– As Youths Reject Committee Set Up By Traditional Ruler
– Condemn Threat Of Arrest, Frame Up By Interested Parties
The plot by some highly placed persons to secretly hand over the former premises of Imo State Polytechnic, Orlu campus to the Catholic church, after the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma relocated the institution to his community, Omuma, in Oru East Local Government Area, has continued to generate tension in Orlu community.
Information available to our news desk indicate that youths of the area, last week rejected and passed a no confidence vote on the committee set up by the traditional ruler of the community, HRM, Igwe Acholonu to look into the matter and the controversy it has elicited.
The youths who expressed reservation about the membership of the Committee stated that despite being an afterthought, the committee is made up of mainly those who, from the on-set supported the idea of handing over the expansive premises to the Catholic church and those who either occupy exalted positions in the church or have business interests.
A prominent community source who does not want his name mentioned said “the Igwe of Orlu as the traditional ruler of the community should concentrate on his core duties as the custodian of culture and tradition instead of dabbling into the issue of land acquisition. He, under normal circumstances has no business setting up a committee to look into the matter. That is the responsibility of the President General and his executive, except he has vested interest”
Meanwhile one of the youth leaders in Orlu, who spoke to this reporter on the condition of anonymity, said, “since we made our stand on the controversial issues of handing over a portion of land that belongs to Orlu people over to the catholic church, we have been receiving suspicious threatening phone calls from some people who warned us to desist from asking probing questions about the plot to hand over the former premises of Imo Polytechnic to the Catholic church or face unpleasant circumstances including arrest and frame up on trumped up charges. They have gone as far as using the phone numbers of some of the Directors of a Microfinance Bank owned by the Catholic Church to threaten us. But we have resolved not to be deterred by any form of harassment or intimidation from any person or group, no matter how highly placed”.
Recall, that the youths of Orlu community had in a communique they issued last week distanced and dissociated themselves from the committee set up by the traditional ruler to look into dissent and controversy arising from the clandestine plot to cede the former premises of Imo state Polytechnic, Orlu campus to the catholic church.
The communique which was signed by the leadership of the youth reads in part, “The attention of the Orlu youths body has been drawn to the establishment of a body called “Community Benefits Committee (CBC) constituted by his Eminence the Igwe of Orlu with regards to BSTC and how it would benefit Orlu Gedegwum when put in use by the Orlu Catholic Diocese.
We state as follows:
1.As one of the organs of Orlu Town Development Union (OTDU), we were not aware nor consulted when the committee was constituted.
2. We were not carried along in the decision that gave birth to the committee.
3.All other organs in Orlu were represented except the Orlu youths body. The interest of the youths cannot by any stretch of imagination be presumed to be considered when they were not represented or made part of the CBC. What is worth doing is worth doing well, hence our collective interest must be considered.
4. That sidelining the youths in this critical decision is an affront on the youths and the youths will not accept any understanding or compromise reached that does not represent their interest.
5. Lastly, stifling of dissenting voices as regards the BSTC issue must stop as freedom of speech and expression are inalienable human rights which demand that people should be allowed to air their views.
Any decision we take may have an impact on the development of our dear Orlu, therefore we youths will not sit as observers but demand to be incorporated as part of the decision makers and contributors”.
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