I did not order the demolition of Rochas Okorocha’s monument – Emeka Ihedioha

Imo state Governor Emeka Ihedioha has denied ordering the ongoing demolition of one of the Akachi towers, a monument that was erected by his predecessor Rochas Okorocha. Fresh information has it that the original owners of the land where the hand of god was situated obtained a court judgement in their favour which reversed the forceful possession of their land with brute force by Okorocha who sacked them from there in order to enable him build the hand of god. Rochas Okorocha was well known in lmo state for land grabbing.

Just last week a High Court in Owerri presided by Justice Ojiako nullified his forceful grabbing of Alvan retirees land and awarded 400 million against the state government which Gov Ihedioha will pay. The demolition of hand of god is coming barely 24 hours after Ihedioha assumed office. Scores of Imo indigenes are happy with the demolition excercise. Ihedioha was sworn-in as the sixth Executive governor of the state on Wednesday. The Akachi tower, one of the many tourist attractions built by the former governor is being demolished as at the time of filling this report. The demolition exercise was supervised by soldiers who barred journalists from covering the exercise. The Akachi monument was one of the structures commissioned by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo barely one week ago. The monument, a massive tower with the symbol of a hand on the Zenith, representing the hand of God, sits on an expansive plot of land, reserved for religious purposes. There are fears Ihedioha will also demolish other monuments in Owerri, the state capital, especially the famous statues. But the governor denied ordering the demolition. His Special Adviser, Steve Osuji, said the governor is not aware of the demolition of any structure and never gave such directive. According to him the new governor is in the Government House trying to settle down in his office. It is reported that Governor Rochas Okorocha tried to replicate “The Great Mosque of Samara from the 9th Century in Owerri.