Fear of the unknown is high in Owerri, the Imo State capital over possible breakdown of law and order arising from the plans to dislodge the original shop owners of Old stadium lane, in Owerri, Imo State capital.
Sources revealed that tension is high within the Ekeonunwa market, Tetlow and surrounding streets in the area over plans to displace traders who had paid and own shops at the demolished old stadium area.
Trumpeta learnt that during the Okorocha era, the Old stadium, Owerri shop owners had reached an agreement to pay for rent of 50 years, but suddenly and without notice government bulldozers came to demolish it.
In a letter to the governor made available to newsmen, the traders wrote “Sir, it might interest you to note that during the ruthless era of your predecessor, Okorocha, our shops were illegal demolished. Despite the 50 years ownership agreement we have with the state government through the Imo State Sports Council, bulldozers wrecked our shops after four disheartening four hours notice which made us to lose millions of naira arising from the quantum of destroyed goods in our shops.
“An array of hope came our way when His Excellency, Rt Hon Ihedioha during the pre 2019 governorship campaign visited Oha Owerri Hall and Old stadium, Owerri and promised to reconstruct and handover our shops to us if elected. That promise was the needed tonic that fired us into action to support and go further to vote massively for our dear governor and other PDP candidates in the 2019 general elections.
“It is important at this juncture to note that till date, there was neither a compensation paid for our destroyed shops nor goods worth millions demolished inside the shops by the Okorocha government, forcing us to be on makeshift arrangements in front of our demolished shops for daily business activities.
“Sir, surprisingly, we have observed erection of new structures on our demolished shops at the old stadium lane location, Owerri, which somehow excites our belief that Governor Emeka Ihedioha wants to fulfill his promise of rebuilding our demolished shops in line with his “My words is my Bond” watchword.
“In view of the above, we humbly request His Excellency to allow us take over our shops in fulfillment of his campaign promises.
“Having known that His Excellency, Governor Ihedioha has high regard for Due Process, we request to be reinstated back to our shops because we are yet to spend up to 15 years of the 50 years ownership arrangements we have with the state government through the sports council, returning our shops to us will be in fulfillment of part of the campaign promises of His Excellency.
“The membership of our organization are apostles of the Rebuild Imo government and hopeful that His Excellency shall in application of his wise wisdom in the management of the affairs of the state so far, return the stadium land shop owners to their original location in the new structures”.
With the position of the traders and suspected plans to remove them, there is tension in the state capital.
