Controversy is trailing alleged plans by Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma to immortalise Mr Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu.

The Governor announced the plan to rename the Imo State University (IMSU) after Kyari when the management Staff of the University led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adaobi Obasi paid him a visit at the Executive Chambers of the Imo State Government House on Monday.

Uzodinma, said that the decision would be taken after a wide consultation with stakeholders in the education sector and in the State.

TheNewspad reports that the federal Government announced Kyari’s passing at the early hours Saturday while his body was interred in Abuja according to Muslims rites.

Describing Kyari as a patriot who
played a pivotal role in the liberation of Imo State, the Governor said no gesture is too big for a man who died as a patriot.

The Governor urged the management staff of IMSU to live up to expectation, while pointing out that his administration remains committed to quality education in the State and that Imo State University as the epicenter can not be left behind.

Worried by the criticisms that greeted his comment, the Governor backpedal few hours later on the plans.

In a statement on Monday, Oguwike Nwachuku, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, said Uzodinma neither said Kyari made him governor nor promised to rename the state university after the late chief of staff.

Nwachuku described the reports linking the late chief of staff to Uzodinma’s governorship victory at the supreme court as fake.

“Since last weekend that Kyari passed on, the same persons have been issuing press statements, forging the logo of government and the name of Mr. Nwachuku with the intent to deceive Imolites in particular and the public in general into believing their propaganda and fake news to be real,” he said.

“In one of such fake statements they issued and also circulated on social media, they mischievously credited Governor Uzodimma to have said he would immortalise Kyari for “making him Governor.”

“How would any person believe the complete trash that Governor Uzodimma will in a condolence letter say that the late Chief of Staff to the President made him governor of Imo State?

“It was their desperation to deepen the propaganda and criminal intents that drove them to the latest fake news of purported renaming of Imo State University after Kyari, something that only exists in the imagination of their tiny brain’s imagination.

“For the avoidance of doubt, let it be known that the two statements in reference were not issued by the office of the CPS/Media Adviser.

“We also advise the reading public to take fake news seriously and make conscious efforts to identify the promoters and ensure that they join others who stand against fake news globally to make their trade unattractive.”

The state-owned University (IMSU) was founded in February 1976 under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad.

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