For Imo State to avert a looming calamity, the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha must be bold enough to relocate the present site of the Ama Hausa quarters along the busy Douglas Road, Owerri to a more serene environment that will be conducive for the settlers and also for the good of Imo state and its citizens.
This clarion call was made in Owerri by a former Aide of Governor Okorocha and ex-General Manager of Owerri Capital Development Authority OCDA, Town Planner Iheanyi Abaekwueme.
The renowned Town Planner said that apart from the ugly state of the Ama Hausa quarters to the beauty of Owerri, the security of Imo state, as he alleged that Hausa Quarters habours all kinds of miscreants whose identities cannot be ascertained and guaranteed even by those who quarter them.
Abaekwueme said that when he was the GM of ODCA, he recommended to Gov Okorocha the importance of upgrading Ama Hausa to commercial centre that can improve the economy of the state, and relocating the inhabitants of the quarters to a permanent and conducive environment where they can do their business without distorting the master plan of Owerri City.
He said that now that Bombs are being planted in Imo state, this is the right time to move away Ama Hausa Quarter from its present location as according to Abaekwueme, there is no accurate census of those living there, and serves as melting point for criminals heading it Imo state.
“Residents of Ama Hausa engage in urban crime. No data of the residents, no number of shops, no one knows those living there. Over 100 shops are in Ama Hausa. They do not pay taxes, levies, neither do any one know the type of business they transact” Abaekwueme said.
He maintained that it will be a big failure for Okorocha not to relocate Ama Hausa, pointing out that it could be termed double standard, since the Okorocha administration had demolished gigantic buildings in the state, destroyed shopping complexes, why then should the Ama Hausa issue be different. Abaekwueme said Ama Hausa Quarters covers over 1.3 hectres of land that can be upgraded to a first class business area, adding that while he was OCDA Boss, he had agreed with the residents there to be relocated to other areas; like those dealing on live stock moving to Port Harcourt road; food stuff to Relief Market etc adding that Banks had already indicated interest on the projects.
“Today the Mechanic Villages in Orji and Nekede are under threats to be moved. Why not Ama Hausa that posses more security risk to Imo state?” he asked.
“Atrocities are happening in Ama Hausa and nobody is doing any thing. No thorough fare there, a slum that is a meeting point by of miscreants” Abaekwueme lamented.
He stressed that OCDA is ready to relocate Ama Hausa today, but it needs the support of the Government, adding that non relocation of Ama Hausa will affect Okorocha’s political future.
“Why is it that Okorocha cannot remove Ama Hausa?
If we can remove corner shops and other bigger houses, what of Ama Hausa? Because they are APC or more superior to Imo citizens? It will be a failure to Okorocha if he does not reorganize and upgrade Ama Hausa” Abaekwueme maintained.
He concluded by saying that no body is asking the sacking of the Hausas from Imo state, but they should be relocated to a more organized place so that Government can adequately take care of them, while they too contribute to the development of the state with both parties
