Soludo backtracks, criticizes Odumeje for 'trying to stop' church demolition
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has slammed a popular prophet in the state, Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, otherwise known as Odumeje, saying he tried to prevent the demolition of his church .
Mr. Soludo said this Friday at the Governor's Lodge, Awka, while briefing reporters on the ongoing demolition of illegal structures in the state.
The Cleric's Church building which was partially demolished on Thursday was among the illegal structures slated for demolition by the state government in the Onitsha North council area of the state.
During the exercise, some members of the revenue force, overseeing the demolition, were captured in a video clip manhandling the cleric.
But during Friday's briefing, which was streamed live on Facebook, the governor said the cleric's attempt to stop the demolition prompted security agencies to step in "to maintain law and order ".
The governor's statement came hours after condemning the clergyman's mistreatment by tax officials.
"I received a story that he (Odumeje) drove into the place in a very threatening manner, almost ran into the security guards and he got out and went to tackle the guy who was driving the machine (excavator) with the intention of preventing it from continuing (with demolition),” Soludo said.
He said that while the cleric has the right to be treated with "fairness and humanity" like any other resident, his administration would resist attempts by anyone to "challenge the authority of the state government and to resolve" to maintain law and order in the state.
Mr. Soludo said he personally phoned the cleric as soon as he got the details of what happened during the demolition drill to hear the cleric's side of the story in order "to carry a balanced and fair judgment" on the incident.
He said the owners of the affected buildings and structures had been "sufficiently notified" of the demolition about two months ago, but had not removed the marked structures, believing the government to State would tolerate impunity.
“I am sure that God in his infinite wisdom will be greatly offended by anyone who claims that he built a church to worship God while you are using that church to create a circumstance that kills people and destroys the properties of 'others,' he said. .
No compensationThe governor also said the state government will not compensate the owners of the illegal structures demolished.
He said they would instead be asked to pay the government for the cost of demolition since they failed to remove their illegal structures themselves as previously reported.
READ ALSO: Anambra Gov't Demolishes Popular Prophet's Church“We had asked the people who were building over these (drainage) canals to remove them on their own. Now they have failed,” he said.
“This demolition is costing us money. It will cost money to remove the debris. When we are done, we will quote the cost and send them the invoice. demolition,” Mr. Soludo added.
The governor noted that rather than seeking compensation, the owners of the illegal structures should be concerned about how to compensate the families of those...
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State has slammed a popular prophet in the state, Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, otherwise known as Odumeje, saying he tried to prevent the demolition of his church .
Mr. Soludo said this Friday at the Governor's Lodge, Awka, while briefing reporters on the ongoing demolition of illegal structures in the state.
The Cleric's Church building which was partially demolished on Thursday was among the illegal structures slated for demolition by the state government in the Onitsha North council area of the state.
During the exercise, some members of the revenue force, overseeing the demolition, were captured in a video clip manhandling the cleric.
But during Friday's briefing, which was streamed live on Facebook, the governor said the cleric's attempt to stop the demolition prompted security agencies to step in "to maintain law and order ".
The governor's statement came hours after condemning the clergyman's mistreatment by tax officials.
"I received a story that he (Odumeje) drove into the place in a very threatening manner, almost ran into the security guards and he got out and went to tackle the guy who was driving the machine (excavator) with the intention of preventing it from continuing (with demolition),” Soludo said.
He said that while the cleric has the right to be treated with "fairness and humanity" like any other resident, his administration would resist attempts by anyone to "challenge the authority of the state government and to resolve" to maintain law and order in the state.
Mr. Soludo said he personally phoned the cleric as soon as he got the details of what happened during the demolition drill to hear the cleric's side of the story in order "to carry a balanced and fair judgment" on the incident.
He said the owners of the affected buildings and structures had been "sufficiently notified" of the demolition about two months ago, but had not removed the marked structures, believing the government to State would tolerate impunity.
“I am sure that God in his infinite wisdom will be greatly offended by anyone who claims that he built a church to worship God while you are using that church to create a circumstance that kills people and destroys the properties of 'others,' he said. .
No compensationThe governor also said the state government will not compensate the owners of the illegal structures demolished.
He said they would instead be asked to pay the government for the cost of demolition since they failed to remove their illegal structures themselves as previously reported.
READ ALSO: Anambra Gov't Demolishes Popular Prophet's Church“We had asked the people who were building over these (drainage) canals to remove them on their own. Now they have failed,” he said.
“This demolition is costing us money. It will cost money to remove the debris. When we are done, we will quote the cost and send them the invoice. demolition,” Mr. Soludo added.
The governor noted that rather than seeking compensation, the owners of the illegal structures should be concerned about how to compensate the families of those...
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