Prof Charles Soludo, the Governor of Anambra State has reiterated his administration’s determination to go ahead with the planned demolition of about 200 houses already marked for blocking the drainage systems in the commercial city of Onitsha.
Soludo who made the vow Wednesday during a meeting with the affected landlords of the houses at Onitsha South Local Government Secretariat, Fegge, said the need to demolish the structures cannot be overemphasized.
Onyekachukwu Ibezim, the deputy governor who represented Governor Soludo addressing the landlords on the need for them to start gradual removal of structures according to vanguard repoort reiterated, “We will employ the carrot and stick approach because we are in a democracy.”
“You will see us in action if you disobey. The government will come hard on you. We have all it takes to demolish the buildings; just dynamite and the buildings go down in a second and we are not coming for a second meeting again with you people” he vowed.
“We live in dust bin sites. Water must find its course even if you stop it. We don’t want to use force because we are people-oriented”
Speaking, the Transition Committee chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Council, Emeka Asoanya, said, “Some Churches were built on top of drainages and when you confront those who built them, they will boast that they own the government.”
He urged the state government not to look at whose ox is gored in the demolition exercise since the motive was for urban renewal.
Contributing, Gilbert Obi Bravo, Chairman, Board of Trustees, BOT, Importers Association of Nigeria, urged the state government to apply human face in handling the issue and pay compensation to those whose papers, Certificate of Occupancy, (Cof O) are genuine.
“If you built on drainages, there will not be compensation for you. I also want the government to fix the roads and clear the mountains of refuse that have sacked the area.
Makes 8 new appointments, names Aburime Press Secretary
Meantime, Governor Chukwuma Soludo has made eight new appointments, including Christian Aburime as Press Secretary.
The Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr Paul Nwosu named the new appointees as Chukwuemeka Agbata, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, ICT Agency; Chike Anyaonu MD/CEO Anambra State Housing Development Corporation; Joe Anatune, MD/CEO, Anambra State Signage and Advertising Agency; Arch. Okey Ezeobi, GM/CEO Anambra State Bureau of Public Procurement; Christian Aburime, Press Secretary Media; Tochukwu Nweke Special Adviser Legal; Dr Nelson Omenugha, Special Adviser, Youth Empowerment Programme; and Bob-Manuel Udokwu, Special Adviser, Entertainment, Leisure and Tourism.
