By; Victor Duruamaku, Owerri.
Imo State Government has explained that the ongoing demolition of houses and other structures in some parts of the state capital, Owerri, is to remodel the capital city by getting the major roads and streets expanded.
According to the state governor, Chief Rochas Okorocha, his administration has embarked on the demolition exercise, to expand the internal road and remodel the Owerri CapitalCity.
Reacting to the demolition exercise, some residents of the Capital City, believe that though the demolition exercise may be painful but it would bring the state Capital Owerri, to its’ original master plan.
A frontline politician in the state, Chief Huberth Nzem, in his own opinion believed that by the end of the exercise, Owerri the State Capital would have turned out to be the cleanest state capital in the country.
He asked “How long shall the state capital remain a shanty” and urged other state governments to emulate the style of Imo state Governor, Rochas Okorocha.
Contrary to this opinion, however, the former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Emeka Ihedioha described the demolition exercise as ill-timed and misplaced priority.
He said that the exercise, as good as it may be should not be a priority at this time as it has rendered a lot of people particularly artisans jobless, and confused.
Chief Ihedioha is of the view that the government should have used the huge sum of money accruing to the state, to get its priorities right by completing the projects it embarked upon since 2011.
According to him, most of the road projects abandoned by the government have become death traps.
He urged the government to consider paying compensation on the demolished buildings.
