Ogoni youths have frowned at the improper naming of the newly created Federal University of Environment Technology, Saakpenwa/Koroma, Tai.
The youths under the aegis of Ogoni Youths Development Initiative (OYDI), said citing Saakpenwa and Koroma as location of the university is confusing, strange and uncalled for.
President-General of OYDI, Comrade Imeabe Saviour Oscar, said since Saakpenwa is housing the main campus of the university and having enough space and facility to accommodate the pioneer faculties, the name should be Federal University of Environment Technology, Saakpenwa. He stressed that Koroma can exist as an additional campus when the need arises but said adding Koroma to the name was improper.
He noted that while other Federal Universities established in the country bears specific locations like University of Port Harcourt, Federal University, Otueke, University of Calabar, that of FUET should not be different.
Oscar accused the senator representing Rivers South East at the National Assembly, Barry Mpigi of masterminding the discrepancy in the naming of the school for political reasons. He stressed that the school was established as a confidence building measure by the Federal Government towards oil resumption in Ogoniland as such shouldn’t serve personal interest by way of nomenclature.
”We condemn the naming of the Federal University of Technology Saakpenwa/ Koroma. It should be Federal University of Environment Technology, Saakpenwa. The Saakpenwa campus has enough space to accomodate students especially at this beginning stages.
”It can expand to have Koroma as additional campus when the number of students have increased but naming it Saakpenwa/Koroma is strange and unacceptable”.
The group also condemned attempts to drag the main campus of the university to Koroma as against Saakpenwa which has enough facility and is easily accessible to all Ogonis and beyond with its strategic location along the East-West Road.
”Sitting the University’s main campus in Koroma is a deliberate collaboration between Senator Barry Mpigi and Desmond Akawor, former PDP chairman in Rivers to drag the school towards their end for political reasons.
”Mpigi wants to use what belongs to entire Ogoni to appreciate his political ally Akawor,” he alledged.
The group also recalled that the Saakpenwa campus which was formerly in use by the Rivers State University was willingly donated by the Rivers State Governor, Siminialayi Fubara to the Federal Government to serve as the main campus of the new university, urging Mpigi to respect the decision of the governor.
”We want Senator Mpigi to respect the decision of the state governor by giving out that site for the school. We are okay with that decision and we support it.
”We are also calling on Governor Siminialayi Fubara to intervene to ensure that the controversies surrounding the nomenclature of the school is resolve for lasting peace in Ogoniland. Saakpenwa/Koroma is not acceptable and we won’t stop until that name is corrected, ” he added.
The Ogoni youths equally called on President Bola Tinubu to reverse the name to Federal University of Environment Technology, Saakpenwa.
”We call on Mr President and the National Assembly to reverse the name to reflect its original location.
”Mr President and the Federal Ministry of Education should be clear about the status of the university and it shouldn’t carry overriding political undertone. Such naming don’t exist anywhere so why should Ogoni case be different?,” the youths queried.
The group cautioned Desmond Akawor against meddling into developments in Ogoniland.
”We are asking Desmond Akawor to avoid throwing himself into Ogoni development issues. If he wants anything for Oyigbo, he should go all out and agitate for it and not using Ogoni as cover up”.
The group however threatened mass action if the proper thing is not done by renaming of the school.
