…As Committee Moves To Stop Roadside Trading In Timber Market
By Ikenna Orioha
Over 15 hectares of land allegedly grabbed by the former aide to Owelle Rochas Okorocha, Hon. Uche Best Mbanaso, had been recoverd by the State Government through the Recovery and Harmonization Committee.
The Chairman, Recovery and Harmonization Committee, Hon. Peter Chukwunonso Akwaeke, who led the tactical Team to Umuowa on Saturday, disclosed that the Governor, Hope Uzodimma, ordered for the recovery of the said property which he added was duly acquired years back for development purposes.
He wondered why an individual could summon up the courage to clandestinely grab such a large portion of community land, warning those who grabbed and encroached the land to stay off or face the wrath of the law.
Chukwunonso who said the Committee is fully committed to achieve target as directed by the State Government, hailed Olu LGA Chairman, Hon. Mbarie Christian, Umuowa Traditional Ruler and his Cabinet Chiefs for standing firm in the recovery of the public land.
The Chairman reassured that the Committee would always carry out its assignment fairly and creditably and in line with the Governor’s dictates to achieve tangible results.
“The Governor, in his wisdom, has directed the Orlu Council Chairman to inaugurate us and also aide us with relevant information that will lead us to recover all public properties, harmonize them and return them to the government for onward development.
“Having taken a bold step to recover the land, which was encroached, personalized and sold to churches, individuals and cattle tearers, we will not relent in our official assignment to doing the needful”, Chukwunonso added.
Commending the Recovering Committee for achieving the great feat, the Orlu Council Chairman, Hon. Mbarie Christian, said the State Government has come to take back its land in Umuowa community.
According to Mbarie, “government is not witch-hunting any body, but setting the record straight. So, today, I am directing the Recovering Team to move into action and secure those grabbed properties for government”.
Earlier, the Traditional Ruler of Umuowa autonomous community, HRH, Eze Magnus Chukwuemeka Duruigbo (Igbonenye Vi of Umuowa) who led his Cabinet Chiefs, the Recovery Committee and the LGA Chairman to the said land, noted that the land, being allegedly personalized by Hon. Uche Best Mbanaso, was legally acquired by government during Evan Enwerem regime in concordance with the land owners for the purpose of building an industrial layout that would be beneficial to the indigenes of the area.
“Ala Mkpokoeke, as ancestrally called, serves as a boundary between Umuowa and the neighboring community. Umuowa people collectively gave out the land to government for the purpose of building an industrial layout. We are happy today that government has stepped in to recover the land and we are fully backing the Recovering Team up as the public land, personalized by one man, is fully recovered”, the Eze affirmed.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Recovering and Harmonization Committee, Hon. Chukwunonso Peter Akwaeke, had told the leaders of Timbre Market Orlu that government had outlawed roadside trading in order to safeguard the lives of the traders, as well as ensures that no marketer will cry over loss or expired goods given to low patronage.
This development, according to the executive of the market led by Okoro Simeon, is very welcomed and promised the Committee of their full compliance.
