Amby Uneze in Owerri
An appeal has gone to the governor of Imo state, Chief Rochas Okorocha to spare the footbridge that connects the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE), Owerri and Shell Camp Campus of the institution and the adjourning security walls for the continued safety of the lives of both staff and students as well as the security of the property of the college.
Sending the plead on behalf of the institution’s authorities, the Chairman, Joint Action Committee (JAC) of all the house unions in the institution, Comrade Ukachi Wachukwu urged the governor to exercise restraint in the proposed demolition of Alvan flyover (footbridge) and the security walls which had been marked for demolition.
According to her, the pedestrian crossing which was constructed by a one-time military administrator of the state, now late Cmdr. Amadi Ikwuechegh as a result vehicular road accidents that were killing and maiming students and staff on constant basis was the only lyrics solution that stopped such menace on that spot.
“Again the removal of the walls and the pedestrian bridge will constitute high degree of danger to our students and staff. We therefore appeal to the governor who is a lover education to exercise some restraint in pulling down the walls and the pedestrian bridge at the institution,” she said.
In the same vein, the Chairman of the Senior Staff Union of Colleges of Education in Nigeria (AIFCE) chapter, Comrade Law Osuji said that the demolition of the walls and the subsequent pulling down the pedestrian bridge will bring unforeseen disaster as it was on record that over 500 staff and students use the bridge from the main reason campus to the opposite Shell Camp campus on hourly basis.
“The consequences of pulling down the foot-bridge that is adjourned to the security walls will be better imagined than seeing it occur as the losses would not be too much. Also the property of the institution will definitely be at risk, considering the security challenges that may occur.
“We are appealing to the governor to exercise restraint in his proposed plan. We enjoin the governor to please leave Alvan property alone. The consequences of the action if carried will definitely be retrogressive.”
