Indigenes of Umuagwo Community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State have staged a protest rally against the establishment of the Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo, as recently announced by Governor Rochas Okorocha.
Okorocha had announced the relocation of Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, to Ehime Mbano Local Government Area of the state and had replaced it with the new University of Agriculture and Environmental Science.
The protesters, who blocked the major Port-Harcourt /Owerri highway, carried placards with the inscription, “Umuagwo youths and all indigenes say no to the new university;” “We are Ok with our polytechnic;” “No polytechnic, no land,” among others.
They said their concerns were based on their perception that the state lacks the resources to fund two state universities, four polytechnics and two colleges of education.
Reacting to the protest, Okorocha said that the protest was misleading.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor on Wednesday, Okorocha said his administration was only concerned with “the even development of the state.”