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| * Okorocha |
Evil thrives when men of good conscience keep quiet. Evil thrives when
the people refuse to take their destiny in their own hands. Evil
thrives in the society when a people refuse to recognize the Power of
Almighty God in time of trouble. Evil thrives in the society when the
people refuse to tap into the knowledge and wisdom of God in order to
fight the evil ones among us.
Two days ago, the popular Ekeukwu Owerri Market was demolished on the
Orders of Governor Rochas Okorocha under the Watchful eyes of the Imo
State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Okey Ezike and his team;
including the Military, Civil Defense, Imo Security Network and hired
militants from Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area, Imo State.
As early as 7am on Saturday the 26th of August 2017, I was already at
the Market to see things with my eyes. Thousands of traders, natives
and residents had already gathered to see if actually the market would
be demolished.
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| * Young boy shot during the demolition |
I walked through the crowd and came to the place Imo State government
officials and security agents were standing. I saw the Deputy Chief of
Staff (Mr. Kingsley Uju), Imo Commissioner of Police (Mr. Chris Okey
Ezike), Commandant General of Imo Security Network (Chief Donatus
Ejifugha), Ichie Best Mbanaso, General Manager of ENTRACO Hon. Jeff
Nwoha and a very large combined team of all Security agencies in the
state. I greeted the aforementioned people and almost on the spur of
the moment, Chief Donatus Ejifugha exclaimed, “SAMUELSON, I AM HAPPY
YOU ARE HERE”. He continued, “WE ARE NOT DEMOLISHING THE MARKET,
RATHER WE ARE REMOVING ILLEGAL PROJECTIONS AND STRUCTURES SO THAT
THERE WOULD BE EASY TRAFFIC FOR ALL. WE WANT DOUGLAS ROAD TO BE
LIKE WETHERAL ROAD”.
Of course I received the message from Chief Ejifugha with happiness
and total acceptance. I am in support of that; especially stopping
street trading. The Caterpillars and bulldozers actually commenced
work from AMA JK on Douglas road, removing all illegal structures.
When the caterpillars and bulldozers got to the market, it demolished
the plaza and all illegal structures and projections on the
surrounding lockup stores and shops.
Angered by the removal of illegal projections coupled by the attack by
militants from Ohaji/Egbema, Youths in Owerri made attempts to
confront security agents and stop the rampaging bulldozers. The
security operatives reacted by firing tear-gas canister at the youths.
They also fired gun shots at the crowd to disperse them.
The military men (soldiers) shot indiscriminately and even used their
Armoured Tanks vehicles to frighten People. I went back to my house at
Ikenegbu Layout Extension at around 11am. Few minutes later, I
received phone calls from some people informing me that many traders
had been wounded as a result of gun shots from soldiers and police.
Infact, I was told that a young boy (identified as SOMTOCHUKWU
IBEANUSI) had been killed by soldiers. I also r
eceived another call
informing me of the death of two other people.
It was at this point I hurriedly went back to the market at about
2:00pm. At the market, I confirmed that people were actually shot dead
by soldiers including the little boy who was assisting his mother to
evacuate goods in their shop. I felt bad and wept openly.
I also noticed that the bulldozers and caterpillars had gone beyond
what I was told by Chief Donatus Ejifugha. Many more shops had been
demolished. I returned to my house with tears in my eyes.
resolved to do a comprehensive article to that effect, in the
following areas.
(1) History of Ekeukwu Owerri Market and its challenges.
(2) Indecent Practices and actions of Owerri Indigenes on Traders.
(3) The shameless, hopeless, irresponsible and criminal action of Imo
Commissioner of Police, CP Chris Okey Ezike
(4) The invasion of Owerri by the Military
(5) The militant boys from Ohaji/Egbema LGA
(6) The traders and their mismanagement of sympathy.
(7) Why I am not happy with Governor Rochas Okorocha.
HISTORY OF EKEUKWU OWERRI MARKET AND ITS CHALLENGES.
In my published article in July 2016 entitled
“OKOROCHA, DEMOLITION OF PROPERTIES AND RELOCATION OF EKEUKWU OWERRI
MARKET” (see attached), I wrote, “This is the Ancestral Market of
NDI-OWERRE NCHI-ISE. This market has existed for over 200 years…………….
The Market has cultural and historical significance to the people of
the entire Owerri. The Market is the biggest Market in Imo State, with
a face value of over N60 = billion naira.
When the market got burnt in 1987, the then military Governor, Lt.
Commander Amadi Ikwechegh quickly built the Relief market to cushion
the effect of the losses traders incurred, before he gradually rebuilt
the market one year later. Ekeukwu Owerri is the main hob of business
transactions and activities in Imo State with an estimated daily
turnover of about N1.3 billion naira. This market has extended to
school road, Chikwere street, Ihugba street, Kagha street, Christ
Church road, Ekeonunwa Street, Okorie Street, Stadium Lane, Njemanze
Street, Tetlow road etc. Perhaps, the Okorocha led leadership is
worried that the Ekeukwu market has grown out of proportion,
considering its proximity to both Government House and the City
Centre. Perhaps, this is the main reason the Ikedi Ohakim leadership
laid the foundation stone of the New Government House at New Owerri,
which regrettably the current administration has discarded. But
whatever is the reason for the planned relocation of the market, the
present leadership did not exhaust other viable options before
arriving at this unpopular decision.
Having come this far, let me inform the reading public that Okorocha
cannot be allowed to be a law unto himself in a democratic setting.
There are three arms of government, and they are supposed to be
operating on one page for the smooth running of the system. Bearing
this in mind, one is in doubt if Okorocha ever sent an Executive Bill
asking the Imo State House of Assembly to authorize him to relocate
Eke-Ukwu Owerri Market to another local Government Area. Since there
is no such bill before the Assembly, and as such no bill has been
passed urging Okorocha to relocate the market, the Governor’s planned
action is illegal and infact dead on arrival. Therefore, if Okorocha
insists to demolish and relocate the market, it means that he has
ulterior motive QED.
However, as a socio-political crusader that believes in “Give and
Take”, Equity, Fairness and Justice, let me point out that Government
can ban street trading within and around the EKEUKWU OWERRI Market. To
make this ban effective, a mobile court should be established whereby
defaulters shall be jailed three months without an option of Fine or
Appeal. This simple strategy will assist to decongest the market.
Also, the following set of traders can be moved to the new place under
construction, without relocating EKEUKWU OWERRI Market.
(1) Medicine Traders
(2) Books Traders
(3) Electrical/Electronic Parts Traders
While allowing only cosmetics, Provisions, Beverages and Boutique
traders to remain in Ekeukwu market. This Strategy also will assist to
decongest the market.
I am therefore recommending these simple strategies to Okorocha led
government to implement. It is crisis free and cost effective”.
Unquote. This article was the moving spirit that motivated the Owerri
Nchi-Ise Indigenes to approach the court and obtained an injunction
restraining the state Government from demolishing the market. Also,
this article gingered everybody into action, and perhaps Okorocha saw
the signal and recoiled in his timidity. Also, the state police
command under the immediate past (C.P. Taiwo Lakamu) saw the signal
and refused to mobilize for action.
INDECENT PRACTICE AND ACTIONS OF OWERRI INDIGENES ON TRADERS.
With the temporary victory secured against the Okorocha led leadership
on the planned demolition of EKEUKWU Market, Owerri indigenes went
berserk. Their youths started to extort traders with all sorts of fees
and dues. Infact, street trading became more pronounced, while
gangsterism and other criminal acts against traders by both indigenes
and non-indigenes became a hobby. Also, criminal elements including
cult boys attack rob and rape female traders indiscriminately and
openly to the chagrin of onlookers daily within and around Ekeukwu
Owerri Market. Perhaps, these atrocities infuriated the Okorocha led
Government and may have led them to take the illegal action of
demolishing the market.
THE SHAMELESS, HOPELESS, IRRESPONSIBLE AND CRIMINAL ACTION OF IMO
STATE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, CP CHRIS OKEY EZIKE
It is a known fact that there is a court injunction restraining the
Imo State Government from demolishing and relocating the Ekeukwu
Market. Conversely, any action on the market that is contrary to the
court injunction should be seen as an act of lawlessness and
criminality. For this reason, the immediate past Commissioner of
Police in the State CP Taiwo Lakanu (now an AIG) refused to mobilize
officers of the Police Command when Governor Okorocha reportedly
requested him to do so sometime in September 2016, for the sole
purpose of providing security for his bulldozers to demolish the
market. Also, the then Commander of 34 Field Artillery Brigade Obinze
rejected Okorocha’s Plea to mobilize his soldiers to provide security
for bulldozers to demolish the market.
The question now is; if the then CP Taiwo Lakanu, a Yoruba man could
reject Okorocha’s plea and request to assist him to demolish Ekeukwu
Market, why would the current Police Commissioner, CP Chris Okey
Ezike, an Igboman stupidly, foolishly, hopelessly, criminally and most
irresponsibly assist Okorocha to demolish Ekeukwu Owerri Market? I
thought that CP Okey Chris Ezike was a gentleman, but now I know that
he is a threat to the people of Imo State. In his bid to please
Okorocha, an innocent, harmless and helpful boy (Somtochukwu) was
brutally murdered and his blood spilled on the road. Oh, I am in
tears. It pains me, it worries me and it hurts me that a shameless
Police Commissioner and his counterpart at the 34 field Artillery
Brigade conspired to shed the Innocent blood of Master Somtochukwu
Ibeanusi on the road, just to please Governor Rochas Okorocha’s
insatiable appetite for destruction of lives and properties in Imo
State.
Almighty God my heavenly Father, I come to you in tears. I am
on my knees with my two hands raised up towards heaven. Please let the
dogs lick the blood of CP Chris Okey Ezike and indeed all those
directly and indirectly responsible for the brutal murder of Master
Somtochukwu Ibeanusi. Oh Lord my God, you have never failed me and
cannot fail me now. Feed the flesh of CP Chris Okey Ezike and all
those directly and indirectly responsible for the brutal murder of
Somtochukwu Ibeanusi to the Vultures and other birds of the air. Oh
Lord my God; in the book of Isaiah chapter 31 verse 3 you said, “For
these Egyptians (Evil men) are mere humans and not God. Their horses
are mere flesh and not Mighty Spirits. When the Lord clenches his Fist
against them (Imo Police, and other security agencies), they will
stumble and fall among those they are trying to help (Rochas
Okorocha). They will all fall down together and die”, in Jesus Mighty
Name I pray, Amen. But before this happens, I am calling for the
immediate dismissal, arrest and prosecution of the Imo State Police
Commissioner Mr. Chris Okey Ezike for his criminal, senseless and
stupid involvement in committing illegality and murder, in the
demolition of Ekeukwu Owerri Market, despite the court order
restraining it. This is because, if the police commissioner did not
mobilize his officers, other heads of security agencies in Imo State
would not have mobilized their officers as well.
THE INVASION OF OWERRI BY THE MILITARY.
Let me also express my displeasure over the invasion of Owerri by
soldiers attached at the 34 Field Artillery Brigade Obinze. They
openly used their Armoured Personnel Carrier Vehicles to threaten,
intimidate and harass residents of Owerri. The soldiers shot
indiscriminately and in the process people died and many sustained
various degrees of injuries. Owerri is not in a war situation, why
then should the military be deployed to intimidate the poor masses?
This is very condemnable.
THE MILITANT BOYS FROM OHAJI/EGBEMA LGA.
It appears we are now in an era of madness, whereby youths and
militants from another local Government area were imported and used to
fight residents of Owerri and thereafter used to destroy Ekeukwu
Market. This is an act of Lawlessness and must be condemned by all. It
is a shame that social misfits would be used to destroy the cultural
heritage of the people of Owerri INCHI-ISE.
THE TRADERS AND THEIR MIS-MANAGEMENT OF SYMPATHY
When Governor Rochas Okorocha made known the intention of the State
Government to demolish the Ekeukwu market two years ago, the traders
had the sympathy of about 90% of the people of the state. Hence many
people (excluding politicians) stood up for them and even asked
Okorocha to step down his plans to demolish the market. It is on
record that Okorocha had made his intention (government intention) to
demolish and relocate the market in 2015. It is now two years since
that intention was made public. One had expected the traders to make
alternative plans by at least approaching government for a peaceful
resolution to the “government-inflicted” crisis. I doubt if this was
done. Neither did the traders conduct themselves in proper and
polished manners. Rather, as soon as an injection from the court
restraining Government from removing the market was obtained, the
traders went Berserk and reportedly connived with Owerri Natives to
further annoy the State Government by trading on the Streets and roads
in the state capital. The Market association (Owerri Market Traders
Association, OMATA) could not even assist government to dissuade their
members from street trading. Perhaps, if OMATA had managed their
members effectively, if they had assisted government to stop street
trading, if they had assisted government to sanction any of their
members that flouts (flouted) government policy on street trading,
government would have changed its decision on the demolition and
relocation of Ekeukwu Market.
WHY I AM NOT HAPPY WITH GOVERNOR ROCHAS OKOROCHA
I will not really question or challenge the wisdom of Governor Rochas
Okorocha to remove the Ekeukwu Owerri Market. Rather, I am expressing
my displeasure on why the Governor did not see the traders as his own
children, no matter the provocation. Even if he must demolish the
Ekeukwu Owerri Market, he should have first ensured that he finished
or completed the two new markets at Naze junction and at Akwakuma
axis, which are still under construction. Now that Ekeukwu market has
been demolished, Okorocha and the State Government must be ready to
face the consequences of their action, since it is obvious the present
leadership did not exhaust many viable options before arriving at this
unpopular decision; and it has started.
How will the very corrupt, shameless, hopeless, senseless and
irresponsible Imo Police Command that participated in the demolition
of Ekeukwu Owerri Market be able to confront or handle the problem
they caused? This is a big question which the police must answer.
The consequences of this unpopular decision include the following
(1) Thousands of traders, families and shop owners have been pushed
into the un-employment market, as a result of the demolished market.
(2) Economic activities in the State Capital will die a natural death
because Ekeukwu Owerri Market is/was the biggest industry in the
State.
(3) Cost of living in the State Capital will rise to an unprecedented level.
(4) Rise in crime rate in Imo State will be overwhelming and
unprecedented in the history of the State.
(5) Total dis-equilibrium of the system will take place in the state.
(6) Due to the state government’s inflicted hardship assisted by the
police and other Security agencies on the traders, many of them won’t
be able to pay their house rents and children’s school fees.
(7) And so on and so forth.
Let me use this opportunity to warn some desperate and ambitious
politicians in the state, who are now pretending to be Messiahs and
who are pretending to be sympathizing with traders over the demolition
of the Ekeukwu market. These set of politicians never offered
suggestions, advice or the way forward. When Okorocha first made
known his intention to demolish the market, they all kept sealed lips:
only for them to now be pretending as if they really share in the
agony of these traders. Let me ask; how many traders have these
shameless politicians empowered? How many widow-traders have these
shameless politicians empowered? How many lock-up shops have these
shameless politicians provided for the traders? Most of these
politicians are even far worse than the devil himself. If these
politicians are truly sympathetic to the plight of the traders, I
challenge them to make available for use their numerous properties
scattered in the state capital by the now shopless traders.
Let me conclude by clearly stating that Governor Okorocha is truly
making it difficult for his Political party to retain Imo State come
2019. Leadership must have human face. Leadership is all about
selfless service to the people. Leadership must be anchored on Love,
Truth and Honesty.
Nevertheless, I am happy not all Aides of the Governor supported the
demolition of Ekeukwu Owerri Market. Over 85% of them are not happy
over the present development. Specifically, the deputy Governor
(Prince Eze Madumere) and the Chief of Staff (Hon. Uche Nwosu) are
reportedly not happy with the demolition of Ekeukwu Market. Perhaps,
it could be the reason Hon. Uche Nwosu angrily travelled out of the
country. It is very unfortunate.
Let me at this point condole with families whose sons and daughters
were wounded and killed by the shameless and criminally minded Imo
Police Command and other Security agencies during the heartless
demolition of Ekeukwu Owerri Market.
NDONU UMUNNEM NA UMUNNAM.
I rest my pen.
Signed:
Hon. Citizen Dr. Ikenna Samuelson Iwuoha FCAI, MKDA.
Former Senior Special Assistant on Media
Former Senior Special Assistant on Special Duties
Imo State House of Assembly
Owerri Imo State Nigeria
07032934037
28th of August, 2017.
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