Chinedum Treasure
The Advance Democracy Movement (ADM) in Onitsha South Local Government Area of Anambra State has expressed worry over Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s silence in the face of alleged atrocities being committed by Chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area, Mr. Emeka Orji.
Speaking with newsmen at Fegge, Onitsha, the chairman of ADM, Mr. Anselem Okafor said it has become necessary for the Governor to speak out on this mindless demolition of people’s means of livelihood because Orji claimed that he carried out the action with the consent of the Governor.
He said the recent demolition of the business premises of Sir Best at Silas Works Road by Orji, his agents and privies called for Governor’s intervention.
“Orji’s hoodlums who came in with bulldozer and other equipment just for the demolition raised the buildings down and destroyed the goods belonging to the traders at the premises.
“They went ahead to carry away the debris including the iron rods which have been sold at giveaway prices by his thugs.
‘At our latest visit to the place, we were shocked that Orji and his boys have started excavating the debris for whatever purpose which only them can explain,” he said.
The group expressed shock that Orji and his cohort destroyed premises that have Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) approval plan from the the Physical Planning Board and other relevant agencies of the State.
” How can somebody have C of O, approval plan and all the relevant documents, yet have his property destroyed without the consent of the Governor?
While regretting that the destruction of the property was overheating Onitsha South and the entire Onitsha, the group asked the Governor to send his top investigators to carry out far reaching investigations into the matter.
They said the action of Orji is not good for the governor’s popularity, urging him to urgently call the Local Government chairman to order.
“We are in a democratic set up where due process and rule of law should take its full course. Yes, Governor of the State has all the land but how will Local Government chairman took the law into his hands to destroy citizens’ properties?
“The people are worried about the destruction of Sir Best’s property and reckless pulling down of other people’s properties. We urge Governor Soludo to say something about the destruction of the property.
The action of Orji, they said, is destroying the name of the Governor, who has done so much for Onitsha South especially in road rehabilitation.
“So, he should not allow the Local Government chairman to destroy the good will he has generated in the Local Government and the entire State to be squandered by Orji and his cohorts” said the rights
The rights body also said that the women who are mainly widows have been going through excruciating experience since the destruction of the premises because they could not find where to sell their wares which they used to sustain their families.
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