Librarians under the aegis of the
Nigerian Library Association (NLA), Imo State Chapter, Thursday protested
against the plan by Governor Rochas Okorocha to relocate the state public
library to an uncompleted residential building near Songhai Farm, nekede,
Owerri.
The Librarians who carried placards with
various inscriptions depicting their grievances went to the Nigeria Union of
Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre on PortHarcourt Road to pour out their hearts.
Speaking with the state chairman of NUJ,
Sir Innocent Igwe, the librarians, numbering over 20, said it is not
justifiable to pull down an existing well designed monumental edifice at the
expense of tax payers’ money.
The protesting librarians who spoke through
their state chairman, Jonathan Ogugua expressed worry that the governor could
think of relocating the library to an uncompleted residential building that is
far below the professional standards for library architecture.
He said if the governor goes ahead to
relocated the library, the implications would be very grave as, according to
him, some of the library equipment and sections in the library would not be
accommodated in the new site and that the teeming library users in the state
especially teachers, students and researchers would find it very difficult to
access the library.
The librarians expressed fear that the
purpose-built library for the handicapped, the only one in West Africa, would
be destroyed while the ancient landmark represented by the state public library
“library round about Owerri” would be erased if the edifice is demolished.
They maintained that the morale and
productivity of librarians in the state public library would be dampened, being
compelled to work in unfriendly environment.
They therefore called on the NUJ
chairman and all journalists in the state to use their position to get the
governor to rescind his decision or suspend the relocation of the public
library and instead build a befitting state public library as stipulated in the
New Owerri Master Plan and allow the present one to remain as the Owerri
Divisional Library as it were before the creation of Imo state in 1976.
Responding, the state NUJ chairman, Sir
Igwe commended the librarians for being mature and civil in their demonstration,
saying Imo State public library is one of the important landmark in the state
that would not
He said dislocating the role of the
library would be a great disservice to Imo people and appealed to Governor Okorocha
to reconsider his decision and bring the library to be at par with the
developed world with e-library.
The NUJ chairman however urged them to
continue to be peaceful and follow due process in their demonstration, assuring
them that Governor Okorocha being a man that values education would listen to
their cries and that of the general public.
