The Umuafai and Umuana Communities in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State have lamented the plans of the state government to demolish their ancestral homes.
A community leader who spoke to the News-Gazette Online on condition of anonymity said, the people are happy with the award of the contract to reconstruct the Umuafai/Umuana Ring Road but that the essence of such a development will be defeated if it ends up pushing the residents into untold hardship, hunger, suffering and render thousands of people homeless
According to him “that road is an existing road which cuts across Umuafai, Umuana, Lodu to Ahia Eke communities and was originally constructed by the administration of then Governor T. A Orji, the road does not handle heavy traffic and at such it does not make economic sense to demolish over 150 ancestral homes and the only Anglican church in the community St. Mathias Anglican Church Umuafai which was also marked for demolition in an attempt to expand the road and called on the state government to reconsider their plans as it would negatively impact people’s welfare and livelihood.
One resident whose home is threatened by the demolition stated, “It undermines the essence of development if the government proceeds with plans to demolish homes. I have nowhere else to take my family; my business, from which I support my children’s education, is located here. If the government goes ahead with its plans, my family and I will be left homeless and plunged into deeper poverty and suffering.” He pleaded with Governor Otti to prioritize the welfare of the community.
One of the natives whose house was affected said, “It defeats the true essence of development if the government goes ahead with its planned demolition of people’s homes, I don’t have any other place to take my family to and the shop from where I make a living, pay my children’s school fees and sustain my family is also located here, if the government carries out their plans, me and my family will be rendered homeless and thrown into deeper poverty, untold hardship, and suffering” he pleaded with Governor Otti to please see reason and consider the welfare and livelihood of the people first.
Engr. Ekeh Ogbonna, a resident whose house was marked for demolition insisted that the Governor was not well advised before giving out the contract for the demolition of people’s homes and that though he wouldn’t want to go into the politics of what is currently going on and why some top government officials advised the governor to embark on the demolition exercise, that the governor should be aware that any develop that renders people homeless, destroys peoples businesses and creates suffering and poverty is not in the interest of peace, order, and good governance and called on governor Otti to have a rethink.
The communities insist that the only applaudable and justifiable approach is just to put the road in order and not for further expansion, they urged Governor Alex Otti to conduct a thorough investigation and stop forthwith further moves to demolish people’s homes, insisting that it would amount to unjust obliteration of homes, destruction of local businesses, and places of worship for a roadway that lacks economic necessity or urgency for expansion.
