A community-based Interest group in Baruten local government area of Kwara State, known as Gurei Youth Ambassadors has vented its frustration over a purported attempt to influence the siting of the proposed Federal College of Science and Technology in Gurei, the group, in a press statement jointly signed by its President and Secretary, Yusuf Kilishi Ibrahim and Emmanuel Daniel Woru disclosed its commended the Governor awareness of the degree of infrastructural deficit in Baruten Local Government.
GYA, however said it would not condone any last minute scheming to cede the location of the College to Gwanara, a neighbouring community as Gurei had been initially earmarked to accommodate the institution for infrastructural development, noting that such mischievous plan is capable of threatening the co-habitational harmony between the two communities.
“We, the members of the Gurei Youths Ambassadors, GYA, read with dismay media report indicating that the Federal Ministry of Education Technical team members visited ‘the proposed site’ for the establishment of the Federal College of Science and Technology in Gwanara, Baruten Local Government, Kwara state. It was also reported that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, expressed the pleasure of having the team in the state and equally requested that the Federal Government should give the final approval establishing the school. While he was right by stating that Baruten local government lacks infrastructure and basic amenities needed for economic growth and while we appreciate him for identifying with us , we, however, caution him against turning good neighbours to sworn enemies . It is not always easy to love one’s neighbour, but neighbors who look out for each other make communities safer and life generally better. It is therefore imperative that the matter be precisely delineated to get the people adequately informed about the facts surrounding the issue. It is important to note that getting the Federal Government to consider the state as location for the college was facilitated by some individuals and where it would be located had already been decided with the community leaders already informed.
Records and relevant documents showing that necessary steps were also taken by the parent ministry and its officials are available and well-kept.The location is Gurei, Baruten local government and not Gwanara. It is our fervent belief, that a discerning mind after digesting reasons that necessitated our decision to caution the governor will not entertain the idea of reading biases or sentiments to such as it is noble and premised on sincerity of purpose and the need to promote peace. There is no dichotomy in Baruten local government and the entire Borgu land , we are united in history and socio-cultural heritages. We are not in any way against the state government or the Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq administration, we are not also against the location of projects in Gwanara , but you cannot certainly deny us what has already been declared as ours. We are not politicians and we therefore urge the leaders of the ruling party in the state to be solemn in their approach to the air of complete self-satisfaction and of triumph currently reigning in the party. Patriots are men of noble deeds whose ideals we should copy ,the governor should position himself as a statesman and strive to unite the people of the state and our society.
Alhaji Abdulrahman Abdulrazag as the state Chief Executive, is an indigene of every community in Kwara state and he should not be a party to the idea of shifting goal posts in the middle of the game . It would be wrong and it would be against natural justice for anyone to nurse or promote the idea of relocating the site of a school project that had already been made public with the required steps taken. Posterity will surely judge all, we therefore, passionately plead that the good neighbourliness and the peace we have enjoyed should not be sacrificed on the altar of political exigencies.”