By Charles Igbo
If the findings of the Judicial Panel On Land Use And Other Related Matters set up by the Imo State Government, and the Whitepaper therefrom are anything to go by, former Imo State Governor, and now Senator, representing Imo West, Rochas Okorocha, will be in more trouble. The Whitepaper was very indicting of Okorocha, his family members and cronies.
Already, the Government has seized and recovered a couple of things from them, including the Eastern Palm University, now Kingsley Mbadiwe University, owned by the Okorocha family through his Foundation, the multi-billion Naira Royal Palm apartments and Hotel, owned by Okorocha’s wife, Nkechi, about 96 plots owned by Okorocha’s sister, Geraldine, and the acres of land meant for the quarters of the old Imo Broadcasting Corporation’s staff.
Now, to recover things faster, the Imo State Government has set up a committee charged with the responsibility of fully implementing the recommendations contained in the Whitepaper.
According to a statement by Oguwuike Nwachuku, Chief Press Secretary/ Special Assistant to the Imo State Government, the decision was taken at the Executive Council Meeting of Wednesday, March 31, 2021 presided over by Governor Hope Uzodimma.
The Committee to be Chaired by the Hon. Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Physical Planning has the Commissioner for Housing as Secretary, while the Commissioner for Works, the General Manager ENTRACO, the General Manager OCDA and others approved by EXCO are members.
Nwachuku: “The Committee is charged with the responsibility of full and total implementation of all aspects of the Whitepaper on Lands and other Related Matters expeditiously.”
Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba in the company of Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of Imo State, Barr. COC Akolisa, Commissioner for Transport, Barr. Rex Anunobi and the Chief Press Secretary/Special Adviser (Media), Oguwike Nwachuku, said the Governor also announced further minor Cabinet reshuffle of members of the Executive Council.
According to Emelumba, in the new adjustment, “the Commissioner for Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition, Noble Atulegwu moves over to the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Physical Planning formally headed by Barr. Enyinnaya Onuegbu who, now has been moved to superintend the Ministry of Power while Chief Iyke Umeh, formally Commissioner for Power takes over as the new Commissioner for Entrepreneurship and Skills Acquisition. All the changes take immediate effect.”
Throwing more light on the essence of the reshuffle, Akaolisa said the Governor deemed it necessary to carry out the exercise as a way of ensuring that the programmes and policies of the administration move on smoothly, noting that “no Commissioner is removed rather it is an attempt to put the right pegs in the right holes.”
Also, it was observed that Exco approved a provisional Uniform for the Imo State Traffic Management Agency (ISTMA) which was accordingly adorned by Anunobi.
On Wednesday, March 24, 2021 Governor Uzodimma carried out the first minor reshuffle of his cabinet when he swore in four new Commissioners and moved others such as former Finance Commissioner to Petroleum, former Health Commissioner to Mines and Solid Minerals, among others round.
“It will be recalled that the implementation of the Whitepaper on Lands and other Related Matters has since commenced with the State recovering the former Eastern Palm University at Ogboko Ideato South Local Government Area (now Kingsley Ozurumba Mbadiwe University) and Royal Spring Hotel and Apartments at Akachi road”, Nwachuku noted.
The Judicial Panel was set up by the immediate past Governor of the State, Emeka Ihedioha, and sustained, to the joy of Imo people, by Uzodinma when the Supreme Court removed Ihedioha from office.
