The people of Orlu and Ehime Mbano Local Government Areas of Imo State are seething with anger over the decision of the Imo State government to close down campuses of the Imo State Polytechnic.
The State government’s move, propelled by a new amended law, aims to consolidate the institution’s campuses into a single location at Omuma, Oru East, under a mono campus system.
This decision has sparked widespread outrage, with many accusing Governor Hope Uzodimma of prioritizing his hometown at the expense of other communities.
The history of the polytechnic’s campus system is complex.
In 2012, during the Owelle Rochas Okorocha era, the State Assembly amended the law to allow for a multi-campus system, with campuses in Orlu, Ehime Mbano, and Amaimo Ikeduru, in addition to the main campus at Umuagwo.
Despite opposition, Okorocha implemented the policy, but failed to fulfill the promise of a campus in Amaimo Ikeduru.
Now, barely ten years later, Uzodimma has reversed the policy, opting for a mono campus system at Omuma, his hometown.
The communities affected are resisting the move, citing foul play and suspecting that the governor is prioritizing his own interests.
In Orlu, residents are threatening to prevent any attempts to relocate equipment and resources to Omuma.
The Orlu campus has existed since 2012, offering engineering and mass communication programmes, and has significant academic teaching equipment.
Locals are adamant that the campus should remain, citing the benefits it brings to the local economy and the educational opportunities it provides.
In Ehime Mbano, the situation is equally tense, with locals vowing to resist against any attempts to remove structures from the school premises.
The communities are united in their opposition to the mono campus system, accusing the government of neglecting their interests and prioritizing the governor’s hometown.
The government’s move has sparked a political storm, with many questioning the wisdom of consolidating campuses and potentially disenfranchising students from Orlu and Ehime Mbano.
The Fr Wence Madu committee, set up by the governor, faces significant opposition as it attempts to implement the mono campus system.
As the crisis deepens, it remains to be seen how the government will respond to the communities’ resistance and accusations of favoritism.
