By Ann Godwin, Port Harcourt Barely two months after residents of Oyigbo, Rivers State suffered harassment, killings from military o...
By Ann Godwin, Port
Harcourt
Barely two months after residents of Oyigbo, Rivers State
suffered harassment, killings from military operations, the residents have
again, raised alarm over planned illegal demolition of their properties by
indigenous youths of the community.
The Guardian gathered that Umueye Community youths in Oyigbo
had sent a circular to property owners to vacate their buildings in preparation
for demolition for a proposed road construction by the Niger Delta Development
Commission (NDDC).
Elder Daniel Ogbuji, the Chairman of Umueye Community,
Oyigbo; Nwankwo Chidiebere, Secretary and Micheal Azuh, a youth leader, signed
the circular obtained by The Guardian.
Some residents said the group claimed they have the state
Governor, Nyesom Wike’s backing.
A resident at High Tension Area, Umueye, Policarp Jonna
said: “I received a circular directing me to remove my house for a proposed
road grading.
The person that brought the circular said Rivers State
Government, in partnership with Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), have
awarded contract for road construction and the community has NDDC’s mandate to
remove structures along the proposed road.”
Jonna wondered why youths of a community could usurp
government’s powers by threatening to demolish buildings under the guise of
road construction.
Another resident, Chikwere Onoka called on Oyigbo Local
Council Chairman and Rivers State Government to step in to avoid breakdown of
law and order.
Enquiries from Rivers State Ministry of Urban Development
and NDDC revealed that both agencies were not aware of the proposed road
construction.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Urban Development, Ben
Chioma said individuals have no right to demolish property under the guise of
road construction.
Chioma said only government has the right to acquire
property in public interest and before such property is acquired, the state
government will appoint a registered valuer to work out compensation for those
whose property may be affected.
Also, a source at NDDC said the Commission did not award any
recent road contract in Oyigbo.
No comments