Following yesterday’s news report by Metropolitan News Network and other major news outlets where residents let out outcries, accussing the state government of colluding with land grabbers to enchroach on the abandoned International Conference Centre, Independence Layout, Enugu, for private residences, I picked interest in the curious narrative and reactions from members of the public.
I decided to make my fact finding by visiting the area before delving into any isssue of this nature. I was literally handicapped and alarmed by what I saw. In a country where there is law and justice, an attempt to even enchroach on a public facility like this should have landed the land grabbers in prison.
But what I saw was no attempt at all. It was some mindless shylocks erecting structures inside the conference centre with little or no dermacation between the public facility and where they are building. This brazen act of lawlessness could be allowed to continue only if the government of the day has interest or had conceded to the land grabbers.
No sane society, no responsible government, no accountable leadership will watch helplessly while some people supposedly above the law plunder its assets.
The show of shame happening at the site prompted me to reach out to a former Commissioner of Lands and also to an erstwhile Surveyor General in the state who both served under Governor Ugwuanyi administration.
From my findings, I understood that the immediate past government stopped the wanton public shame for the 8 years it was in power.
It is laughable how this administration would allow these lawless fellows to continue with this infraction. Notwithstanding the relationship the present government could have built with these people, it should not condone the land grabbers or allow them to desecrate our institutions.
Enugu people must stand up and condemn attempt to enchroach on the International Conference Centre by people claiming to be closer to the government. The government must be held responsible if those structures are not immediately pulled down.
Will the government act? Will it go after these lawless shylocks? Time will definitely tell as we watch the magic of how the government will complete the project without removing those barriers.
Mr. Governor, pull down those walls and prosecute the culprits!
