– Council Chairman, Wence accused
The Imo state polytechnics lecturers have decried plot hatched by some persons within the corridors of power to intimidate their former Chairman, Dr Desmond Echeta over his resentment to administrative rascality, abuse of power and financial recklessness as perpetrated and witnessed in the past. Echeta denounced all these abominable act to ensure that Imopoly lecturers were not shortchanged under his leadership which was the stock-in-trade of then Rector.
According to some lecturers who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity, the chairman of Governing Council, Chief Innocent Ekeh, who is a former member of Imo State House of Assembly is alleged to be at the center of the plan to deal ruthlessly with the former labour leader.
The source revealed that Echeta as ASUP Chairman in 2017,when ex-governor Rochas Okorocha planned to relocate Imopoly resisted the moves and condemned the government decision to cut workers salary by 30%. He also exposed the evil machinations and unprogressive activities of the Governing Council which rather than help the school stabilize, was only pursuing selfish agenda.
“Like you know, they ran that place as if it was missionary school and intimidated every lecturer that spoke out except Echeta and a few of us. Today, they feel that Echeta’s tenure as ASUP chairman has come to an end, hence it affords them an opportunity to cut their own pound of flesh. We won’t accept that. Already, some of the lecturers are meeting and in due time, we will take a stand. If they succeed in intimidating Echeta, some us won’t be left out”, he stated.
In a letter which was showed to us by one of the labour leaders,dated May 21, 2020, and signed by the Acting Rector with caption, “approval to attend to the invitation by the commissioner of police”, the management urged Echeta to report at the Anti-Kidnapping unit of the Imo State Police Command Headquarters”.
The letter further reads, “be informed that you have been granted permission on all the dates of the invitation to attend the scheduled meeting”.
Earlier, in a letter addressed to the Rector of Imopoly dated April 29,2020 with Caption, “Re: Case of Hostage Taking and Threat Of Assassination”, signed by ACP Onyoshi Samuel Uche for Commissioner of Police, the police requested the management of Imopoly to release Echeta for questioning.
Fhe source said,”It is suspected that the authorities of Imo State Polytechnic at the instance of the Governing Council Chairman, Innocent Ekeh and Rev Fr Dr Wence Madu, conspired to frame Echeta up with allegation of kidnapping, as a way to fraustrate him”.
Efforts to reach Echeta for reaction on the alleged harassment proved abortive as his phone was switched off uptil the time of going to press.
