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Owerri indigenes dare govt, evacuate refuse on Douglas road


After two months of flexing political muscles, an Owerri socio-cultural group, Dozie- Mezie Owerre, Wednesday dared Imo State government by finally evacuating the refuse heap on Douglas road.

The clean-up exercise was coordinated by representatives of the group who flew into the state from Abuja on Monday, led by Mr. Stanley Nkwazema and Chief Tony Nwadike.

The state government reportedly refused to evacuate the garbage that covered the whole of Douglas road because the indigenes of Owerri took Governor Rochas Okorocha to court to prevent him from relocatingn the Ekeukwu Main Market outside the town.

Some illustrious sons and daughters of Owerri, including those in the Diaspora, decided to shun the government by volunteering to evacuate the heaps of refuse without government assistance as the situation was nearing epidemic stage.

Nkwazema, who is the spokesman of Dozie-Mezie Owerre Worldwide, told our correspondent, “The refuse had become a serious threat to the lives of our kinsmen and an affront to decent society. We saw no need to wait any longer which was why the leadership of Dozie- Mezie Owerre directed to do the needful.

“We hire 13 dump trucks and three pay loaders on every day we work on Douglas road, but we had already concluded the cost was inconsequential when lives are at risk.”

However, jubilation rent the air around 11pm on Tuesday night when Archbishop Anthony Obinna of the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri visited the road to witness the ongoing evacuation exercise.

Addressing the crowd, the bishop said, “Immediately I learnt that help has finally come, I came out here to see for myself to encourage you all and to particularly thank the Dozie- Mezie Owerre group for this great deed. We all agree that beyond being unsightly, the rubbish was a health hazard. Now at least, I will have a clear path to embark on my pastoral visits.”

The cleric, who also prayed for everyone that participated in the exercise, noted that Dozie-Mezie Owerre has shown that Owerri people still had illustrious sons.

Meanwhile, efforts made by Hon. Ezenwa Onyewuchi, member representing Owerri Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, failed when his single pay loader broke down and some thugs attacked his truck drivers who were heading to the government dumpsite at Naze, forcing them to return the refuse to Douglas road.

Nkwazema explained that Dozie-Mezie Owerre had written to the State Police Commissioner and had secured the police permission for the exercise.

According to him, “Instead of taking the refuse to Naze, we took the refuse to a dumpsite along Onitsha road, Owerri, owned by the Owerri community, which was why we made unhindered progress.”

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