By ikenna orioha
The people of Umuagwo in Ohaji/Egbema LGA have staged a peaceful protest against Imo State government over the relocation of some important faculties such as: Management, Engineering and Environmental Sciences to Corporate College Nsu, Ehime Mbano, TSACS Orlu, and a Secondary School at Ikeduru respectively, while only School of Agriculture will remain in the permanent site, Umuagwo Campus.
Addressing Journalists at the front gate of Imo Poly, Umuagwo, during the week, the spoke’s person of Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo-Ohaji Stakeholders Forum, Prince Rollyns Ohagwam, said the deliberate attempt of Governor Okorocha of Imo State is irrational as it negates the amendment law of Imo State House of Assembly on the establishment of the Polytechnic as the administration of Udenwa and Ohakim did not politicize the location of the campus, and hence Udenwa elevated the school from a mere college of Agriculture to a semi-polytechnic by naming it “Michael Okpara College of Agriculture and Technology, MOCATECH, while Ohakim raised the school to a full-fledged Polytechnic.
Prince Ohagwam expressed the planned surprise action on the people of Ohaji who had expected meaningful developments in Imo Poly in line with the “Rescue Mission” agenda than sheer politicization of the institution.
The people of Ohaji emphatically said that the planned relocation of Imo Poly which was established in 1979 to other areas of the state in the name of multi-campus system is part of Governor Okorocha’s continued marginalization, humiliation and non consideration of the people of Ohaji/Egbema in the scheme of things.
Women, youths and elderly people numbering more than 3,000 took over the front gate of Imo Poly as early as 6.30am.
Despite the presence of policemen numbering more than 30 from the State Command headquarters and other security agents, the stakeholders who maintained a peaceful and non-violent posture to exercise their civic rights barred workers and management staff of the Institution from entering the school for business of the day.
The aggrieved people who stormed the gates with various placards reading; “We voted for U not to Balkanize Imo Poly Owelle”, “Is this my people, my people game man for Ohaji/Egbema people?” “Owelle, pls take away no course or take away the entire Imopoly to where you like”, stationed a mock coffin where it was written RIP Owelle and Rector, Fr Madu.
It was more of a fun fare for the people as they danced and gyrated without hurting passers by or workers in the course of the protest.
However, Hon Obijuru Alphonsus, a member of Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo-Ohaji Stakeholders Forum, maintained that Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sir Jude Ejiogu, who visited the protesters on behalf of the governor, told the people that the governor has no interest in relocating some vital faculties of the Institution to Ikeduru, Mbano, and Okigwe.
They therefore told the Governor to keep to his words, having made a rational pronouncement, else they would become more fierce, hence their initial peaceful protest.
