By anthony okoronkume
It is about one more year to the end of the exciting, and giant strides first tenure of God’s chosen head of one of the tertiary institutions in Imo State. We should really praise the head of this institution, the staff and students because for four (4) years or there about they had passed through diverse problems, challenges, temptations, forces, appointments and disappointments, they had continued to pull through in all spheres of life. This has gotten to the level the institution has become an envy of many personalities.
Nevertheless, it was our Lord Jesus Christ who said that when everybody says that someone is good we will have to check it that somewhere and somehow there are questions to answer at last. That is why as the first four years since’ 2010 of the institution which transited to a Federal Institution is drawing nearer to the very end, Imolites are being sensitized to braise up to some issues which the Almighty creator has not finished with us yet in the institution and in Imo State. Apostle Paul in the book of Philippians Chapter 3 verse 13 opined that brethren, we count not ourselves to have apprehended. But this one thing we should do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before.
Actually, the aim of this piece is to tell Imolites that let by gone be by gone. There is no point still holding unto those things which were done in error and which are still happening in error. What our realization should be today is that irrespective of the fact that all did not go down well in the previous selection of the head of the institution as planned due to some technical hitches, Imolites could still correct the abnormally because our future is bright.
In subjecting the head of the institution to a kind of checks and balances, we may eventually find out that there are lots of things the head could have targeted at doing. Unfortunately, if the head is giving another four years it may still not be possible for the head to execute all of them.
It may have really explained why work and numerous developments are going on at a quick pace now in the Institution. One of our sons as an example Dr. (Barrister) Humphrey Amadi started the infrastructural development going on at a rapid pace in the institution because he is an indigene. This shows that a true son and daughter of Imo origin can do better in the institution if given an opportunity.
Thanks be to our creator for this kind of head of the Institution. Thanks be to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, Council members, staff of the institutions, students and other PDP Officials from Abia State who gave Imo people such a good person that brought rapid development in the Institution.
Our dear Imolites we shall not fail to tell you the real truth, that although the head of this Institution may have tried her best, yet if heaven comes down to unveil to us many things which are still hidden we may find out that heaven may not be happy in the way the tenure was run for the first four years.
There is at least a very serious matter which should not have been played with, but friends or pressures may have caused the head of this Institution to over flood the Institution with both indigenes and non indigenes in recent recruitments. This poor decision may have resulted into a kind of many teachers/lecturers handling a single course. Meanwhile, some of these courses under normal circumstances should have been handled by two or three lecturers in a semester in some departments. The tendency there too is that non indigenes who have taking over the quota of Imo people in the recruitment are likely to be enjoying Jumbo payments without doing much for the pay.
Imo people are actually blaming the immediate past Governor of Imo State for trading with the position of this head of the institution.
It is therefore the prayer of Imo people at this time to see His Excellencies both at the national and State levels including Senators Hope Uzodinma, Mathew Nwagwu and Chris Anyanwu correcting this trade which was done at the expense of Imo people. Well, at this time unemployment is biting hard and Imo people are being disengaged of their jobs from neighboring and other States, our political leaders no matter their difference should do something. They are expected to rise now from their sleep and slumber to address this sensitive or delicate issue before it becomes too late.
We are supporting the idea of accepting anybody from any part of the world to help Imolites bring our institution to a world class standard. But what we must kick against is anybody bring our institutions in the name of federal character and world class standard and other unacceptable reasons which did not apply in other Federal Institutions in Nigeria.
And whoever is put as head in our institutions by chance should not think that Imo people are to be disadvantaged when very good intellectuals from Imo State have not been exhausted.
Believe it or not Imo people have a good number of intellectuals in other parts of the country, even in both public and private institutions and they are doing very well. It is on record that there is no College of Education in this Country that is not headed by an indigenous provost. For example in places like Asaba, Zaria, Umunze, Iheamufu and others the institutions are headed by indigenes. But for us in Imo State we can forego the positions of Deputy Provost and Librarian to accommodate the Federal Character requirements although such is only observed in Imo State Tertiary Institutions. If the restructuring going on in this Institution is not checked and stopped now, the institution will continue to relegate Imo people to the background and it is obvious that Imo people will vehemently oppose the move. Tne situation where Imo people are the only people out of all the other Federal Institutions in the Country that relinquished the position of the head of this institution to a non indigene is quite unfair. As a waiting mother is always sure that at anytime our creator will remove the reproach of bareness and bless her with the good fruit of the womb, we are sure it is time things are done right as far as that position is concerned in Imo State. Your Excellencies and our brothers, sisters of the National and State Assembly, the problems are in exhaustible in the institution.
Until we deliver the problems like a pregnant woman, you may not have the face to face our retired personnels, brothers, sisters, marginalized siblings and jobless youths, in-laws uncles during the 2015 election going to hold in the state. This was one of the major causes of the loss of the state to another party during the 2011 election.
It does not take our creator hours to effect any change if He wants or do whatever He wants, but our advice to Imo people is that they still have over 300 days ahead of time. They should begin now to put certain measures in place in search of a credible Imo son or daughter to hold the office being emphasized here. We cannot continue to allow intellectual potentials of Imo Origin from within and outside the institution to waste. A look at the Samson’s life and case in the Bible will prove to us that our creator warned on time His people Israelites against the dangers of allowing Samson’s potential to be unprotected and unwanted. The Israelites unhesitantly allowed Samson to sleep on the lap of lust and he was thrown out of our creator’s protection or provision. Invariably, it made Samson who is such a great talent in Israel to become an easy prey to the enemy. Due to lack of attention, strength, astuteness and discipline Imo people had continued to loose out by using our great potentials to accomplish much for the State. The state is rather not achieving much with their intellectual potentials and such must seize forthwith. Imo people must give adequate attention now to the little foxes in our lives or else they will gradually grow stronger than we can bear in our souls and spirit.
Finally, we must beware of all issues of second term and tenure in our tertiary and other institutions. We should set ourselves free from the consequences of granting head of all tertiary and other institutions in Imo State second term or even canceling any of their tenures based on political considerations.
As contained in Hebrew chapter 4 verse 2, it is our prayer that these pieces of words released to Imo people will be received and acted upon faithfully.
This is because it is only when this is done that we can experience and witness a positive and better change in our institutions for the development of Imo State.
Whatever for any reasons has caused Imo people in their closets to be lamenting and weeping over few discouraging matters in some of our institutions, let us be assured that at the nick of time the desired change will come.
As Jesus delivered the widow’s son, He will deliver Imo Peoples’ position and the talented people anywhere and anytime in our tertiary institutions once again in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Comrade Anthony Okoronkume
For and on behalf of Imo Concerned Citizens, Abuja 08030976506
