The Imo State government has explained that the initiatives of ‘Imo My Pride’, which has received wide criticism from the people will make the state one of the best in Nigeria and attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs).
The project will also wipe the tears of those who feel they have lost fortune. It is a project, which the state government mapped out to make the people happy and not to create hardship as critics of the project earlier made the people to understand.
Speaking to the press on the project, the Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, said the project, christened ‘Imo My Pride’ is expected to ensure that Owerri becomes dreamland for tourism and livable like other cities in the world.
According to him, the issue of Ekeukwu was taken beyond the scope it represents.
‘‘I still maintain that its removal was the best thing that has happened to Owerri and has brought sanity to the city.,”
He explained that before now, the headquarters of all criminal activities was at the market, noting that, in decent societies, markets of that nature must be locted at a decent site and not in the centre of the city where it does not only constitute nuisance but also promotes criminal activities.
“Our effort will make our state a tourist centre which will encourage investors to come in and invest. We shall continue with the urban renewal as we widen the roads, distill the gutters, relocate markets and make sure that Keke operators are no longer in the streets of Owerri City,” he stated.
On the alleged neglect of occupants of the market, Okorocha said “To say that no provision was made for the traders is not true. Ekeukwu as it stands has about 1,600 shops; today Imo State government has provided over 11,000 shops.
Adequate preparation was made and we have been on this for the past five years and traders know that they will one day leave that place. Politicians went to court without the consent of the traders and got an interim junction, which had expired over one year and the property was subsequently revoked and gazetted before the action was taken”, he explained.