-Students fate on relocation unknown
-No body was ejected, Rector vacated office for renovation-PRO
Confusion looms at the former permanent site of Imo State Polytechnic Umuagwo, in Ohaji/Egbema L.G.A now renamed Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences as both students and lecturers of both institutions are uncertain of their fate.
Meanwhile a new Vice Chancellor Dr Patrick Egbule has been appointed for the University and sources close to the Polytechnic report that the Rector of Imo Poly will now to go to Omuma in Oru East .
A source hinted that “Mbadike has been ejected from his office perhaps to make room for the new Vice Chancellor”.
Students of the Polytechnic who spoke to our reporter indicated that their fate is unknown as the Omuma proposed Campus is not yet ready and students are scared of going to that location in view of the prevailing insecurity in the Orlu area and the structure there are uncompleted.
An insider in the campus accommodating the two institutions reveals that both the new Vice Chancellor and the Rector come to work daily and operate in the same campus.
The source indicated that the state government has not invested much at the proposed campus at Omuma or effected necessary renovation work at Umuagwo. He revealed that it is TETFUND money that is being used for all the buildings in Omuma. Besides, the former Rector of Imo Poly Rev. Fr. (Dr) Wence Madu is still calling the shots and dictating the pace.
There are speculations that the proposed University is being established on a private/public partnership basis with the Claretian Missionary as the private partner.
When contacted as to what is going on at the campus, the Public Relation Officer of the Polytechnic, Mr Darlington Oparacha debunked the report that the Rector has been displaced from his office but admitted that what is going on is only renovation work as the college has been officially relocated to Omuma,Orlu and Ehime campuses.
So far a Bursar and a Registrar have been appointed for the new varsity while Mrs Njemanze remains the Registrar of the Polytechnic.
Meanwhile both students of the Polytechnic and prospective students of the new varsity expected to have taken off in October 2020 do not know their fate and staff of both institutions do not know where to report for work.
The signpost at the Imopoly, Umuagwu is already renamed to bear the new University.The lecturers of the polytechnics are helpless as a result of weak leadership of the Union, so much they can’t confront government on the development.
