Reported By A Citizen Reporter
The Imo State Governor Owelle Rochas
Okorocha has declared that he would not follow constitutional provisions to
demolish people’s houses and property in Owerri.
The governor made this declaration
through his media spokesman Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo while answering questions on the
current mass demolition of structures for road expansion in Owerri anchored in
a phone-in radio programme by Hot F.M Radio Owerri.
‘There is a reason behind every
action. The aim of the ongoing massive demolition of structures in Owerri is to
make Owerri look fine and people will benefit. If the Imo State Government
follows due process and the law in doing that, it will not achieve its aim…’.
In reaction, some executives of the
Owerri Chapter of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) led by its chairman, Barr.
Lawrence Nwakaeti who featured in the radio programme said that it was clear
that the governor was due for impeachment for disregarding the same
constitution which brought him into power and which he also swore to obey.
‘The structures being demolished
have government approvals and many of them existed even before the creation of
Imo State. If government is to change its development plans and wants to
acquire people’s land, the constitution, Land Use Act and other relevant laws
provide that a notice in writing be served on owners of the property stating
reasons for the acquisition which must be for overriding public interest.
Thereafter development on the property is evaluated and compensations paid
accordingly. All these the government never did but it has continued to
arbitrarily destroy people’s houses and structures unilaterally. The governor
should also remember that it is the same constitution that made him governor
that he is now disobeying. Well, since the governor through his media man has
made it clear that he would not obey laid down constitutional and legal
provisions on the demolition exercise, then the governor is openly inviting
anarchy in Imo state and it is an impeachable offence.….’ Nwakaeti decried.
Speaking further, Barr. Nwakaeti
described Mr. Onwuemeodo’s statement on the issue as careless, uncivilized,
provocative and possible of provoking break down of law and order in the state.
He however, called for his immediate resignation and sack.
On the state legislature, the
Anambra-born NBA boss said that the state lawmakers had turned to ‘errand boys’
to the governor and mortgaged their legislative positions by accepting
political and executive appointments from the governor. He however called on
the lawmakers to do their legislative duties in order to curb executive
lawlessness in the state.
The association nevertheless vowed
to fight to protect the citizens of the state against Governor Okorocha’s
alleged oppressive policies, ruthlessness and illegalities in the state.
Many people who called in during the
programme commended the association for the outing and urged the government not
to allow the exercise to cause break down of law and order as a result of the
demolition exercise.
Others who featured in the programme
were the Secretary of the branch, Barr. Ismael Nkwocha and his counterpart for
publicity Barr. Eke Onyeforo.
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