IMO LAWMAKERS ECHO ON AMB. OGBUAGU MOTION TO RECONSTRUCT EKEMELE ROAD.

A motion urging the Governor of Imo state, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha to declare a state of emergency on Ikeduru roads has been moved at the floor of Imo state House of Assembly.

The motion, as subsequently adopted by the House, was moved by the member representing Ikeduru state constituency, Hon. Ambassador Uche Ogbuagu during plenary.

Leading debate, Ambassador Ogbuagu regretted that Ikeduru, which was historical given its position to the growth and development of the Imo, has been neglected by past governments, leaving its inhabitants in untold suffering.

He lamented over the deplorable condition of the roads in the area, expressing fear that, sooner than later, the area may be cut off from other parts of the state due to bad roads.

Hon. Uche Ogbuagu stated that the Ekemele road which has long been a source of nightmare to both motorists and pedestrians, is a major link road that connects Isiala-Mbano, Onuimo, Okigwe and some other states like Anambra and Abia.

He appealed that holistic action be taken on the Ekemele spot to ease the vehicular movement and reduce the spate of accidents often recorded on the spot.

Earlier in his prayers, he recalled that Ikeduru was the first place oil was discovered by the shell in 1949, regretting that the present position of the area in terms of infrastructures, is nothing to write home about.

"Ikeduru, as many may not know, is the food basket of the state. As I speak today, the place has no motorable road and this is very unfortunate. I admit that this motion is coming a bit but my people have suffered so much especially on that Ekemele road."

"Therefore, I'm calling on the rebuild Imo government to declare a state of emergency on all Ikeduru roads or the people will be cut off from the municipal as a result of bad roads."

He asked that the speaker, Rt. Hon. Chiji Collins constitute a committee that which will undertake an on-the-spot assessment of the Ekemele road with a view to fixing it as a matter of urgency.

Meanwhile, he has called on members to support the motion, noting that the people of his area are not in the mess alone as that, according to him, is a link road.

Our reported revealed that the motion received massive support and when the speaker, Rt. Hon. Chiji Collins put it to vote, the I's had it.

Copied from Ifeanyi Iheakanwa

IMO ASSEMBLY MOVES TO RETRIEVE ILLEGALLY ACQUIRED LANDS BY PAST ADMINISTRATION.

Member representing Ikeduru State Constituency, Amb. Uche Ogbuagu

The Imo state house of assembly,  has invited  past government officials at the Ministry of lands, especially the director of the ministry, J.J Udeh, Hon. Kingsley Uju, Dr. Eburuo and the immediate past Governor's Aides to give account of their stewardship.

The invitation followed a motion of state urgent importance moved by the member representing Ikeduru state constituency, Amb uche ogbuagu. The motion is anchored on investigating
the unlawful conversion of some government and individual lands into private use especially, the IMO Broadcasting Corporation, IBC, Quarters, Orji, which Senator Rochas okorocha converted to a school, Rochas Foundation College among others.

Amb. Ogbuagu said the motion would provide answers to the yearning of IMO people, whose lands were illegally converted without due compensation for their property.


He decried that most landowners whose lands were grabbed by previous administration,have either met their untimely death or languished in poverty.
 The lawmaker called on the 9th house of assembly to constitute a judiciary panel of enquiry and public complaints committee to receive complaint by IMO people so as  to retrieve the landed property.  
The member representing Owerri North state constituency, Philip Ejiogu, who seconded the motion, said it will be a great feat for him, if the Former IBC Quarters is retrieved. He urged the House, to quickly summon the offenders.

Supporting the prayer, the Member representing Owerri West State Constituency, Kanayo Onyemachi supported the motion, adding that he would ensure that landed properties in Owerri West illegally taken by the former governor, will be retrieved.

The motion is in line with Governor Emeka Ihedioha's rebuild Imo mantra, as contained in his inaugural speech to revert all lands, unlawfully acquired by the past administration, to the rightful owners.


Peace Dike

Member representing Ikeduru state Constituency, Amb. Uche Ogbuagu Speaks..

Thanks so very much Mr. Speaker, I must say that this is the day the Lord has made-Ndi Imo will rejoice and be glad in it. These are lyrics of a popular gospel song and I have decided to make this adaptation because Imolites will be happy and fulfilled by the time my prayers in this motion are assented to by this Honorable House.
Mr. Speaker, nothing will interest and impress Ndi Imo than this move to correct the excesses & anomalies exhibited & perpetrated by the immediate past administration especially in the area of land grabbing and illegal conversion of individual and public lands to personal use by the last governor and his family members as well as his aides.
Mr. Speaker, I made a resolution and got the approval of my immediate family not to delve into anything, any issue that concerns the former 1st family of this state, for very personal reasons, but for the high expectations of Ndi Imo who voted us to come and rebuild Imo, for the cries, yearnings and groaning of many helpless citizens who are suffering this fate, I took a U-turn.
Mr. Speaker, it is a known fact, well established and undeniable that land grabbing and illegal conversion of people’s lands was the order of the day in the last dispensation. In fact it was their stock in trade.
I know of a widow whose husband’s only land was grabbed and converted to a private school belonging today to an aide to the former governor- I know of a family friend who died of heart attack when he get frustrated with the high costs of ligitation over his land that was grabbed. Most worrisome    Mr. Speaker, is the impunity, the inhuman effrontery with which the illegality was perpetrated even in most of the well known public properties- for instance the IBC staff quarters in Orji, Uratta, Owerri North.
Mr. Speaker, as a Media Executive, I know how it feels to work in a state owned media House where you give in your best, with just meager wages, only to be thrown out one morning without notice or an alternative accommodation- whereas the facility is your basic fringe benefit or entitlement while in service- only because the governor desired to have his private school sited there. What can be more disheartening and devastating in life?
Mr. Speaker, the examples of such helpless and hopeless situations arising from such illegality of grabbing & conversion of lands is endless. I therefore pray this Honorable House    Mr. Speaker to constitute a judiciary panel of enquiry as well as public complaints committee to receive complaints from affected Imolites, as well as conduct investigations to ascertain the status and genuiness of ownership of such landed properties- whether developed or not.
I assure you Mr. Speaker, Distinguished colleagues, that the revelations & expositions will be shocking. Ndi Imo will be happy again, public confidence in Imo government will be restored especially where punitive measures are taken.          I mean where those found guilty of such criminal actions will be made to face adequate punishments, it will also serve as a deterrent in the future, even to us.
It will serves as a deterrent even to us