Imo: Controversy As Uzodinma Demolishes Hospital Built By Okorocha, Converts It To Market

The Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, Tuesday, demolished Somtochukwu Hospital built by the administration of former governor Rochas Okorocha to pave way for the building of 1,850 ultra-modern shops.

Recall that Gov Uzodinma recently laid the foundation of the ultra-modern Eke-Ukwu market, which is expected to be completed in eighteen months. The facilities in the proposed market include a multi-level car park, police post and fire service station, health care centre, mini-mart, retail stores, showrooms, open stalls, incinerator, power points, and toilets. The market is being built on a private-public-partnership between the Imo State government, Amanda Group and AEG Consultants.

However, some residents of the state say the action of the governor was dead on arrival, as the hospital project was meant to cater for the health needs of the people of the state. The demolished facilities, according to a source who spoke on condition of anonymity, were constructed by the state government under Okorocha, and had been completed, and awaiting equipping. The hospital was among the about 32 hospitals constructed by Okorocha.

Our correspondent reports that the hospital was located at the site of the relocated major market. The former governor had built ultra-modern markets at Egbeada, Ubomiri, Naze, Akwakuma, Amakohia and Ohi before converting the major market to a hospital.

A community leader in the area, Chief Joseph Nze, told Elomba.com that the idea of demolishing the new hospital was an affront on the people of the state. In his words, “This hospital and many other such structures built by the Okorocha administration were not built with the former governor’s personal funds; he built them with Imo State funds, public funds. So, when you go on a demolition-spree of projects initiated by your predecessor, when you haven’t built any at all, you should know that you are not fighting Okorocha, but fighting Imo people.”

Meanwhile, Stanford Arinze Nwokedi, SSA to Gov Uzodinma on public enlightenment, Tuesday, said the action of the governor was justified, describing the project as a way former governor Okorocha used to siphon the funds of the state.

According to a release made available to THE WHISTLER in Owerri, Nwokedi stated that, “The truth is that Owelle Okorocha is not fit to occupy any public office in this country. Okorocha was here for eight years! His job was to plunder, to kill and to steal – a greedy rich-poor man.

“The truth is that there was no hospital in that Ekeukwu market arena. A hospital cannot be located inside a market square. A hospital should ordinarily have doctors, nurses and patients, medical equipment, drugs, et cetera. What was left there was a jumbo relic of civil engineering construction time-bomb. It is a typical white-elephant project quickly used as a drain-pipe to loot public funds.

“What is being demolished there is a detonated ticking time-bomb! What is today undergoing a guided demolition is a civic construction disaster waiting to happen. There has been a proactive response to save innocent blood from being spilled following a very possible and obvious collapse prospect of that huge waste/public menace. Yes, a heap of painted sepulcher positioned mischievously at the middle of Ekeukwu Market, Owerri, is today being removed.

“In its place, to the delight of all sane Imolites, a befitting 1850-shops ultra-modern market with complete packages, including a hospital, a police station, shall be built and delivered in just eighteen months. The contract has been awarded and the foundation-laying ceremony had been done.”

Recall that young Somtochukwu, whom the hospital was named after, was the name of the eight-year-old boy allegedly killed by a stray bullet from soldiers who were quelling protesting traders when the market was being demolished by the Okorocha administration. The late lad died while helping his father to salvage goods in their shop. Okorocha had named the hospital after him for immortalization.