Imo Poly: Tension Surrounds Relocation of Ehime Mbano Campus As Youths, Stakeholders Protest…

ThankGod Emeh…

The people and youths of Umunakanu Owerre, Ehime Mbano local government council, Imo state; the host community of Imo Polytechnic Ehime Campus have expressed utmost displeasure with the proposal of the state Governor to relocate the institution housed in the area over moves they described as selfishness, anti-people policy and ingratitude.

The youths alongside some students of the Polytechnic made their stance known in an overwhelming peaceful protest in the community with flag stops at the community market square as well as the entrance of the Imo Poly Ehime campus on Thursday May 16, 2024 bearing placards which showcased their demands and grievances.

The placards which read “Imo Poly Students Mbano campus do not want the school to be relocated”, “Bo to Relocation of Imo Poly Mbano campus …Mbano people and Imo Poly students Mbano campus want the Mbano campus to Remain …Allow Mbano people to Remain. …”Let Imo Polytechnic breathe” …”Don’t Destabilize the economy” …”We are okay with our host community Ehime Campus” among others with accompanying chants of dissatisfaction from the people stated that they believe in empowerment as well as government of the people; by the people and for the people while decrying if they chose and acted wrongly in voting Uzodimma for second term.

Addressing the people at the occasion, the Traditional Ruler of Umunakanu Owerre, Ehime Mbano LGA, Imo state, Eze Boniface Onuoha said the community unanimously welcomed the siting of the Ehime campus in their domain because the facility had over the years housed Federal Training College Ehime, National Teachers Institute (NTI), State Cooperative College among others which were all relocated.

Eze Udo 1 of Umunakanu Owerre, Ehime Mbano LGA

Eze Onuoha decried the relocation of the campus which was promised the host community by the Rescue Mission government of gaining the permanent site for Imo Polytechnic when the original site at Umuagwo was converted to a university of Agriculture hence promising sons and daughters of the soil brought down their investments to their domain to fast-track development in the locality.

The Traditional ruler who could not hold back his surprise however queried the fate of his subjects as well as foreign investors in the community while appealing to the Government to rescind on his decision and where he so deemed to relocate the institution as proposed; should attract a permanent replacement at the community in order to give the people of the community a sense of belonging.

He noted that the comparative advantage of the campus to his domain brought Development to the area hence the massive votes for Governor Uzodimma’s reelection but taking away the campus would cause more harm to the people and the area.

Speaking to news men after the protest, the President General of community, Ehime Mbano local Government area, Hon. Ekeanyanwu Cajetan said the news of the relocation of the Ehime campus still remains a shock to the host community and Ehime Mbano at large where the Government of Imo state four years ago assured that the school had come to stay in the locality.

The PG

The PG who further decried that where distribution of wealth and social amenities should be the case across boards; the Government is rather considering relocating Ehime campus and centralizing it in his hometown, however appealed to Governor Hope Uzodimma to hear their cry to gradually balance the equation of presence of schools in Okigwe compared to other two geopolitical zones (Orlu and Owerri zones) of the state.

Speaking earlier, a community leader, Hon. Victor Diala noted that the creation of multi campus system by former governor Okorocha is to give the people a sense of belonging but wondered the rationale behind Governor Uzodimma’s executive bill to relocate the Ehime campus he inherited, which creates room for underdevelopment.

Hon. Victor Diala

Hon. Diala emphasized that relocating the campus shall not only affect the economy of the community but will go a long way to destroy people’s hard laid investments, cause depression, loss of lives and property as well as livelihoods.

He said “Actualizing that will take us to back age and will automatically close down Ehime Mbano people…what it means is that we are no longer part of Imo state and that our economy is dead…it means that our boys will go back to the streets and encourage our youths to go back to the streets”

“Orlu and Ehime campuses should remain because we are part and parcel of Imo state since the Governor have taken the main campus to Omuma”

He appealed to Governor Uzodimma to rescind on his decision to allow the campuses to coexist as taking away the Ehime campus amounts to monumental injustice done to people of Ehime Mbano.

Adding his voice, the youth leader, Evang. Egwim Nnabugo who spoke on behalf of the youths and students in the area urged the government not to remove the only dividend of democracy in the area after all their sacrifices and support for the state Government.

“Now if you remove this campus from you, what are you going to replace hers…”

The youth leader added that if nothing is done to keep the Ehime Mbano campus, the facility could be hideouts for criminal elements which poses more danger to the state and the community in particular.