The Recent Executive relocation order of the State Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha to Artisans, Technicians and Traders in Ekeonunwa Market, Mechanic Village at Orji and Nekede as well as illegal squatters scattered all over the municipal may soon take a new dimension and tolls, as tension now mounts in the capital following rumours of proposed one million man march and protests by the affected groups.
It was speculated that it was in line of available security reports that the Governor cancelled a recent invitation meeting he scheduled to hold with the leaders of the groups on Tuesday, May 31st but chose to detail security agents to the leadership of the two villages to ascertain the situation on ground and urge them not to embark on any form of protest.
It was alleged that while the affected members of the artisans at Orji and Nekede seem to have lost some confidence in their leaders who they accuse of being on the side of government to effect the exercise that they had proposed to take the bull by the horn to join their leaders at any meeting in protest to express their displeasure on the proposed relocation order, which they claim will jeopardize their jobs and discomfiture as well dislocate their families. However grapevine reports have it that while artisans and technicians at the two identifiable villages are on consultation with government on the mode of movement to the new acquired locations at Avu, Naze, and Umuguma, the Ekeonunwa traders and wayside auto mechanics and artisans are allegedly planning for a one million man street protect march perhaps without the approval of the security agencies.
If this were to take place, there are fears of mayhem as street urchins and criminals may use opportunity of such event to unleash mayhem or cause breach of the peace.
It is for this reason that various categories of security agencies have mounted surveillance over the two villages and the market locations.
Meanwhile, serious nocturnal meetings have been going on between the original landowners and landlords of existing structures or properties in the area as the relocation order and speculated status of the location affects them. While the landlords claim that they possess official documentary land deeds of their plots including the Certificate of Occupancy, the original landowners claim that government did not pay them any compensation when the lands were acquired.
The Nekede Mechanic Village is said to belong to the Nekede community in Owerri West LGA whereas the Mechanic Village Ama-wire Orji is said to belong to Orji community in Owerri Mbieri in Mbaitoli Local Government.
Other authoritative sources disclosed that one of the villages earmarked for development by the federal government on a two year contract job of Public Private Partnership arrangement (PPP) slated have started and concluded by between 2012 and 2014.
Our source disclosed that the matter and document relating to the proposed project could not see the light of the day perhaps due to the political difference between the state and federal government at the time in question.
The proposed Mechanic Village under some Private Concerns and federal government agencies would have included Auto Mechanic Training Centre, and buildings for artisans with other automotive facilities and appurtenances a sample of this is now in existence in Enugu State.
It is not known whether this what the state government intends to achieve at the new centres as our source indicates that the Governor is doing proper and right thing to clear off all types of artisans from the streets of the municipality.
Courtesy: Community Watchdog News
