The Governor of Imo state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has at last made a final pronouncement regarding the permanent location ofImoStateUniversity, IMSU, which has generated a lot of heat in Imo state since he was sworn – in a year ago, following his decision to move IMSU to his village in Ideato South, from Owerri.
Okorocha while making a World Press Conference at Government House, Owerri, yesterday, made it clear thatEuropeanUniversitywould be sited at the parcel of land, at Ogboko in Ideato South LGA, where he had previously said he would relocate IMSU.
The Governor also said aLoyolaJesuitUniversitywould be located in Ngor Okpala Local Government Area after a memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been reached with the host communities to provide not less than 300 hectares of land with some financial attachments.
Why Okorocha decided to make this U – turn is still baffling to many people, as he had insisted that IMSU would be relocated from Owerri Zone to his village Ogboko in Orlu Zone, and had repeatedly maintained this stance in his public speeches, until the current U – turn.
He said thatLoyolaJesuitUniversitywould be sited in Ngor Okpala LGA which already hosts the gigantic hectares of land for the permanent site of IMSU.
However, Okorocha made it clear that Owerri zone is now free to decide where the IMSU permanent site should be located within the zone.
Many observers believe that the latest scenario may pit Owerri zone against itself, since the Governor should have made a clear pronouncement on the permanent site or in the alternative located the Jesuit University else where in the zone and allow the land located at Ngor Okpala to still host the permanent site of IMSU as approved by law passed by Imo Assembly.
