Imo Polytechnic Management Umuagwo: Ohaji Youths Insist On Dissolution Of Gov. Council Leadership

Dan Opara

Youths from the Imo Oil Producing Communities numbering over 50 persons under the platform of National Congress of Ohaji Youths, NACOY, ably led by the President, Comr.Emmanuel Ugorji,was on last Thursday,Jan.30th 2020,barricaded the main entrance of the Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwu,in Ohaji/Egbema LGA, Imo State, demanded in strong terms the continues dissolution of the Polytechnic’s Governing Council management.

According to the NACOY President, Comr.Ugorji,”We are here on a peaceful demonstration against the impunity, marginalization and imposition of the Polytechnic management. The institutions’ leadership and the incessant negligence of the people of Ohaji mostly on some of our academically-qualified youths who were  supposed to be given employment into principal offices in the school”.

“Over 41 years since the establishment of the school, the management have failed to implement the agreed MoU as stated. We the people of Ohaji have never produced or attain any principal position, yet we have so many qualified individual from Ohaji area who are very capable to be the Rector of Polytechnic”,  says NACOY.

” We are therefore insisting on the dissolution of the members of the Polytechnic’s Governing  Council led by one Hon.Innocent Eke,  and his cohorts. They are enemies of our great Institution. Sen.Rochas Okorocha, during his tennure as Imo State Governor, he destroyed and bacarnized the school”, President Ugorji alleged.

“We are  comprises of the 19 Autonomous Communities that made up Ohaji including Umuagwo (the principal land owners of the Polytechnic). We are not happy with the height of impunity and imposition of the academic activities at the Polytechnic. Over years, the school managements have collectively failed to implement the agreement with the land owners, instead they have chosen destroy our school”,  the youths submitted.

The youths who chanted various war songs,armed with placards inscriptions like:” Let the new Rector from henceforth be an indigeneous son/daughter of Ohaji. Youths of Ohaji in totality are rejecting the reinstatement of the dissolved Imo Poly Governing Council Members and its leadership. We are saying “No” to injustice on Ohaji people from the Polytechnic. We only need a Rector from Ohaji/Egbema extraction. Give us principal officers like senior lecturers, none-academic staff from Ohaji/Egbema and that NACOY rejects the reinstatement of the former Imo Poly Governing Counci that was constituted by Chief Sen.Rochas Okorocha”.

Speaking, the NACOY President, however  said that the youths of Ohaji would not to set their eyes of the immediate past Rector of the Polytechnic, Rev.Fr.Wence Madu, because allegedly aided the destruction of the schools with Sen.Rochas Okorocha, even as he threatened not trolate any more attempt of imposition of the Governing Council.

Amongst the youth leaders who spoke against the impunity and alleged marginalization and bastardization of the school and its courses are:”the Vice President, Hon.Johncleff Ogbuehie, the Vice President I, Princewill Chisom Obilonu and the Secretary,Comr.Justice Nnaemeka Ohagwam”, who in their respective words,expressed dissatisfaction and regret over what they described as bridge of agreement upon the establishment of the Polytechnic from the side of the govt.

Responding onbehalf of the Polytechnic, the Acting Director for Works, Arch.Dr.Lyon Ibe, said the era of the immediate past Rector,Fr.Wence Madu, is gone.

“Now we have an Acting Rector, Dr.Patrick N.Njoku, who is on acting capacity as he emerged via popular choice. The intention of Chief Rochas was to convert the Polytechnic into a University, but he was unable to achieve that. But the current Imo Governor, Sen.Hope Uzodinma have decided to return (called back) the former Governing Council. Let the right thing be done. If you need a substantive Rector, you have the right of democracy. Remember, an Acting Rector can not handover to another Acting Rector. Things must be done rightly” Dr.Ibe submitted.

Meanwhile, in a phone connection with Polytechnic’s PRO to react for and onbehalf of the Acting Rector concerning the protesting Ohaji youths,  he disclosed that he was not on sit as at the press time.