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MAN RENDERED HOMELESS BY GOVERNMENT’S DEMOLITION PARTY .Says: Okorocha demolished without notice, a house built in 1975 before Imo was created .Community: “He was duly notified like every other person” One of the basic needs of man is shelter. Even birds of the air and creatures of the wild have one form of home or the other. But the story is not the same for Mr. Hyginus Epele of Ekugba, in Ohaji/Egbema Council area of Imo State. Epele’s four-room apartment was allegedly recently demolished by a contractor of the Imo State government at the expense of a road project. But Epele, who is a commercial tricycle (keke) operator, thinks it was an act of malice as his house, according to him was far from the road and he was not even notified before his house went under the bulldozer. Said he, “the house in question was built by my father Elder Kennis Epele Nwapi in 1975 under the approval of the then Ogba/ Egbema county council of Rivers state, before the creation of Imo State in 1976. For this at least, I deserve to be notified that my house was marked for demolition so I can take measures to salvage my properties and relocate my family”. Continuing he said, “In any case, my house did not obstruct any road construction work. If it did, the house right behind mine on the same line would also have been affected but to this day it remains untouched with its flank nearer to the road than mine”. Narrating his ordeal, Hyginus Epele told our correspondent that on the 12th of February, 2012 without any premonition or notice, he was called up on phone That his house has been pulled down by the road contractor handling the Ekugba-Egbema road project, one Chima Ibeawulam, his kinsman, with his properties littering the road sides. Devastated, Epele had rushed home and taken his complaint to the village head, one G.N Emerenini who advised him to endure it. The Town Union President Mr. Andrew Eluoyibo told Epele that it was the decision of the community and whether he was notified or not was inconsequential. Epele who is a commercial keke operator also went to the house of his representative in the Imo House of Assembly, one Luke Chukwu, whose response was neither consoling nor considerate. According to Epele, Chukwu had chided him that his demolished house was nothing more than a dilapidated mud house of little value. Epele lamented that the lawmaker however claimed he had invited the contractor for discussion but he did not show up and as such there was nothing more he could do. Hyginus Epele added that the situation had dislodged his once closely-knit family. Epele who could hardly hold back his tears regretted that his aged mother had to relocate to her maiden home and her wife move to Port Harcourt with his last child to stay with her sister while he can hardly tell at any points in time the where-about of the rest of his children. The distraught father of six said he now “squats’ from one house to the Other in Obosima, Ohaji, a neighbouring community. In a petition to the Public Complaints commission, Epele wrote, “ All complaints to all concerned in the cruel act of demolishing my house and valuables without notice are being treated with total disregard, particularly the contractor and his agents who are intimidating me that I want the contract to stop at the expense of my family house”. Contacted, the lawmaker representing Epele in the State Assembly said he was not involved in a decision that led to the demolition of Epele’s house. Said he “From my investigations, it was entirely a community decision as I did not award the road contract nor am i a contractor. It is better you contact their community leader to get their opinion on the matter.” Effort to contact the Town Union President, Andrew Eluoyibo of the Ekugba community proved abortive but a community source close to Eluoyibo who craved anonymity told our correspondent that what was removed were ramshackles and the exercise was common knowledge to everybody in the community. He averred that Epele whose house was said to have been demolished had demanded N10million for his house which was barely worth N200, 000. According to him, “Epele should wait for any compensation that may come, when it comes.” As at the time of this report, no respite seems in sight for Mr. Hyginus Epele who stands alone and dejected in his struggle to reclaim his home and gather his family.

One of the basic needs of man is shelter. Even birds of the air and

By Imo Trumpeta / September 13, 2012