The Anambra State Government led by Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, has clarified why it, on Thursday, demolished a church, Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention Deliverance Ministry, Onitsha, that belongs to Prophet Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere (Odumeje).
The Government made the clarification in a statement issued by the Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Christian Aburime, hours after the demolition exercise.
Recall that News Band had earlier reported that the State Government, on Thursday, demolished Odumeje’s Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention Deliverance Ministry located in Onitsha.
During the exercise, Pastor Odumeje was also assaulted when he tried to stop the demolition.
The report, however, showed that the Church was not demolished in totality, rather, it was a mini-store by the gate side that was demolished because it was cited on the drainage channel.
Explaining the reason behind the action, Mr. Aburime, in a statement entitled “Soludo: Anambra State Government begins demolition of illegal structures in Fegge”, stated:
“Following the expiration of the notice served on developers and building owners who built several illegal structures along the waterway in Fegge and environs within Onitsha, since April 2022, more than two months ago, Anambra state government has commenced demolition of such illegal structures.
“The exercise which is being carried out by a joint government task force, commenced from Bida Road by Modebe Avenue, Fegge Onitsha.
“The affected buildings include Mountain of Holy Ghost Intervention Deliverance Ministries, shops and other perimeter fences.
“The structures were marked since April, 2022 and all developers and building owners served notice to remove them.
“The government wishes to state that the demolition exercise is not targeted at any particular persons or groups.
“It is rather in line with the move to recover the master plan of Onitsha and other cities in the state that have been serially abused and turned to slums.
“The government assures builders and developers on appropriate sites to go about their normal businesses without fear of molestation,” he concluded.