves.
Following a thorough investigation, the institution’s Registrar, Dr. Jude Okocha, was suspended for his involvement in the scandal.
Subsequently, the Rector, Prof. Emmanuel Achuenu, was implicated in a series of grave allegations, including corruption, financial recklessness, insubordination, and abuse of office. These accusations further reinforced the urgent need for decisive action by the Council in order to restore public confidence in the institution’s leadership and administrative framework.
The allegations leveled against Prof.
Emmanuel Achuenu are not mere fabrications; they are serious questions begging for answers.
In accordance with due process, the Governing Council invited Prof. Achuenu to appear before it to respond to the weighty allegations against him, especially after his failure to provide adequate written responses to an earlier query. Shockingly, he chose to ignore the Council’s directive altogether, an act that not only smacks of gross insubordination, but suggests a disturbing sense of impunity, likely emboldened by external political backing.
This defiance was clearly intended to frustrate ongoing institutional reforms aimed at cleansing the system of long-standing rot.
Consequently, the Council resolved to suspend Prof. Achuenu for an initial period of six months, effective Friday, July 4, 2025. However, in a surprising twist, the Honourable Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Nyerhovwo Tonukari, promptly issued a counter directive purportedly reinstating the Rector. The Commissioner’s letter cited sections of the Delta State Polytechnic Law, arguing that only the Visitor – the Governor of Delta State holds the authority to suspend or remove the Rector.
In response, the Governing Council reaffirmed its position in a formal letter to the Honourable Commissioner, clearly articulating the legal provisions and powers vested in the Council under the enabling law establishing Delta State Polytechnic, which empower it to take disciplinary action, including suspension, where necessary to protect the integrity of the institution.
In an apparent effort to sanitize the allegations, the fifth columnist in question quoted Prof. Achuenu as describing the allegations against him as “baseless.” Accompanying this claim was a media report featuring photos of torn and dislocated chairs in a lecture hall and parked vehicles surrounded by overgrown grass within the Polytechnic premises; images clearly intended to deflect attention from the core issues and absolve the Rector from wrongdoing.
However, our findings tell a different story. Contrary to the narrative being peddled, credible internal investigations have confirmed that Prof. Achuenu indeed authorised the sale of serviceable Polytechnic assets without the approval of the Governing Council. This action violated Delta State Government’s auction and asset disposal laws. Even more troubling is the fact that only a paltry sum of N1 million was paid into the institution’s official account as proceeds from these unauthorised sales – an amount grossly disproportionate to the value of the assets sold.
These facts remain incontrovertible. The attempt to distract the public with manipulated narratives and media theatrics cannot stand against documented evidence and legal provisions.
The Governing Council of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku remains resolute in its commitment to transparency, institutional accountability, and the restoration of trust in the management of the Polytechnic. We urge all well-meaning citizens and stakeholders in Delta State and beyond to support this cause for academic integrity and good governance.
We cannot, in good conscience, speak of building a New Nigeria while turning a blind eye to systemic decay and condoning corruption within our public institutions. If indeed the recent publication purportedly authored by the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), in collaboration with the Joint Unions of SSANIP and NASU of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, was genuinely issued by these unions, and calling for the dissolution of the Governing Council simply because it stood firmly for integrity, transparency, and good governance, then we must ask: Where lies the essence of responsible leadership in unionism? If that publication truly represents the views of these unions, then we are undeniably at a troubling crossroads in our nation’s collective march toward institutional redemption.
Having taken what is fundamentally an administrative matter to the public domain, it is only proper that Prof. Emmanuel Achuenu and his associates now provide full and honest explanations to the Nigerian public. They must account for: The diversion of Polytechnic funds into the personal account of the Registrar for the unauthorized procurement of official vehicles; The illegal expenditure of One Hundred and Eleven Million, Eight Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira (N111,860,000), an amount N42 million above what was approved for an accreditation exercise; Unauthorized withdrawals from the Nigeria Polytechnic Games Association (NIPOGA) account; His refusal to remove the names of 19 deceased or absconded staff from the state payroll, despite clear directives from the Governing Council.
Rather than twisting legitimate administrative reforms into a sinister narrative, Prof. Achuenu should face the issues at hand.
As concerned stakeholders committed to the values of good governance, probity, and transparency, we wish to commend Hon. Pastor Paul Adingwupu and the esteemed members of the Governing Council of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku, for their courageous stand against corruption and the persistent looting of the institution’s resources. Their unwavering commitment to institutional reform and accountability is both commendable and necessary.
We are, however, deeply disturbed by the relentless campaign of calumny being waged by Prof. Emmanuel Achuenu and his cohort of paid agents and propagandists. This well-coordinated attempt to malign the character of the Governing Council, particularly its Chairman, seeks to deflect public attention from the real issues of entrenched corruption and administrative decay.
It is both baffling and hypocritical that those who once kept silent in the face of obvious mismanagement now portray themselves as defenders of the institution, accusing the very people who have chosen not to stand aloof while the commonwealth of Deltans is being plundered. Let it be clearly stated: the challenge facing Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku is not the principled stance of Hon. Pastor Adingwupu and the Council, but rather the audacity of individuals determined to frustrate institutional reforms in order to preserve a corrupt status quo.
In any decent society, allegations of corruption are met with firm, decisive action and zero tolerance. It is therefore the height of irresponsibility for anyone to attempt to sweep such weighty allegations under the rug. Those who are quick to defend corrupt practices, often without a basic understanding of ethical conduct and public service integrity only serve to reinforce a culture of impunity. But history will not be kind to such revisionists, for corruption can never thrive in the hall of noble men and women.
Tragically, the scenario playing out in Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku mirrors the broader national malaise; systemic corruption and governance failure. It is deeply troubling, to say the least, how Prof. Emmanuel Achuenu managed the institution amid allegations ranging from unauthorised expenditure and misappropriation of funds to outright insubordination and disregard for due process. His brazenness in undermining the authority of the Governing Council reflects the same impunity that has undermined Nigeria’s development for decades.
We urge all right-thinking members of society, particularly in the education sector, to reject this dangerous narrative that vilifies reformers while protecting those who have questions to answer. The time has come to stand with integrity, defend accountability, and insist on a new order where no one is above the law.
To those calling for the dissolution of the Governing Council of Delta State Polytechnic, Ogwashi-Uku and the removal of its Chairman, Hon. Pastor Paul Adingwupu, let it be clearly stated: the monster called corruption, which you fail to stand against today, may ultimately consume you tomorrow.
It is disheartening that rather than align with the forces of reform and accountability, some would rather shield and support individuals under serious allegations of financial mismanagement, abuse of office, and institutional sabotage. This is not only dangerous but a betrayal of the values necessary for rebuilding our educational institutions and indeed, our nation.
For those who may not know, Hon. Pastor Paul Adingwupu is not just a public servant, he is a seasoned education reform advocate, a full-scale entrepreneur, and a key stakeholder in Nigeria’s education and development space. With vast experience in database management, ICT, production, and publishing – both locally and internationally, he has made measurable contributions to national development and human capital growth.
In 2008, his ICT firm, Gucci Chis Nigeria, successfully developed and implemented the National Universities Commission DataBase Project (NUCDB), a landmark initiative embraced by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Federal Ministry of Education. The project has since enhanced the NUC’s oversight functions in areas such as carrying capacity monitoring, programme accreditation, staff audit, programme visibility, and institutional supervision, all critical to the health of Nigeria’s higher education system.
Beyond his business achievements, Hon. Pastor Adingwupu is the founder of the Foundation for Effective Leadership and Development (FELD), a non-governmental organisation committed to sustainable development, good governance, and youth empowerment. Through FELD, hundreds of students across Nigeria have benefitted from educational scholarships, mentorship, and leadership training, a clear proof of his dedication to nation-building.
This is the calibre of leader now being targeted for removal by forces that feel threatened by reform. We cannot and must not allow this travesty to succeed.
We therefore call on all well-meaning Deltans and Nigerians; people of conscience and principle to rise in unison against this onslaught of corruption. Let us resist the manipulation of truth, the twisting of facts, and the vilification of leaders who stand for justice and transparency.
Going forward, we must insist on holding our leaders accountable, not only for what they do, but also for what they fail to do. This is the only way we can build a nation we are truly proud of; a nation where integrity is honoured, and corruption is condemned.
