Following public criticisms over the demolition of the ancient Ekeukwu market in Owerri, the Imo state capital, the state governor Rochas Okorocha has cleared the air on why he ordered for the demolition of the market.
The governor in a statement released through the Chief Press Secretary, to the state governor Sam Onwuemeodo, said he demolished the ancient market to deliver the state capital, and Imo people from a female deity as some politicians in the state have started administering oath on Imo citizens ahead of the 2019 governorship election.
Onwuemeodo in the statement said “the State Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has warned certain politicians in the state, especially those with governorship ambition against administering oath on Imo people who are either members or officials of their political parties.
The governor also advised members and officials of the political parties not to subscribe or allow themselves to be subjected to oath taking for any reason by any politician or aspirant because it is ungodly to do so.
One of the first things I did on assumption of office as governor was to build a befitting chapel in front of the Government House and also erected the statue of a man with the Holy Bible in his hand to show Imo people the direction of his administration.
And one of the reasons I also decided to demolish and relocate Ekeukwu Market was when the unfounded story of a female deity owning the market came up and I resolved that Imo people would never be in a market said to be owned by a deity.”
