We have returned lands 'forcefully' taken from owners by past govt

Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, says his administration has returned all property forcefully taken away from their rightful owners by the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, Sen. Rochas Okorocha.

Uzodinma said the only way to assuage the pains of the people was a complete restoration of the lands back to their rightful owners, stating its administration’s commitment to protecting law-abiding citizens.

Uzodimma disclosed this during a town hall meeting of stakeholders and the Committee on Implementation of the Imo State Whitepaper on Lands and Other Related Matters held in Owerri, the state capital.

His words: “To those whose lands are being restored today, I congratulate you and urge you to be confident that my administration will support and promote only forthright processes.

“At the time that I took over the mantle of leadership of our great State, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Lands and Related Matters was already sitting. At my interactive session with the members of the Commission, I confirmed that the Commission should continue and complete its work and I promised Imo people that I will implement the report of the Commission.

“When the report was submitted on 1st June 2020, I immediately saw and felt the pains of Imolites whose lands were forcefully wrested away by the then administration. The Government itself was not spared on this land-grabbing madness. Government lands and properties were sadly converted to personal use by the management of the Senator Rochas Okorocha administration, their families, and friends.

“In Orlu, all Government lands at the Government Station Layout and the Eastern Palm University were brazenly taken over by the same people that the people of Imo State entrusted with the sacred duty of protecting and preserving public property.

“In Owerri, entire layouts ( including the proposed New Government House at Area P), Judiciary quarters, and many other areas were taken over for private use. The perpetrators also paid no heed to the basic principles of town planning in their drive. Then I realized that the only way to assuage the pains of the people was a complete restoration of the lands back to their rightful owners.

“Today, In line with the 3R mantra of my administration (Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Recovery) we are actively reconstructing roads and infrastructure. We are rehabilitating institutions and services. And today, we have gathered for the first phase of the restoration of lands forcefully taken away from their rightful owners.”