A former Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists NUJ Imo State Council Ben Osuagwu has called on Governor Hope Uzodinma to personally intervene on the empasse between the National Automobile Technicians Association and the Ministry of Lands at Avu Mechanic Village.
The former Imo NUJ Chairman was reacting following media reports on the issue.
He said that the conflicting reports from the mechanics and land owners will save many people from buying lands allocated to the mechanics or the ones belonging to the government.
Ben Osuagwu observed that the crisis or misunderstanding does not augur well for the image of the State Government. He said that the Mechanics were chased out by Rochas Okorocha administration from Orji and Nekede Mechanic Villages officially allocated by Imo State Government by the then Commander Ndubisi Kanu administration in 1976 and in the early 80s.
Osuagwu noted that the way the situation is presently requires the personal intervention of the Governor pointing out that the allegation against some officials of the government should be properly looked into to ascertain the veracity of what really is happening.
It is very clear that Rochas Okorocha regime cleared the Avu Mechanic Village and allocated the place to the mechanics. One wonders why they should be chased away from there or the area / land being parcelated again for the purpose of the ejecting them. There is absolute need for a lasting solution in the issue by government coming out strongly to identify the areas given to the mechanics using the documents in the Ministry of Lands and the Owerri Capital Development Authority – OCDA. The Mechanics should have a permanent place as was the case at Orji and Nekede so that people will know where to look for them to service their cars.
