Petition against Provost of FCE, baseless — Youth group 

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar

A group of youths operating  in Cross River under the aegis  of youths of Ipong Ward, Obudu local government area in Cross River State, have countered petition written by a faction of chiefs and youths from Urban ward 1, Obudu local government area of Cross River State  against Provost of Federal College of Education  FCE Obudu, Richard  Otubaku, stressing that the petition was baseless and politically motivated.

The group after passing a vote of confidence in favour of provost Richard Otubaku, stated that  Otubaku’s performance is  outstanding, worthy of praise and capable of turning around the fortunes of the institution to enviable height.

Commenting on the issue,  Sunday in Calabar, President, National Youth Council of Nigeria NYCN (Ipong Ward ), Obudu local government, Cross River State, Comrade Ugwakong Emmanuel,stated that the counter petition against  Otubaku ‘s persecutors is let authority in charge  know that the petition was politically motivated  just to pull Otubaku  whose tremendous performance has attracted  accolades from several quotas.

The group described the petition as a mischief  orchestrated by a faction of  Chiefs  and youths from  Urban ward 1, as  baseless  because the petition  was filed without  the consent of other 9 wards out of 10 wards   in the  local government area.

The youths president averred that by their estimation the provost has done so well  since  2022 when he came on board when compared to past  predecessors.

The counter petition from the group  dated April 3, 2025, addressed to the minister for Education  sighted by LEADERSHIP stated that the petition by Urban one ward Obudu LGA titled “Otubaku Must Go” is not a true reflection of the mind of  Obudu people stressing that one ward  out of 10 wards can not  be a  true reflection of the entire Obudu people.

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He averred that the college had witnessed tremendous transformation since Richard Otubaku came in board as FCE’s provost, challenging the petitioners of Otubaku to take a  critical look at the provost track records and make a comparison with  records of past administrators and see if Otubaku’s track records won’t surpass that of past administrators.

“The man has done well in  the area of infrastructural development, administrative discipline. You can see that  there is  relative peace in the institution, with no student unrest. The protest you witnessed was carried out by neither students nor staff.” The counter petition stated.

The counter petition  on purported allegation against the provost of FCE by a section of Obudu Urban Ward  1, Cross River State signed by  National Youth Council NYCN  Secretary ( Ipong Ward ), Comrade Beshel Moses,  and 33 others charged the federal government to throw the petition from Otubaku’s persecutors into the trash can stressing that a faction of some individuals from Urban 1 Obudu has  no sole discretion to take decision on behalf of  nine  other Wards that made up the LGA.

The counter Petition hailed the  Provost for currently embarking on construction of 500 capacity CBT center, completion of 58 offices in  academic staff block, academic conference hall with offices, entrepreneurship center which had been completed and put in use, renovation of offices and classrooms across both campuses and  establishment of water factory in the College.