By Kelechi Mejuobi
For a greater part of last weekend, what was abuzz in the media and social circle discussion in Imo State was about the ownership of the Eastern Palm University, EPU, Ogboko, Ideato South LGA of the State.
When Rochas Okorocha got the mandate to be the governor in 2011, one of his cardinal objectives was to make his Ogboko home town, host of the Imo State University; the State government owned ivory tower.
Even as the members of the Imo State House of Assembly during his first tenure couldn’t give approval for the relocation of the institution from Owerri, the capital city, to his Ogboko village, Okorocha had already commenced the project in his locality where he had set out structures to make real dream of having a private higher institution under Rochas Foundation arrangement.
Okorocha’s decision to relocate IMSU to Ogboko, Ideato South was more of a political hara-kiri for him, considering the tempo of that period, before he made a forced volte face. Barely a year in office, massive road construction and architectural master designed buildings started at the Ogboko site. Okorocha’s desperate approach pitched him against major Owerri zone leaders in his political camp and APGA family.
Followers of political events in the state, 2011 to 2013 can testify that the political romance between Okorocha and one of his die-hard backers, Christy Anyanwu, witnessed brushes because of the IMSU relocation question. Anyanwu who represented Owerri zone in the National Assembly dumped PDP alongside Okorocha to be part of APGA 2011 election victory razzmatazz. Their political romance grew after the victory until the Senator of Imo East Senatorial District mobilized the zone to kick against Uzodinma’s plot of denying Owerri, IMSU location.
Apparently aware of the consequences of forcibly relocating IMSU from Owerri zone to his hometown, Okorocha carefully shelved the idea to avoid a threat to his second term ambition. As a decoy, to surrender to Owerri zone forces as well as not risk his 2015 re-election bid, the former governor hurriedly raised a committee headed by his out of favour former deputy, Jude Agbaso, to chair the committee for proper relocation of IMSU whch had its main campus in the metropolis of Owerri. Till date, even before Agbaso was impeached a year after, nothing was heard about IMSU moving to Ogboko again.
Undeterred about his desire to have a varsity, Okorocha continued with structures and road network at the proposed IMSU site in Ogboko location.
The proposed IMSU, site at Ogboko was latter named Imo European University when structures were completed and ready for takeoff.
Surprisingly, at the twilight of his stay in office as governor, it was named Eastern Palm University, EPU.
Before the administration of Hope Uzodinma resumed interest in the ownership of the institution, that of Emeka Ihedioha had made inquires including setting up of a panel of Inquiry to look into the affairs of the EPU.
After three years of existence, fresh attention is now focused on the ownership of the institution. A pro-Orlu zone group known as Orlu Zurume youths had been clamouring for the Imo State Government to regain ownership of the EPU from former governor, Okorocha. The body also went to court to question Okorocha’s continued control of the school apparatus when it was built with funds from government coffers.
Perhaps, based on recommendations of the panel set up to look at the school and based on pressures from the public for recovery of government property and assets in the custody of the former governor, the Uzodinma administration ordered for the closure of the school.
It was observed that the school gate was shut not until Okorocha landed Ogboko and directed it to be open thereby setting the stage for a battle with the state government.
Going further, Okorocha disclosed that he personally came to the institution to know who shut down the EPU and would stop the Matriculation.
The Senator representing Orlu zone (Imo West) didn’t stop at that. He also mandated the school authorities to embark on the 3rd Matriculation exercise.
The former governor’s act unarguably was in contrast to the directives of the state government.
Indication that the former governor was about to flex muscles with his successor over EPU ownership, emerged when he narrated how he owned the new varsity with only 10% interest left for the state government.
A statement from his angle indicated thus “the University was established under the Private Public Partnership (PPP), with Rochas Foundation and Imo State Government involved, stating that while Rochas Foundation has ninety percent in the arrangement, Imo State Government has ten percent.
“Senator Okorocha stated that, he has remained an ardent advocate of the PPP arrangement in the establishment of Universities, because it would enable Universities skip certain Challenges, adding that Imo State Government also has the option of selling off its ten percent to Rochas Foundation so that the foundation can have one hundred percent ownership of the Institution.
His words “The Rochas Foundation College Ogboko was originally located in these premises. And we had had the plan to establish Rochas Foundation University. We had begun to do that before I became governor. When I became governor, the State government did some of the roads here. And considering what the Foundation had done and what the State Government Contributed, the 90 percent and 10 percent ratio was arrived at. The State government can also sell off its ten percent so that the University can be One hundred percent owned by the Foundation.
“The University is for the highest academic standard. We shall do all within our reach to achieve that. Standard must not be compromised. It is going to be Centre for excellence. One of the best Universities in Africa. My prayer has been that education should be made affordable if not totally free, so that the Children of the have – nots can also have the opportunity of going to School.
“That was the idea behind my establishing the Rochas Foundation Colleges in about Sixteen States in the Country. And today, we have Rochas Foundation College for Africa. And we have more than twenty-five students in all these Colleges. And we have in our record about Six Thousand graduates the Foundation had sponsored to graduate across the Universities in the Country. So, the Eastern Palm University will help a lot in this regard.
“When I was governor, my government had established five other Universities also under the PPP arrangement and they were all licensed by the NUC. But today, only the Eastern Palm University is functioning, the other five Universities have been closed down including the University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Aboh/Ngor-Okpala, University of Arts and Sciences, Omuma Isiaku Nkwerre.
“Senator Okorocha also informed that a new Chairman in the person of the former President of Liberia, Mrs. Sirleaf Johnson has been appointed the Chairman of the University’s Council, adding that the Eastern Palm University has become the first Institution to be established under the PPP arrangement in the Country”.
Judging from what the former governor said during the matriculation, the EPU appears to have become his private property but for the 10% of Imo State Government which he has asked be ceded to Rochas Foundation.
A tinge of drama characterized his exit before May 29, 2019, when he amused Imolites with the creation of seven higher institutions.
Barely a month to quit Govt House, Owerri, Okorocha amongst other outrageous farewell packages came up with the notice of establishing a University of Agriculture and Environmental Science in the State.
While the law has PPP (Public Private Partnership) caveat for Aboh/ Okpala, unknown operators attempted to take over the Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo campus site before they were resisted by the host community, who suspected foul play in the arrangement.
However, Okorocha’s claim of ownership raises more questions he needs to provide answers to enable Imolites understand his intentions.
Does it not amount to moral bankruptcy on his part to build a University with State fund and resources and later come up to claim ownership because he was the state Chief Executive who took up the project?
Another clarification he needs to give is who was part of the agreement his Rochas Foundation outfit had with the Imo State Government to take 90% ownership of the Institution?
Are the agreements and MOU in public domain for clarity purposes?
Considering the role of the Imo State House of Assembly in state policies, was approval for such percentage of ownership approved by the Imo Assembly and State Executive Council to own EPU?
And if there were approvals for such, does the state government have the right to cancel or withdraw from the continued agreement or the agreement is irrevocable?
Until Okorocha and his spin doctors drumming support for his entitlement of the institution come up with convincing responses, the ownership question of EPU will continue to be on the front burner in the state.
