Citizen Bernard Ibenegbu, urges government action on Nkwo Enugwu-Ukwu Market demolition

 www.odogwublog.com reports that as demolition of buildings and market stalls continue along Nkwo Enugwu-Ukwu Market/Awka-Onitsha Old Road, affected traders have called on Governor Willie Obiano to come up with compensation packages, so that those affected could be re-settled.

 Property of the Anglican Church avoided to destroy Ibenegbu's

 Ibenegbu looking at his property


Bernard Ibenegbu is unhappy that if the culverts are constructed, his land would be the only part suffering the injustice even when he is law abiding and had done everything possible to stay off the road. The burial ground encroached on the road and now construction is about to commence, he is to suffer the loss. He wants the injustice not to be allowed to thrive as it is against the spirit. He doesn't want any trouble but his portion of land to be given back to him and the needful to be done so as the two property owners to contribute for the road. 

He maintained that the shift to his side by the government and the contractors to demolish his property amounts to a cunning conversion of somebody else’s property to the private use of another.

The public are witnesses that his compound was unjustly demolished as testified by 48-year-old Ann Nwosu, a seamstress, who asked that Government intervene and assist not only them doing business at the site but the landlord whose property was encroached.

 Ibenegbu's property destroyed

 Ibenegbu's property destroyed

 When contacted, Mr. Benard Ibenegbu, the owner of the demolished building at Nkwo Enugwu-Ukwu, expressed shock and disappointment over the demolition of his property without recourse to due process. He appealed that the gutter should not be constructed only on his property but enough allowance should be given to enable him reclaim part of his property. He doesn't want any trouble but his portion of land to be given back to him and the needful to be done so as the two property owners (Ibenegbu and Anglican Church who own the burial ground) to contribute for the road.

He stated that he was not given any notice and was not informed in any form before his property was demolished. He further said that traders trading in his property told him that most of them were not around when the building and goods/wares inside the building were destroyed by workers of the contractor handling the project.
He said he is not against the development and thanked Governor Obiano for the road construction but said further that he is interested in fair treatment as a citizen of Enugwu-Ukwu; adding that there is no way a property already existing in right dimensions of the right of way should give way instead of a burial ground which already encroached on the road.
He, therefore, appealed to Governor Willie Obiano, Deputy Governor Nkem Okeke, Igwe Raphael Ekpe and the President-General of Enugwu-Ukwu, Chief Mike Nkwocha, to intervene for him to recover some parts of his land and compensation for demolished property.
He contended that it is wrong and unfair to shield the Anglican Church cemetery at Nkwo Enugwu-Ukwu which is an encroachment on the road and humiliate him. He, therefore, prayed for equity and fair play.
A representative of the contracting firm, Engr. Emmanuel Okolo, said he has no answer to the demolished property as their duty was to construct the road.
Another victim whose food vending business house was pulled down, Mrs Benedetti Okeke, was seen striving to re-arrange her business environment, though was not in mood to be interviewed.

Meanwhile, over thirty (30) traders at Nkwo Market Enugwu-Ukwu market displaced in the on-going Nkwo-Enugwu/Ukwu -Urupaloke /Awka-Onitsha Old Road demolition have appealed to Governor Willie Obiano for compensation.
The traders led by 48-year-old Ann Nwosu, a seamstress, told newsmen that they were happy for the construction of the road but regretted the manner with which the contractor destroyed their wares. She appealed for Obiano’s attention to redress the wrong.
Mrs Nwosu regretted the barbaric nature which the contractor handling the project employed in the execution of the work.
According to her, the contractor, AKOMAS, without notice of demolition, destroyed the building wherein about 30 traders doing their legitimate businesses were displaced; while goods/wares worth several thousands of naira were destroyed in the process.
Mrs Nwosu further said that the owner of the demolished building and her landlord, Mr. Bernard Ibenegbu, was the greatest loser, who not only lost his building in the exercise but also his major source of income.
She appealed to the conscience of Governor Willie Obiano to compensate her landlord and the traders affected in the demolition.


If in doubt of the story call Ibenegbu on this phone number 08033198074