Indigenes of Umuoyima, a Community in Owerri Municipal Council in Imo State, yesterday staged a peaceful protest over plans to demolish their ancestral market, the old Ogbosisi Market by Imo State Government.
The protesters, comprising of men, women and children who carried placards with different inscriptions; “This is where our ancestors were buried”, “this is the only land that remains for Umuoyima”, “Imo Government leave our land for us”, “Akachi is taken, Otamiri extension is taken by Government, leave this land for us”, “This is our last hope,” the land belongs to Umuoyima Community and not Imo State Government” “Umuoyima is APC”, Umuoyima supports His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodimma”
According to the protesters, the land has been given back to the Community, questioning why the same Government should come to evict their tenants.
Speaking with newsmen during the protest, the President General Chief Christian Anukam lamented the forceful taken over of the land despite the fact that the previous Administrations in the State had considered the Community and released the land to them.
Anukam expressed confident that the present Government under the leadership of Senator Hope Uzodimma would not carry out such act on account that the entire Community are with him.
A leader from the Community, Hon. Paschal Ugwuanya noted that the entire gathered on a notice credited to the Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) over their plans to evacuate the tenants without adequate notice to the landlords
He said: “this morning I learnt that OCDA officials are coming,” . “In fact, I don’t really know why they are coming. “We are here to see the OCDA General Manager and know why they are coming” “This place has been released to us by the past Administration during the time of Chief Achike Ufenwa and it’s not in context”, “So we are here to know why they are coming”
Another Son of the Community, Prince Mike Ukaegbu said the peaceful protest was aimed at pleading with the State Government that this is the only land remained for them.
According to him, we have sacrificed a lot. Many of us, our houses can no longer accommodate us. We are trying to see how to overcome the challenge. We are on this peaceful protest to beseach the Governor to come to our rescue on this issue. We want you to save, we are in Support of your Government.
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