A former two time member of Imo State House of Assembly and serving Senator representing Owerri Senatorial Zone, Hon. Sam Daddy Anyanwu has condemned in very strong terms Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha resort to the demolition of both public and private buildings in a bid to settle scores with perceived political opponents and enemies.
The Senator who is also the Chairman of the Senate standing committee on public petitions, privileges etc stated that his attention was recently drawn to the malaise, two months after Okorocha commenced the madness of demolishing houses in a bid to restore the master plan of Owerri Capital Area.
In a release which was made available to Community Watchdog, the Senator said, “this reaction is borne out of many factors that include the need to intervene on behalf of my violated and bruised constituents, the many petitions, protests, and calls that have inundated my office in lamentation of their loss of possessions and means of livelihood and now incapacitated to eke out a living or pay school fees for their children and wards”. He therefore regretted the wanton and unjustifiable demolition exercises so far carried out by Governor Okorocha saying that they are totally unacceptable.
Expressing his disapproval and discontentment, with Okorocha’s attitude, Senator Anyanwu averred that the “acts run foul to globally acceptable standards”. Continuing, he predicated his reaction to the saying that “injustice, wickedness and evil strive only when good men do nothing”. He wondered why Governor Owelle Rochas Okorocha will embark on such vendetta and acts of vindictiveness as there is no explanation whatsoever for the raging madness, saying it is unthinkable that someone will go ahead with such project of demolition that pauperizes the masses when the economy has been adjudged as “technically in recession”. He said that he expected Okorocha to be more human and citizen-friendly in the designing and implementation of his policies.
Speaking further, Senator Sam Daddy Anyanwu, declared”, “governments are for the welfare and well being of the people and anything less can be anti people and could descend to the hobbian idea of life being brutish and short”, means that Okorocha is not only insensitive but plays on the sensibilities of right thinking members of our society.
While attempting to adduce reasons why many have accused Okorocha as vindictive and merely settling scores in the name of road and street expansion; Senator Anyanwu stressed further, thus “it is worrisome to observe that since the last general election in 2015, the incumbent state Governor has been acting as if is at war with his own citizens, going by his numerous actions and inactions”, utterances which development is rather ludicrous.
He regretted that the victims of the buildings demolitions, have been subjected to such harrowing and sorrowful experiences more so when it happened long after OCDA gave official approvals for their construction, adding that, “the reality on ground is that the present condition of the economy and the rainy season do not in any way support Okorocha’s demolition exercise in the name and disguise of urban renewal. This he stated is especially when such basic utilities such as public portable water, electricity generation, refuse disposable and provision of an integrated drainage system, which ought to attract his priority attention, are completely lacking in the state capital.
In a similar vein, Senator Sam Daddy Anyanwu condemned Okorocha’s decision to sack some traditional rulers who he previously placed on suspension describing this act as against the revered, inviolable and sacred institution and culture of Igboland. He named those affected in the sack order to include his marriage sponsor, Reginald Amadi, Eze Engr. Ben IK Nwaneri of Owubinubi and Eze Akujor Osuagwu of Awaka ancient kingdom, stating that it smacks of unnecessary antagonism, victimization, inexhaustible abomination, oppression and affront, especially when the only reason adduced for their sack is that they joined others to welcome the former, President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan more than one year ago.
He then reminded Governor Okorocha that power is transient and that no condition is permanent reminding him that someday somebody could reverse all his negative decisions in office
