The indigenes of Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of lmo State have protested the closure of the State Polytechnic Campus located in the area.
The protest, which took place yesterday, Friday, May 17, erupted in the middle of the day with hundreds of residents matching the streets. The visibly angry residence were voicing their concerns about the current administration’s decision to close the Campus.
According to report by DAILY POST, the residents expressed disappointment with the Hope Uzodinma’s administration to close the Campus.
A resident who prefers anonymity expressed deep concerns over the closure. He said, “Rochas gave us this Polytechnic, and now, Hope Uzodinma closed it. Yet, some may be happier with Hope than Rochas,” the source stated, reflecting the community’s mixed sentiments”.
The anonymous source further explained the community’s grievances, highlighting what they perceive as an unfair distribution of educational institutions across the State.
“Hope converted the headquarters at Umuagwo to a university. Rather than move the headquarters to either the Ehime Mbano or Orlu headquarters, he created a new headquarters in his village Omuma in the same Orlu zone. Now he turns around to close the Ehime Mbano Polytechnic. What is the logic?” he questioned.
He maintained that other States in Nigeria have more equitable distributions of institutions and facilities.
“Within Imo State, the Okigwe zone is particularly disadvantaged. If a Campus is to be closed, why not the most recent one at Omuma? Imo has three State Universities: two in the Orlu zone, one in the Owerri zon. And none in the Okigwe zone. Imo has a teaching hospital in Orlu.
“Virtually all Federal tertiary institutions are in Owerri and Orlu. Who will speak truth to power? God is watching, and God sees. God knows, and God will reward,” he lamented.
source: Daily Post
