Isoko communities challenge Gov Oborevwori’s plan to relocate faculties of Delta Varsity

The people of Isoko North and Isoko South local government areas of Delta State have drawn a battle line with Governor Sheriff Oborevwori following the move to relocate some faculties of the Delta State University of Science and Technology from Ozoro to Orerokpe in Okpe Local Government Area.

The governing council of the newly established university has concluded plans to relocate the faculties of Social Sciences and Management to the governor’s community in Orerokpe.

Following resistance from the communities, the governing council, however, claimed there was no going back because the directive was from the governor.

A pressure group, Ozoro Positive Voice, OPV, has condemned the decision of the governing council, led by its chairman, Ambassador Godson Echegile.

The leader of the group, Dr Enahoro Michael, said: “Historically, Ozoro and Orerokpe are brothers, as they are children of the same parents, and as such, an Ika man cannot come to divide us.”

Enahoro called on the governor to drop the resolution of the governing council on the relocation plan to save people’s investments in the town and avoid the total collapse of the newly established institution.

In the same vein, the former chairman of the Isoko South and Isoko North Peoples Democratic Party. (PDP) Elders Council, P. O. Oju, in a separate press statement, urged Gov Oborevwori to re-think his plan of relocating the university’s faculties.

He urged the governor to “go back to history and copy what H.E. Governor James Ibori did when he wanted to establish Oghara Polytechnic.”

He said of Ibori: “He did not kill Ogwashi and Ozoro polytechnics which were almost dying; he revived them and established the Oghara Polytechnic, and there was jubilation in the whole of Delta State.

“Governor Sheriff Oborevwori should not create unnecessary tension in Delta State in his time for people in Isoko to pass a vote of no confidence on PDP, our political party.

“It is my sincere and honest advice that H.E. should have listening ears and do his PDP members in Urhobo, Isoko and the whole of Delta State proud.”