"My Govt has built 6 Universities, 3 Polytechnics" says Gov Okorocha

Governor Rochas Okorocha has said that his administration has built Six Universities which include Eastern Palm University, Ogboko, University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Aboh-Mbaise/Ngor-Okpala, University of Science & Technology Onuimo, Marine University Oguta, University of Creative Technology and Imo University of Medical Sciences.

In a press statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo, it was reported that the governor also disclosed that the administration has also built three Polytechnics including Ahiara Polytechnics Ahiazu Mbaise, Arondizuogu Polytechnic, Ideato, and Ehime Mbano Polytechnic, adding too that his administration has equally built Ihitte-Uboma College of Education and Ohaji/Egbema College of Education.

The governor spoke when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Army Affairs paid him courtesy call at the Government House Owerri on Thursday, November 22, 2018, stating that for the Seventh year Imo has maintained the lead in JAMB applications and every year more than one hundred thousand Imo sons and daughters are denied admissions for one reason or the other especially the quota system policy.

He said “I govern Imo with passion and not just vision, but my passion for Imo out-weighs my vision. Infact, only yesterday I spoke boisterously unlike myself. I said this government for the past Seven years have done more than 1,000 projects and when I say projects, I mean solid commissionable projects. This government has built 550 Schools, the new police headquarters which is what I call solid project was also done by this government”.

He added “We have built more than a thousand kilometers of roads within this short period of Seven years. But to cap it all, this is the only state in Nigeria where education is free from Primary to Secondary and to University. Coming to the markets, we have built the Egbeada Markets, and many others”.

According to the governor “If the Federal Government, State or Local Governments could show 30% capital projects of total money that comes to the state, you would see it. Money does not lie. What we spend money on is re-currency, workshops, seminars, travel allowances, salaries, pensions etc. That’s why I want to call on you to go back and decide to change Nigerian budget to Capital budgets with different Chairmen and Committees. We must learn to think outside the box in order to improve our country and provide for generations yet unborn”.   

In his speech earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Rimaude Shawalu, said they had come to pay a visit to the governor since they were on their mission of going round the country to check the status of the various projects that were started since 2016, adding that one of the reasons for their visit was that they have seen that the governor has done some good works for the Army and they want to thank him for that.

He said, “The Security Agencies across the world are no longer funded from the annual budget around the world. Therefore, it was heartening to see the very big hospital that you have donated to the Army. We are most grateful for that and I say it with all sincerity that if other State governments do this type of contribution, we are going to have change. Before June next year, we would be grateful if you complete the remaining aspects of that project and hand it over so that the record stands unchallenged”.