The proposed relocation ofCollegeofHealth Science, from Nwangele LGA by the Imo State Government has generated controversy, as the move has been rejected by some stakeholders in Nwangele.
To demonstrate their resolve to resist the move, youths from the area barricaded the streets of Owerri and later, stormed the premises of the Imo State House of Assembly carrying placards with the inscription “Owelle leave Nwangele alone, stopschoolofHealth, not your property and “Owelle your Government has failed”.
In what appears a sniff support to the agitation of the youths, a socio cultural organization, Orluzurumee kicked against the move.
Speaking to newsmen, the leader of the group, Hon Mike Akwaiwu, described the move by the state government to relocate the school as one that is against the wishes of the Nwangele people. He pointed out that the college was established and properly sited by the late Sam Mbakwe regime, and warned the state government to refrain from its proposed relocation action.
Hon Akwaiwu who was a former Council Chairman pointed out that the people of Amaigbo have been greatly marginalized. He gave the example of theCollegeofHealthand Technology which was earlier planned to be upgraded as the permanent site of the Imo State University Teaching Hospital, but later lost out to Umuna Orlu.
He maintained that theCollegeofHealthis the only state government presence in the whole Federal Constituency of Nwangele, Nkwerre, Njaba and Isu LGAs, and urged the state government to retrace from its steps.
Addressing the protesters at the Imo State House of Assembly Complex, the Speaker Rt. Hon Benjamin Uwajimogu, thanked them for the peaceful manner they conducted themselves. He told them that the members of the House will not watch while things go wrong and promised to look into the matter.
Rt. Hon Uwajimogu also told them that he has earlier received the same complaint from the member representing them, Hon Ugonna Ozuruigbo, who was not happy with the alleged move by the state government.
The Speaker urged the state government to continue to improve the standard of the academic activities in the state educational institutional for the good of the people of the state.
