There is tension in Orlu presently over the plot by some self centered individuals to convert Orlu Campus of the Imo State Polytechnic to a pastoral center contrary to the motive for which the land was initially donated by the original owners.
The leaders and stakeholders in Orlu community, after a crucial meetings yesterday, unanimously resolved to reject and resist any obvious or clandestine plot to relocate the Orlu campus of the Imo State Polytechnic and convert the facilities there, to a Catholic Pastoral center.
They stated that some persons may have misled the Governor into thinking that relocating the Orlu campus of the polytechnic is the best option which is not true.
They said, “regrettably, the same House of Assembly that was used to promulgate the law that gave the polytechnic a muti-campus status, hence it has a campus at Orlu and one at Ehime Mbano. Omuma where the main campus presently is, was not in the picture then. But when Governor Uzodinma assumed office, he used the instrumentality of his office to move the permanent site to his community, Omuma in Oru East LGA whereby abandoning the original site.
A prominent leader in Orlu community, Chief Polycarp Ibezim while commenting on the development, described it as a conspiracy against Orlu community which must be rejected at all costs.
“The Catholic church has almost taken over all our lands because of the benevolence of our people who have never been hostile to them. But from the recent development, it appears that they are beginning to enrich themselves at the expense of our community.
Recently, the community protested about how a school which our fathers contributed to build, but today less than 2% of the students there are from Orlu community.
Sadly, when the former Rector of the Polytechnic Fr. Wence Madu, was in office, he used his position to allow the Catholic church to encroach into the land belonging to Technical Skill Acquisition Center TESAC, which was later converted to the Orlu campus of Imo State Polytechnic to encroach into our lands, where they built their guest house.
Today, they want to take over the whole place as if it is “no man’s land”. We understand the Governor is a Catholic and would want to impress his Church. However, if he wants to impress the Catholic church, let him use his power and authority as the Governor to donate land to them. Our fathers donated the land in question because they believed that, it will enhance the educational interest of our people. If that motive is no longer feasible under any guise, then, the land should be returned to our people and not the church”.
When contacted, the President General of Orlu Town Development Union, Hon Eddie Olumba, said, he had just been informed about the development and has also received several calls from Orlu sons and daughters home and abroad who expressed discomfort about it.
He promised to look into the matter, while also pleading for calm.
