By Okey Alozie
Troubles have escalated at Nworie River between dredgers and Governor Okorocha’s relation said to be interested in sand business at the Nworie River dredging site, Owerri.
Report has it that the Governor’s relations names witheld almost fought with her colleagues who are doing business at the river.
The leader of the aggrieved dredgers, Mr Paul Anokam regretted why the said Governor’s sister would want to monopolize every job at the river side.
Speaking further, she was accused of using the influence of her brother Governor Rochas Okorocha to cause mayhem and intimidate other dredgers accusing her of overzealousness and is causing problems in the business of dredging operators at Nworie River” One of the operators said.
Trumpeta gathered that after the Exco meeting last week, the Governor directed the Commissioner of Petroleum and Environment Hon Okey Okoro to sack all the companies operating at the river site.
We further learnt that Hon Okey Osuji who is a member of the task force passed the information to the operators demanding that they should consider it necessary to vacate the place before 72hrs or face government sanction. Last year we gathered that the chairman of the dredging committee, Hon Ugochukwu Nzekwe and his team were attacked by hoodlums suspected to have been sent by top government functionaries. Some of the government officials were said to be the owners of most of the dredging machines and workers.
One time OCDA Chairman from Irete in Owerri West is said to own the largest site at Nworie River and has dredged at the place for over 15yrs now. One Mr Donatus Ebere was alleged to have directed a particular company to pay a sum of N200,000 to a certain Bank account to be allowed to operate in the area and this act has been condemned by many site workers who also describe it as executive fraud.
Information is that those who operate at Nworie are given 700 meters as base but some companies that have godfathers fraudulently increased their base to gain more grounds..
Trumpeta also gathered that the governor’s relations is secretly trying to use an upper hand to drive away other operators so that she will be the only one working at the place as she was accused of been behind the sack letter
