2nd February, 2018
Mr Godwin Ezeemo, a Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA) chieftain, on Friday urged the Federal Government to upgrade the status of Federal Polytechnic, Oko, to a University of Technology.
Ezeemo was the PPA Governorship Candidate in Nov. 18, 2017, governorship election in Anambra.
He made the call in interview with newsmen in Oko on the sideline of the funeral service of former Vice President Alex Ekwueme at St John the Divine Anglican Church, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area.
He said that the upgrade of the polytechnic should be done as an honour to the late Ekwueme for his uncommon patriotism, in spite of the renaming of Federal University, Ndufu-Ikwo in Ebonyi after the Second Republic Vice-President.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had announced the renaming of the university after Ekwueme during the funeral service, to immortalise him for his contributions to national development.
Ezeemo noted that Federal Polytechnic, Oko, was the late elder statesman’s brainchild.
According to him, Ekwueme’s efforts which brought infrastructural and educational development to the area, earned the title `Ide Aguata’.
He further commended Nigerians who came from far and near without considering tribal or ethnic differences to honour the political icon and prayed for their safe return to their respective destinations.
He described Ekwueme as a rare breed and advised Nigerians across board to emulate the exemplary life of the deceased.
He also appealed to the Nigerian leaders to be sensitive to the yearnings and aspirations of the people at all times, with a view to delivering the dividends of democracy to them.