Imo State governor, Rochas Okorocha has been called upon to halt the on-going demolition of buildings in the state in the name of expansion of city roads.
Making the call in a statement in Abuja, the senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Hope Uzodimma said the call has become necessary following several petitions from his constituents lamenting the wanton destruction of their property by the government without compensation.
The senator said he had received over 100 petitions from his constituents living in the state, lamenting that their property have been razed by the government in the name of road construction in Orlu, Owerri and Okigwe towns.
He said the petitioners said they were dazed that a democratically elected government could embark on such unilateral and wanton destruction of property without caring how it could affect their wellbeing in an already tensed economic and social environment.
Uzodimma consequently advised the state government to immediately halt the exercise, noting that it was causing havoc and hardship on Imo people.
The senator regretted that the ongoing destruction of property in the state, including churches and business premises by the state government appeared to be without consideration of any negotiation or compensation for the owners, adding that in a democracy, “that is an aberration. I think the state government should not only stop the destruction but should work out how to pay compensation to those whose property have already been destroyed.”
Uzodimma who is also the Senate committee chairman on Aviation added that with the present economic hardship in the country, it would be most unfair for any government to embark on measures that could worsen the economic situation of citizens, explaining that what the state government was doing was capable of making life worse for affected Imo people.
Stop demolition of buildings in Imo, Uzodimma tells Okorocha
