. Kwara Deputy Governor whisked away to safety
There was palpable tension on Saturday when the closing ceremony in the just concluded Nigeria Polytechnic game, NIPOGA ended in a pandemonium when representatives, player of Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria went hay wire leading to the whisking away of Kwara Deputy Governor, Mr Kayode Alabi by security operatives in his entourage.
Spectators and other delegates scampered for safety when the Zaria contingent attacked match officials after the final whistle of the football event, prompting a harsh reaction from the host Kwara State Polytechnic students.
Eye witness reports that the poor officiating in the final match between Kwara State Polytechnic and Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria, giving the host a purportedly undeserved 1-0 win infuriated the visiting team.
The eye witness stated that pandemonium started when the visiting players attacked the central referee, Adeola Salami, which cause host, Kwara State Polytechnic students to react with throwing of dangerous objects into the pitch after a failed attempt to gain access onto the football pitch.
When it was apparent that the situation had become free for all and growing beyond the capacity of the security operatives present for the closing ceremony, the deputy governor (Alabi) hurriedly left the scene with the help of his security aides.
The eye witness further stated that the attacked central referee lost one of his watches and whistle during the assault on him, though he sustained no injuries.
The Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic students had protested over the goal said to have been scored by the hosts in the 68th minute, before their reaction after the final whistle.
In his reaction to the development, Mr Lekan Ogunmodede, who represented the Rector of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo, Ondo State, on the Protest and Disciplinary committee for the games said such violence by the Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic students was not acceptable but assured that the committee would give the matter an appropriate attention to bring all the culprits to book.
Ogunmodede further explained that immediately the fracas began, he approached the Rector of Kwara State Polytechnic to calm his students down and not to take laws into their hands.
Earlier in the events, almost all contingents had complained about the state of hostel facilities, water system and the general welfare of contingents.
The Kwara State Polytechnic had announced that it will renovate its long abandoned hostels and put them to use for the NIPOGA event but there was no hint as to whether the said hostels were given appropriate renovation and fumigation, taking care of the hygenic condition of the hostels before being allocated to accommodate the contingents.
