Okene Secondary School Old Students Send SOS To Kogi Governor Over Planned Conversion of School To Barracks

Old Students of Okene Secondary School, Kogi State have appealed to Governor Yahaya Bello of the state to drop the plan of converting the school to a military barracks.

In a press statement, which was signed by the President of the Old Boys Association of Okene Secondary School (OSSOSA), Barrister Abubakar Abdulsalam and made available to journalists on Wednesday, the students urged the state government to spare the school as an heritage of its old and present students.

In the statement, which was entitled; “Appealing That Okene Secondary School Be saved From Extinction,” and dated April 2, 2019, the old students revealed that they had emotional attachment to “our centre of transition from childhood to adulthood.”

While conceding the fact that the premises is owned by the state government, which they said had right to deploy her resource at will, they emphasised that they were deeply touched by the monumental loss the extinction of the school holds.

“It is one of the legacy colleges of Northern Nigeria established in 1944 and had produced eminent Nigerians like the Federal Commissioner for Industry under General Gowon’s Government; the late Dr. Adetoro, former Minister of Health, Professor Eyitayo Lambo, one of the earliest Nigerians to become AIGs of Police, Alhaji Isa Adejo, former Director General NBC, Dr. Tom Adaba, former GM of Ajaokuta steel company, Professor Salawo Sadiq, former President of Customary court of Appeal, Justice M.A Bello and a host of professionals in varying fields.

“Even at state level, commissioners and permanent secretaries. 

“A number of the products of the school were lucky to have witnessed first hand, a loving care of your father, the highly revered and kind Alhaji Bello Ohiani Ochi of blessed memory, while he was in the employment of the college. 

“The school has been our constant reminder of the noble man’s  hearty disposition to the children of others; we are to unwilling to forget such legacy in a hurry,” the statement read.

The old students added in the statement that Old Okene Teachers’ College at checkpoint was originally an army barracks and that it’s still there.

They pointed out that old students of the school were willing and had come together “to collectively reverse the misfortune of the school by collaborating with the state government and sharing responsibilities. Please, kindly spare our school.” 

The old students then appealed that “our pains be empathised  with and our school that has with it a historical legacy be spared of the seeming extinction, that looms large on it.”

 They however, appreciated the zeal of the state government to secure the lives and properties of the citizens, which they said called for the establishment of a military base, while urging the government to “kindly spare our school. May God continue to be your guide.”