Governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha and his predecessor, Ikedi Ohakim, have disagreed over the ongoing demolition exercise embarked by the state government.

Ohakim claim the ongoing demolition in the state was not captured in the state’s budget, stating that the exercise has brought more loss than its projected gain.

In a letter addressed to the Imo State government, titled, “Current Trends of Events in Our State”, Ohakim said, “Your Excellency, your present road expansion in Owerri Municipal is not in conformity with the master plan and any know element of road design. For example, the huge economic losses from the present exercise will far outweigh the few meters to be from the proposed expansion.

”To worsen matters, no public right of way is left for the replacement of pipes and cables, as your proposed expansion will end at the foundation of peoples houses. I have it on a good authority that the ongoing exercise were captured in any of the state budget in the last five years. This, therefore makes it fiscally wrong to embark on such projects because it negates the essence of good governance.”

Okorocha through his Commissioner of Information, Hon. Vitalis Ajumbe responded claiming that his government has responsible in the demolition and has not gone beyond the stipulated distance.

Okorocha also claimed that the people of Imo State were tired of Ohakim’s administration, thereby voting him in to “restore hope to the hopeless.”

“This government as a very responsible and people – oriented government has restrained itself from demolition of buildings that contravened the stipulated distance of about 15 meters from the road; rather what we did was to remove fences and other structures built within 10 metres from the affected roads as well as those that blocked water ways. After all construction is not completed yet. We are getting there and this government appeals to Imo people to remain patient.”

“It is a well known fact that the Rescue Mission Government came into power when Imolites were fed up with the maladministration and the repugnant abuse of the sensibilities of Imo people by Chief Ikedi Ohakim. The outcry and clamour for change was the major reason the Rescue Mission Government came into power to restore hope to the hopeless and offer to Ndi Imo the leadership of trust they had yearned for.”

Azeez