Leaders of Owerri zone (Imo East Senatorial Zone) at the weekend in Owerri, Imo State capital, called on Governor Hope Uzodimma to implement without further delay, the recommendations of the Justice Florence Duruoha Igwe Judicial Panel of Inquiry on Lands and other Related Matters, which recommended forfeiture of properties cornered unlawfully by former Governor of Imo State and Senator Representing Orlu Zone in the Senate, Rochas Okorocha.
The leaders irrespective of political leanings met at Rockview Hotel, Owerri, where they passed a resolution, urging the Governor not to hesitate henceforth to recover all properties stolen by the former Governor as contained in the panel’s report.
The resolution of the leaders came barely a week, the Orlu Political Consultative Assembly, OPOCA, the apex political group in Orlu zone initiated the process of recalling Senator Rochas Okorocha from the senate.
The Imo State government and Okorocha have engaged in fierce altercations after the former Governor and Senator had unsealed the Royal Palm Estate, a property linked to his wife and sealed by the Imo State government.
Speaking at the event, Imo State Commissioner of Lands, Survey and Physical Planning, Enyinnaya Onuegbu, informed the gathering details of the white paper, which detailed the number of properties and lands across the State unlawfully taken by the former Governor.
He said former Governor Okorocha had engaged in primitive acquisition of properties, recalling that several lands and properties belonging to the people of the State which the White paper recommended for seizure and forfeiture should be recovered from the former Governor.
“This is not a case of witch hunting but brazen display of land grabbing by the former Governor to the detriment of land owners particularly in Owerri zone.
He said Governor Hope Uzodimma needs the support of well meaning Imolites particularly in Owerri zone to implement the white paper.
Former Speakers, Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Kelechi Nwagwu and Rt Hon Godfrey Dikeocha, drummed support for the Governor to fully implement the White paper, saying the good people of Owerri zone are solidly behind the recovery of properties corned by the former Governor, his friends, associates.
Convener of the meeting, Dr. Alex Mbata said the people of Owerri zone have been taken a decision on the matter, urging Governor Uzodimma to implement the report without delay. Other speakers at the event such as Sir Ambrose Ejiogu and Pastor Nelson Nwole all spoke in unison, calling for immediate action on the part of the State government to recover the properties in Okorocha’s possession.
A communique detailing the resolution of Owerri zone leaders on the recovery of all government properties in private hands including Senator Rochas Okorocha, was read by the State Commissioner for Special Projects, Barr Kingsley Ononuju.
Some prominent leaders of the zone present at the meeting include Imo State Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku, former Deputy Governor, Dr (Mrs) Ada Okwuonu, co convener of the meeting, Chief Henry Njoku (Harritex), Sir Ambose Ejiogu, Former Member House of Representatives, Hon Ernest Ibejiako, Majority Leader, Imo State House, Hon.Ken Onyemaechi, Imo State Representative, Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission, Chief Victor Murako, Special Adviser To Gov Uzodimma on ADP, Chief Gibson Njemanze (Oyiga), Federal Commissioner,Imo State office of Public Complaints Commission, PCC, Chief (Barr) Willie Amadi.
Others present include Hon. Philip Ejiogu, Hon. Chief Bright Nwalue, Hon. Clinton Amadi, Hon. Mrs. Chika Ibekwe, Chief Tony Grey Okpe, ) Evang. Etelbert Okere, Chief Ifeanyi Opara , Hon. Dan Ikpeazu, Chief Sir Fidel Onyeneke, Chief Blydeen Amajuruonwu, traditional rulers drawn from the nine local governments of the zone and many others.
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