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Ukorebi Esien | December 20, 2025
CALABAR – A former presidential aide and legal practitioner, Chief Okoi Obono-Obla, has described Dr. Okimba Peter Etaba as a "round peg in a round hole" following his emergence as the leading candidate for the position of Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, Cross River State.
Obono-Obla, who spoke in a statement made available to journalists on Tuesday, commended the Governing Council of the institution for what he described as a transparent, merit-driven, and law-compliant selection process.
According to him, Dr. Etaba emerged as the most outstanding candidate among those who presented themselves for the interview, having satisfied all the requirements stipulated in the Federal Polytechnic Act of 2019 and the guidelines of the Federal Ministry of Education for the appointment of chief executive officers of federal tertiary institutions.
"Dr. Okimba Peter Etaba is a round peg in a round hole. He has met all the statutory criteria and clearly distinguished himself in the interview process. The Governing Council deserves commendation for allowing merit and due process to prevail," Obono-Obla said.
He stressed that the Council has a constitutional and moral obligation to forward Dr. Etaba's name to the Minister of Education for recommendation to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for formal appointment.
"The Governing Council has no choice but to transmit his name. Anything short of this would be a travesty and wholly unacceptable, as it would amount to a clear violation of existing laws and guidelines," he added.
Obono-Obla expressed confidence that the Council would act with speed and responsibility in concluding the process.
"I am confident that the Governing Council will act with dispatch and alacrity in forwarding Dr. Etaba's name, thereby reinforcing the principles of fairness, merit, and institutional integrity," he stated.
He noted that appointing Dr. Etaba would not only be in line with due process but would also set a positive precedent for leadership selection across Nigeria's tertiary education sector.
"This appointment will send a strong message that competence and integrity still matter in public institutions and that rules will be respected regardless of external pressures," Obono-Obla concluded.
Before now, the APC Obubra Chapter of the All Progressives Congress had also issued a separate statement congratulating Dr. Etaba on his emergence, describing it as a victory for merit and fairness. Similarly, the Concerned Youth for Good Governance and Leadership Development, commended Governor Bassey Edet Otu for ensuring a free and credible selection process, noting that Dr. Etaba's emergence goes beyond his strong academic and administrative credentials. According to the group, his selection is also significant as Obubra Local Government Area, long perceived as politically and institutionally marginalised, has finally secured a notable federal appointment, a development they described as both compensatory and confidence-building, while projecting a positive image of inclusion and equity in public service appointments.
The rectorship position at the Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, is expected to become vacant soon, prompting heightened public interest in the outcome of the selection process.
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