By Sagboje Clinton:
The best thing that happened to mankind in recent time is the revolution in Information Communication and Technology. With the help of the Social Media – a byproduct of the ICT, one could at the snap of the finger keep abreast with happenings around the globe.
As a regular visitor to the Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, I saw flex banners strategically located in the Polytechnic premises. The banners have this scripted words “EVEN A PROFESSOR NEEDS A SKILL…” My curiosity and memory informed me that I have seen somewhere on the Social Media similar events with the same theme organized by Comr Ossai Ovie Ossai and Comr Ezekiel Tega – both an appointee of the Delta State Government.
I have planned to personally attend the event; however, circumstances beyond my control took me out of town. I have even made arrangement to host my billionaire friend Ogbe Collins in my church with the Holy Communion since my spiritual believe forbid me to visit opposite the Bank and Poultry.
Yes, in a world where advancement in Sciences and Technology have almost relegated human labor (including making artificial wife and husband available), the only way to navigate through the challenges that this scientific and technological advancement have brought to mankind is to acquire skill. Skills that are relevant and necessary for the survival of the human race in the 21st century. In the academic, Professorship signifies attainment of one’s peak. The best Doctor, Engineer, Nurse, etc. in this world was once tutored by a teacher – a professor. Therefore, if a professor with all the knowledge acquired still need a skill, everyone in the society no matter their calling definitely need a skill. It must be stressed also that every professor was once a student. Most professors today in their school days in Nigeria enjoyed all the privileges, perks, and jollifications that characterized a serene academic environment. This cannot be said of today student cum tomorrow professor. Hostel accommodation for students have become a rocket science to erect, that where it exist, students’ lives in squalor and dehumanized environment. And where it doesn’t exist, students are forced to stay of Campus – in most cases, at the mercy of landlords and commercial bus, tricycle, and motorcyclist operators.
I believe the organizers of the event, if they didn’t visit the Polytechnic with their official or personal vehicle, they did so through commercial transportation. It may interest the organizers to know that from Oghara-Junction to the Polytechnic, a journey that is not up to 8mins drive, Ten (10), Eighteen (18) sitter’s bus charged N150 per passenger whom are mostly students. This is not only outrageous but wickedness of unprecedented order. Whereas, from Mpape to Apo Bridge, cab driver charge N200 per passenger. Whereas, from Oghara-Junction to Sapele market, a distance of about 15-20mins drives, cab driver charges N200 per passenger. Other instances to prove that the commercial drivers plying Oghara-Junction to Otefe route are exploiting and making abnormal profit from the students abound.
Before the advent of the Uduaghan public transportation scheme, taxi operators were already charging N500 per passenger from Amukpe junction to Abraka. The Uduaghan Bus scheme broke their bones as passengers took comfort in using the fully air-conditioned Uduaghan bus for just N200. Sapele-Warri price fare was not left out in the hurricane that Uduaghan policy heralded. Same apply to every part of the state where “agberos” used to have sway. No doubt, the basic law of economic state that the higher the demands, the higher the price. However, there’s what we also called student price. At the University of Ibadan, electricity or no electricity, they charge N5 for photocopy. Here in Delta state, it is N10 to N20.
It is duty of the government to make life meaningful for the people by implementing policies that would enhance their wellbeing. I see it as a policy failure on the part of the Okowa led administration to fold up the government public transportation scheme. Apart from being a source of revenue for the state, it helps in checkmating arbitrary increase in price of transportation in the state. God Is Good Motors canot acquire our properties and go to sleep. The BRT scheme operational in Lagos has been replicated in Edo state.
As it stands, if the world should come to an end today, there is nothing the government would be remembered for in Heaven. This means that the government might be busy with many things without necessarily being in business. Much as the professor needs a skill, they also need affordable means of transportation to acquire or learn these skills.
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