Man Celebrates Independence Day Posing At a Refuse Dump In Owerri

A few days ago, a Facebook user posted some pictures of huge refuse dumps on Douglas Road Owerri and the comic angle of one well dressed man who went beside the dump to pop champagne . it was gathered that the young man did that to publicly call the attention of the Imo state government over the unsightly state of that area and the plight of people living there. The man further revealed that he got a phone call from the government after the post went viral. Hear him
"I was particularly worried because the dump is just in front of the house of my friend, Noble Uche Ihenacho and opposite one joint where we enjoy yam pepper soup and palmie.

Last night, I got a phone call.

Yes. A phone call from an official of the Imo State Government who is known to me personally. I hadn't spoken with him in close to two years but I still had his number because we are old friends.

Ururuaja, he started...that your post on Douglas road is very unfair and does not present the full facts of the matter. No matter what anybody says about Governor Okorocha, no one will deny that since he became governor, Owerri has been kept clean at least.

Ok, I responded. So what happened? Tell me and I promise to also make it public, just the way I did the pictures. I am firm believer in equity and fair play.

The truth is that the Imo State Government, as part of its efforts to fix Owerri plans to relocate one major market called EKE UKWU OWERRE.
That market is along Douglas Road and is a major cause of traffic build up and environmental degradation both on that road and in the entire Owerri town. The government is developing a new site for the market and has told the traders to start preparing to move to the new site.
This didn't go down well with the traders and some people naturally decided to politicize the issue.

Since this issue started, traders and residents of Douglas Road who are opposed to the relocation have made it impossible for officers of ENTRACO, the State Environmental Management Agency to come to the place to clear refuse. On more than four occasions, they have attacked the officials and vandalized their equipment including waste disposal vehicles. According to them, they don't want to see any government officer around that area until the decision to relocate them is rescinded.
Ururuaja, every effort to make them see reason has failed and they deliberately turned the place into a refuse dump. So the Government just ignored them and is presently focused on completing the new market site after which the issue will be revisited again.
Please note, he continued, that this is not the first time a major market will be relocated in Owerri. Under the government of OHAKIM, the Timber Market which created terrible traffic gridlocks in the town was relocated and the town is better for it today.

The officers of the environmental agency are on standby to clear that refuse but government will not expose her workers to danger and threat to their lives simply because of a group of people who are unreasonable.

Ndi Imo, have you all heard?

Over to you people o.

So, no one should blame My Governor, My Governor o.

And Emmm...it was just a phone call o, nothing more. No envelope, no recharge card sef. Walahi talahi. I swear with my snuff box.