By anthony anyanwu
Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha may have opened another Pandora box which ultimately pits him in daggers drawn with indigenes of “Owerre Nchi Ise” as he moves to convert their Cemetery to lock-up shops.
The plan came to the fore Wednesday October 23, as agents operating under the state government cover entered the Cemetery along the Relief Market where they were uprooting dead Bodies and Bones in their attempt to construct Lock-up shops at the ancient Cemetery.
Raising the alarm among other indigenes of Owerre is the President General of Owerri Peoples Assembly, Chief Anukam Oweaya.
Chief Anukam who described the attempt as callous and wicked said that it is unfortunate that government after dispossessing his people of almost all their lands, the state government under,Owelle Rochas Okorocha will think of encroaching in their Cemetery where their relations and great grand fathers are at rest.
He however, advised the state government and its agents to stay clear from the zone as any further attempt will be met with stiff resistance by his people.
Chief Anukam told our reporter that he has been inundated with complaints from his kinsmen who frowned at the development.
Our reporter who monitored the development reported that despite demolishing the erected fence inside the Cemetery by angry Owerre Youths, an official from the mayoral office gathered the youths at Tetlow Road where he attempted to coerce them into allowing the construction to go on.
The demolition which was done by Umummiri kindred of Umuodu insists that the place is where their ancestors are buried and therefore not ready to bulge.
When contacted Youth Chairman of Umuodu Community, Mr Anayo Igwe, however said the matter has been amicably resolved as they have reached an understanding on the issue.
Efforts to speak to Mayor, Owerri Zone, Chief Njemanze was futile, but a source close to the Mayor said it is the stock in trade of Chief Anukam to raise false alarm when there is none as there was an agreement between government and the community for the construction of the stalls on the site even before he assumed office, stating that Anukam should have gotten proper briefing on the issue before speaking on an issue he lacks little of knowledge of.
It was learnt that Umummiri Youths went berserk when they noticed that the community leaders did not carry them along in the agreement which was in place before the Mayor assumed office.
Trumpeta learnt that there was an agreement between the community and the state government which had the approval of all and sundry.
“There was an agreement, it’s just that the youths were not carried along. That is why they are protesting”, a community leader told Trumpeta.Imo State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha may have opened another Pandora box which ultimately pits him in daggers drawn with indigenes of “Owerre Nchi Ise” as he moves to convert their Cemetery to lock-up shops.
The plan came to the fore Wednesday October 23, as agents operating under the state government cover entered the Cemetery along the Relief Market where they were uprooting dead Bodies and Bones in their attempt to construct Lock-up shops at the ancient Cemetery.
Raising the alarm among other indigenes of Owerre is the President General of Owerri Peoples Assembly, Chief Anukam Oweaya.
Chief Anukam who described the attempt as callous and wicked said that it is unfortunate that government after dispossessing his people of almost all their lands, the state government under,Owelle Rochas Okorocha will think of encroaching in their Cemetery where their relations and great grand fathers are at rest.
He however, advised the state government and its agents to stay clear from the zone as any further attempt will be met with stiff resistance by his people.
Chief Anukam told our reporter that he has been inundated with complaints from his kinsmen who frowned at the development.
Our reporter who monitored the development reported that despite demolishing the erected fence inside the Cemetery by angry Owerre Youths, an official from the mayoral office gathered the youths at Tetlow Road where he attempted to coerce them into allowing the construction to go on.
The demolition which was done by Umummiri kindred of Umuodu insists that the place is where their ancestors are buried and therefore not ready to bulge.
When contacted Youth Chairman of Umuodu Community, Mr Anayo Igwe, however said the matter has been amicably resolved as they have reached an understanding on the issue.
Efforts to speak to Mayor, Owerri Zone, Chief Njemanze was futile, but a source close to the Mayor said it is the stock in trade of Chief Anukam to raise false alarm when there is none as there was an agreement between government and the community for the construction of the stalls on the site even before he assumed office, stating that Anukam should have gotten proper briefing on the issue before speaking on an issue he lacks little of knowledge of.
It was learnt that Umummiri Youths went berserk when they noticed that the community leaders did not carry them along in the agreement which was in place before the Mayor assumed office.
Trumpeta learnt that there was an agreement between the community and the state government which had the approval of all and sundry.
“There was an agreement, it’s just that the youths were not carried along. That is why they are protesting”, a community leader told Trumpeta.
