House Of Reps Member, Onyewuchi Calls On Okorocha To Halt Demolition, Compensate Victims (PRESS RELEASE)

The member representing Owerri Federal Constituency and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Labour, Employment and Productivity,Hon. Ezenwa Onyewuchi, has called on the Imo State Government to halt its ongoing demolition exercise in the state and restore calm to the polity
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This is coming after receiving several complaints, protests and petitions from his constituents who have expressed shock, grief and despair at the destruction of their properties and means of livelihood by the Imo State Government.

He expressed great concern over the on going demolition of private and commercial properties including the mechanic village. He argues that for the government to relocate the mechanic village, the government needs to provide an alternative location that is easily accessible to both motorists and artisans before the planned relocation.

He reminds government that some of the structures being demolished have government approvals and have been in existence before the creation of Imo State.

He called for a halt on plans of the government to desecrate the sacred history of Owerri people by relocating their ancestral market "the Eke Ukwu Owerri market" to another location outside Owerri. He says that with proper planning, the filth and congestion associated with Eke Ukwu Owerri can be managed and controlled to the barest minimum.

Hon. Onyewuchi as a lover of development believes in good road network but argues that it should be given a human face especially at this time of severe economic hardship. The  lawmaker states that the government should focus on constructing the Uratta ring road in Owerri North, Ihiagwa/Nekede/Eziobodo road in Owerri West and other roads as these roads are of utmost socio-economic importance to the people of Owerri.

He states that government should not arbitrarily impose her developmental plans on citizens through the wanton destruction of properties, urging government to be guided by the constitution and the land use act hence properties should be properly evaluated and compensation paid accordingly.

The lawmaker faulted the timing and process of the exercise, advising government to prioritise in the face of competing demands for scarce resources, wondering if payment of workers’ salaries and pension should not take priority and if government can complete these projects expeditiously to avoid the ugly consequences of not doing so.

He prayed for the success of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s administration and wished them God’s guidance.



PHOTO; HON EZENWA ONYEWUCHI