I have carefully
listened to various arguments regarding the on-going demolition of properties
in Owerri, the Imo state capital. I have also watched with keen interest the
imbroglio that has erupted in the State over the planned relocation of
Ekeukwu Owerri Market from the Present Location in Owerri Municipal to another
local government area (Mbaitoli LGA); and I have come to a very sad and painful
conclusion that both Governor Rochas Okorocha and the masses, including the so
called Political Leaders in the state should be blamed for all that is
happening in this regard.
At this point, I will plead with the
reading public to carefully follow me in this journey. This is because some of
my global audience complains that my articles are always too long, although
they are very interesting write-ups. Mind you, I am not here to throw stones
are Governor Okorocha, neither am I here to question his wisdom in deciding
that Owerri main market (Ekeukwu Owerri Market) must be relocated and that
buildings must be demolished in his quest for urban renewal.
My job here, as
a Patriot, is to bring pertinent issues on the scale and thereafter allow the
public and Government to weigh and judge. The on-going demolition in Owerri has
attracted both condemnation and commendation. Condemnation because there is no
genuine and convincing reason(s) from Governor Okorocha on why buildings (mostly
storey buildings) should give way for the expansion of roads in the following
areas in the state capital.
(
1) 1. MCC/URATTA
ROAD (2) MBAISE ROAD (3) AMAKOHIA/ORLU ROAD (4) OKIGWE ROAD (5) RELIEF
MARKET/NWATURUOCHA ROAD (6) CHERUBIN JUNCTION AND ALADINMA ROAD.
I say this because these were roads already
rehabilitated by Okorocha during his first tenure five years ago in 2011, and
the roads in question are still in good condition. Former Governor Dee Sam
Mbakwe actually built these roads 35 years ago, and they were solidly built.
Governor Okorocha merely recoated them with Asphalt which is not a bad idea.
Then suddenly the crazy idea of road expansion came on board. Perhaps,Okorocha
is worried that roads in Owerri are always over congested and full of vehicular
traffic jam, and therefore came to the conclusion that the only solution to
open up the roads, have to be its “expansion”. In carrying out these expansion
roads project, notable buildings have been pulled down. Honestly, this is where
I am worried.
Let me be
clear here: if Okorocha is removing shanties, Kiosks, containers, and other
illegal structures in order to expand the roads, then he has my support and
commendation. Unfortunately, properties being pulled down are the ones that had
approvals from the appropriate authority in the state, before they were
erected. Again, the state government never got authorization from the Imo State
House of Assembly to carry out the on-going demolition exercise. This clearly
makes Okorocha’s ambitious road expansion project an illegal one. Perhaps, that
is the reason why OCDA (OWERRI CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY) has refused to join
in the demolition madness. And I stand to be challenged.
Nevertheless,
it is worrisome to notice that our so called political and religious leaders
have refused to call Governor Okorocha to order. None of them have said
anything tangible concerning the on-going demolition in the state capital.
Except perhaps Captain Emmanuel Iheanacho.
However, I see Iheanacho’s
condemnation of Okorocha’s action as selfish. The political and business leader
did not see anything wrong in the on-going demolition of buildings and fences
belonging to other people, until bulldozers and caterpillars berthed at his
Owerri mansion. That was when he woke up from his “sleep”. Pronto, the amiable
gentleman rushed to the court and obtained an injunction stopping Okorocha and
Imo State Government from demolishing the fence of his property. Yet the
bulldozers still did their work. Although many Imo citizens have condemned
Okorocha for disobeying court order which barred him from “stripping”
Iheanacho’s mansion naked, I personally will not join them to condemn the
governor in this particular aspect, and I have cogent reasons. When the
demolition exercise started, no political leader in the state including Captain
Emmanuel Iheanacho called for caution. Nobody advised against it. Nobody went
to court to obtain injunction stopping Rochas from carrying out his actions
against the masses. But as soon as Okorocha’s bulldozers berthed at Captain
Iheanacho’s house, he woke up from slumber. Honestly, with due respect to
Captain Iheanacho, I shed no tears for him. He only went to court to obtain
injunction which sought to protect ONLY
his property. NONONONO, this is
selfish interest taken too far; even when other properties along the same road
as his, have been pulled down. As a leader, is he telling us that he cannot
sacrifice his fence for the “expansion and development”
of the state capital?
Had Captain Iheanacho gone to court earlier enough
to obtain injunction restraining Okorocha from demolishing any property along
that Amakohia/Orlu road, the people of Imo State would have trooped out enmasse
to physically stop Okorocha from tampering with any property on that road. Therefore,
one can technically argue that Okorocha was right to have stripped Iheanacho’s
mansion naked. Unfortunately, Okorocha has refused to touch his own property (LAMORDE GUEST HOUSE) along the same
Amakohia/Orlu road. This has clearly marked Okorocha as a self-centered
Governor. What then is the motive of Okorocha for the so called road expansion
project, if his own property cannot be torched by the angry bull-dozers ?The
masses are not helping matters. They are already condemning the APC Government
in the state for bringing hardship to the people as a result of the on-going
demolition exercise which has crippled, strangulated and stifled the state
economy. They have forgotten that the immediate past government in Imo State
was a PDP government which actually laid the “Demolition Foundation”
in the state. Conversely, I dare say that Okorocha has merely borrowed a leaf
from the defunct government.
Let met
at this juncture express my disappointment at our Leaders, especially those of
them with gubernatorial ambitions come 2019. They have refused to proffer
solutions to the on-going drama in the state. They are now deaf, dumb and
infact blind. They are not seeing the impact of Okorocha’s actions against the
people of the state. But when 2019 comes closer, these shameless governorship
aspirants will come out to promise us heavens on earth. They would then tell u show
they will use five loaves of bread and two fishes to feed the over 5million Imo
citizens – ASHI-ASHI. They know themselves. The only exception is
perhaps the immediate Past Secretary to the State Government who has despite
being out of government continued to proffer solutions to the myraid of
problems and challenges facing the state, in his permanent column in NIGERIAN HORN NEWSPAPERS.Also, the
Chief of Staff (Government House) has surprisingly been proving that he knows
his onions. This is a story for another day. Please forgive me for this
digression.
With the situation now in Imo State, especially the
on-going demolition; the masses and the elites have resigned to fate, perhaps
only managing to tell Okorocha“WAKA,
SHEGE, NMEEEHH, WE WON’T FIGHT BACK BUT GOD WILL PUNISH YOU”(apologies to SAM
ONWUEMEODO). This to me is a defeatist approach and sign of cowardice.
When the
immediate past government of Ikedi Ohakim embarked on the clean and green
initiative policy (and without authorization from the Imo State House of
Assembly) which saw businesses and properties of Imo Citizens destroyed, I was
affected. I lost over 25 million naira worth of hard earned goods and other
properties in 2007. I did not fold my hands. I am not a coward. I was the only
person that stepped out to fight the injustice meted out to me, damning the consequences
and I won. The rest is history.
The
question now is: why is Okorocha embarking on road expansion projects in the
state capital, when salaries of civil servants and pensioners are yet to be
paid? This is a million dollar question considering the socio-economic hardship
Imo people are experiencing currently. Honestly, the road expansion project is
uncalled for at this point in time. If salaries of civil servants and
pensioners had been paid as at when due, and Okorocha is hell bent on the road
expansion project; perhaps I will not waste my ink on this article.
Since
Okorocha has commenced this project, I will only advise that he executes them
one after another, rather than bulldozing everywhere at the same time, and in
this rainy season. Hmmm, MbaanuOdiginma.
Just take
a look at the Orji Mechanic village. The place has been completely demolished,
leaving sorrows, tears and blood to flow freely in many families. Nevertheless,
let me state that the move by Government to relocate Orji-Mechanic village to
somewhere in Avu had been on since the Achike Udenwa era. Dr. Ikedi Ohakim also
served the mechanics quit notice during his tenure as governor, when he started
the construction of the flyover. Now that Okorocha has almost completed that
flyover, he has insisted that the mechanics should move to their permanent
location in Avu – Owerri West LGA. To a large extent, I shed no tears for the
mechanics, since the process of their eviction had been on for over ten years
(10yrs). I am only concerned that the eviction took place in this austere
period. Finish.
EKEUKWU
OWERRI MARKET
This is the ancestral, traditional and
socio-cultural market of NDI-OWERRE
NCHI-ISE. This market has existed for over 200 years. Recently, the
Okorocha led government has indicated interest to relocate the market to
another place. More regrettably, Governor Okorocha intends to relocate the
market to another local government area – MBAITOLI. As far as I am concerned,
this planned relocation is an affront to the culture and tradition of the
Owerri people. This market has cultural and historical significance to the
people of the entire Owerri. The market is the biggest market in Imo State,
with a face value of over N60 billion naira.
When the
market got burnt in 1987, the then military Governor, Lt Commander
Amadi Ikwechegh quickly built the Relief Market to cushion the effect of the
losses traders’ incurred, before he gradually rebuilt the market one year later.
Today, within the state capital, there are three main markets namely; (A) EKEUKWU OWERRI MARKET which deals
mainly on – provisions, beverages, cosmetics, medicines, Books, Boutiques,
Electrical/electronics, and Food items.
(B) NEW
MARKET which deals mainly on Motor Spare parts.
(C) RELIEF
MARKET which deals mainly on Nigerian Foods generally.
You can therefore see that the EKE-UKWU Owerri market is the main hub of business transactions and
activities in Imo State with an estimated daily turnover of about N1.3billion
naira. This market has extended to School road, Chikwere street, Ihugba street,
Kagha street, Christ Church road, Ekeonunwa street, Okorie street,Stadium lane,
Njemanze street, Tetlow road etc.
Perhaps,
the Okorocha led leadership is worried that the Ekeukwu market has grown out of
proportion, considering its proximity to both Government House and the City
Centre. Perhaps, this is the main reason the Ikedi Ohakim leadership laid the
foundation stone of the new Government House at New Owerri, which regrettably
the current administration has discarded. But whatever is the reason for the
planned relocation of the market, the present leadership did not exhaust other
viable options before arriving at this unpopular decision.
(1)
Removing the market will deny
Owerri Muncipal Council of their revenues from traders.
(2)
Removing the market without the consent
of NDI-OWERRE, will deny or distort the cultural heritage of the people.
(3)
Every community in Imo State has a market.
Every Local Government Area in Imo State has a market. Of the three markets in
Owerri Municipal Council, it is only the EKE-UKWU Market that is the
known or accepted market of the Owerri Community.
(4)
The Owerri NCHI-ISE as a whole has
collectively informed Government that the Ancestral Market cannot be relocated
to another place, talk-less to another Local Government area.
(5)
Relocating the market will push
thousands of Owerri Landlords into “unemployment” market. This is
because their shops and stores will now be vacated for the new place in
Mbaitoli LGA.
(6)
Relocating the market will kill economic
activities in the State Capital.
(7)
Relocating the market will cause the
cost of living in the State capital to rise to an unprecedented level.
(8)
There will be an increase in crime rate
in the State if the market is relocated.
(9)
Relocating the market will cause total
dis-equilibrium in the system.
(10) And so on
and so forth.
Having come this
far, let me inform the reading public that Governor Okorocha cannot be allowed
to be a law unto himself in a democratic setting. There are three arms of
government, and the three are supposed to be operating on one page for the
smooth running of the system. Bearing this in mind, one is in doubt if Okorocha
ever sent an executive bill asking the Imo State House of Assembly to authorize
him to relocate EKE-UKWU Owerri
market to another Local Government Area. Since there is no such bill before the
Assembly, and as such no bill has been passed urging Okorocha to relocate the
market, the Governor’s planned action is illegal and infact dead on arrival.
Therefore, if Okorocha insists to relocate the market, it means that he has ulterior
motive.Q.E.D.
However, as a
socio-political crusader who believes in “Give and take’’, equity, fairness and
justice, let me point out that Government can BAN STREET TRADING within and around the EKE-UKWU Owerri market. To make this BAN effective, a mobile court
should be established whereby defaulters shall be jailed three months without
an option of fine or appeal. This simple strategy will assist to de-congest the
market.
Also the following set of traders
can be moved to the new place under construction, without relocating EKEUKWU Owerri Market.
(1) Medicine
Traders
(2) Books
Traders
(3) Electrical/Electronic
parts Traders.
While allowing
only Cosmetics, Provisions Beverages and Boutique traders to remain in EKEUKWU
market. This strategy also will assist to decongest the market. I am therefore recommending these
simple strategies to Okorocha led government to implement. It is crisis free
and cost effective.
RELOCATION OF
AUTO-DEALERS.
I have received
with amazement the order by Governor Okorocha to Auto-dealers to relocate their
business to Ngor-Okpala LGA from their present location in Naze – Owerri West
LGA. It is on record that the same Okorocha forced the Auto dealers to relocate
from their original location along Egbu road to Naze. Less than three years
later, the governor has ordered the Auto-Dealers to vacate their present location,
which government gave to them. The auto-dealers spent millions of naira to put
the present place in order. Their vacated location at Egbu road today houses SHOPRITE.
The question is; why should Okorocha
be inflicting hardship and terror on the people of Imo State. With the obvious
socio-economic dis-equilibrium in the state caused by the present leadership,
Governor Okorocha is simply calling for a revolution against his leadership. It
happened in 2011, it can happen again. If Governor Okorocha feels that because
he is now in his second tenure, and cannot be subjected to another round of
election, and as such he can destroy people’s properties (which has building
approvals), while hiding under the excuse of road expansion; then he must be
told clearly that nobody has monopoly of violence and destruction. Okorocha,
his family, aides and others in this government have properties in Imo state as
well. I am therefore calling on Governor Okorocha to match his brakes on the
rampaging angry bulldozers before it becomes too late.
In 1996 (20 years ago), the people
of Imo State moved against 419 elements and ritual killers in the state, when
it became obvious that their lives and socio-economic well-being were under
threat. This is the current situation in Imo State. Let me stop here before the
shameless Imo State Police command and the tactless Department of State
Security (DSS) will fraudulently and criminally accuse me of inciting the
public.
Finally, Governor Okorocha is making
it difficult for his party to retain Imo State come 2019.
Leadership must have a human face. Leadership is all about selfless service to
the people. Leadership must be anchored on Truth, Love and Honesty.
I rest my pen.
Signed
Citizen (Dr.)
Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha FCAI, MKDA
Former Senior
Special Assistant on Media
Immediate Past
Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties
Imo State House
of Assembly.
Owerri-Imo
State, Nigeria
16th
July, 2016.
07032934037
Please follow me
on facebook@citizenikennasamuelsoniwuoha.
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